Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. EXPLANATION — MEETING ENDS. 541 opinions or inclinations, but to make useful enquiries. Tliey feared the noisy guns which those ships carried, and had often expected to see their island taken from them, and themselves driven off, or obliged in their old age to learn new ways of living. I said, " Rest assured that the ships of Great Britain never will molest Otaheitans so long as they conduct themselves towards British subjects as they wish to be treated by Britons. Great Britain has an extent of territory, far greater than is sufficient for her wishes. Conquest is not her object. Those ships, armed and full of men, which from time to time visit your island, are but a very few out of a great many which are employed in visiting all parts of the world to which British commerce has extended. Their object is to protect and defend the subjects of Great Britain, and also take care that their con- duct is proper — not to do harm to, or in any way molest those who treat the British as they themselves would wish to be treated in return." I was much struck by the sensation which these opinions caused amongst the elderly and the more respectable part of the assemblage. They seemed surprised, and so truly gratified, that I conclude their ideas of the intentions of foreigners to- wards them must have been very vague or entirely erroneous. The business for which we had assembled being over, I requested Mr. Pritchard to remind the queen, that I had a long voyage to perform ; and ought to depart from her terri- tories directly she confided to me the promised document, relating to the affair of the Truro ; and I then asked the queen and principal chiefs to honour our little vessel by a visit on the following evening, to see a few fireworks : to which they wil- lingly consented : some trifling conversation then passed ; and the meeting ended. Much more was said, during the time, than I have here de- tailed : my companions were as much astonished as myself at witnessing such order, so much sensible reasoning, and so good a delivery of their ideas ! I shall long remember that meeting at Otaheite, and consider it one of the most interesting sights