296 



FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



which are — landing in state, under salutes — ■ 

 raising flags — making inscriptions, and pro- 

 claiming formally that possession is taken in 

 behalf of their sovereign or nation. If Catholics, 

 crosses are sometimes reared, and sometimes 

 coins are buried. 



Some nations have admitted rights in the 

 savage aboriginals of such countries, and have 

 claimed subsequently, on occupation, what may 

 be called a pre-emptive right, that is, the right 

 to extinguish the aboriginal title, by voluntary 

 agreement, to the exclusion of all other nations. 



Other nations have denied the existence of 

 any right or title to territory amongst unci- 

 vilized tribes. 



On this point no question can arise when the 

 regions claimed are uninhabited. 



In the discussion which took place in the 

 British parliament, with respect to the proceed- 

 ings of the Spaniards at Nootka Sound, Mr. 

 Fox, who is justly ranked amongst the most 

 illustrious of British statesmen, denied that dis- 

 covery furnished any ground of title whatever ; 

 and rested the British title to Nootka on occu- 

 pation alone. 



