THE ARABIAN RACE. 



233 



Taheiti. He had met with some success in obtaining followers among 

 the Samoans. 



Although Tongataboo has been so much frequented, Europeans had 

 not exerted much influence over the minds of the natives. Indeed a 

 low island like this, which produces chiefly cocoa-nuts and bananas, 

 and is otherwise not an agreeable place of residence, may probably 

 for years to come, offer a point of resistance. 



There were many European residents around the Bay of Islands, 

 in New Zealand ; and in the course of our excursions it was ascer- 

 tained, that runaway sailors were living in some of the native villages 

 on much the same footing as at the Samoan Islands. 



A short time prior to our arrival in New Zealand, a cession of so- 

 vereignty had been obtained from the natives, mainly, through the 

 influence of the missionaries. Whatever opinion may be formed re- 

 specting the course pursued by these gentlemen, the fact should not 

 be lost sight of, that they were acting under instructions from home. 



Europeans have obtained foothold in Australia, by introducing 

 useful animals and plants previously unknown in that country. The 

 same process indeed, had to some extent taken place in New Zealand; 

 except that here, the native population was more ready to take advan- 

 tage of the new means of subsistence. 



To return to the Tropics. Captain Vanderford, who was making 

 his tenth voyage round the world, and who had witnessed in a 

 sealing vessel the founding of the English colony in Australia, was 

 likewise present at the opening of the trade with the Feejee Islands. 

 This was accomplished thirty-one years previous to our visit, by 

 William Putnam Richardson, of Salem : and Captain Vanderford 

 had inherited the middle name of his former commander, the Fee- 

 jeeans finding the terminal one difficult of pronunciation. 



Some convicts from Australia, reached the Feejee Islands a little 

 earlier; and among them, an Irishman, whom we found still living 

 after a residence of forty years. At one time, this man had attained 

 higher honours than will probably be hereafter conferred on a Euro- 

 pean ; among other marks of distinction, having a hundred wives. 

 And he continued to be a favourite with the natives, although the 

 number of his wives had been reduced to three. His children, 

 amounted in all to forty-seven. 



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