212 Letter XVI. 
original depraved nature the vices of civilization, but none of 
its virtues. 
Some people seem to fancy that those who go to Queensland, 
being hedged in with enactments, must be better off than those 
who go elsewhere. But I never could see any difference in 
them after their return. They are all alike. 
The only man I ever knew who derived any real benefit 
from his foreign service, had been in Fiji; but that benefit he 
owed to the missionaries there, and not to the plantation. 
Lastly, the labour traffic is depopulating these islands to a 
deplorable extent. Mr. Inglis, of Aneityum, who is well quali- 
fied to speak upon the subject, says—‘ The population of Tana 
may be eight thousand. This gives four thousand males of all 
ages, or two thousand males above seventeen years of age. 
Now, as nearly as can be estimated, there are not fewer 
than twelve hundred of these in Queensland, Fiji, New 
Caledonia, and elsewhere.” This drain of their population 
must of course have a most disastrous effect upon the islands, 
breaking up society, and reducing the quantity of food raised, 
and hastening the extinction of the race. Ifit goes on much 
longer, the whole of the young and able-bodied men will be 
carried off, and the islands be left barren and desolate ; whereas 
were the people left alone, and brought under the influence of 
Christian civilization, these beautiful islands would be open to 
the planter, and, in course of time, labourers would be found 
on the spot, able and willing to do such light work as the 
growth of the cotton and coffee require. 
cs a 
