At the Period you were there there were not many Ships touched there?
- No; and we did not see many Pigs in the Island.
Do you know at all what is the Tenure of Land there?
- I think it is chiefly held under feudal Tenure. The Population is divided into Four Classes: the Areekee, who is a Person of sovereign Authority, Chiefs, Rungateedas , and Cookees. The Areekee has under him a Number of subordinate Chiefs, who, I believe, hold their Lands under him in feudal Tenure; that is, if he goes to war they must assist him. But I am not sufficiently informed on this Subject so as to give a satisfactory Answer to the Question.
You say there was some Land purchased; do you think it is quite certain that the Chief knew that he never again would have any Right over that Land?
- I think he understood it perfectly.
Do you conceive he did it because he was anxious that a Missionary should reside there who should promote Christianity in that Country, or that he did it by way of selling the Land to any Person who would give him what he wished?
- I think his Motive in selling the Land was to have a Missionary to reside there.
He wished to have a Minister of Religion?
- Yes, he wished to have a Minister of Religion settled among his Tribe.
Not merely a Man to improve Agriculture and Commerce?
- That no Doubt was the principal Object with him; the Improvement of the Cultivation of their Lands, and the introducing among them the Arts of Civilization.
Do you consider that a sufficiently high Price was given for this Land?
- I think it a fair Price for the Land, considering the immense Quantity of Land, which, from the Scantiness of the Population, is totally valueless.
Are you quite sure that the Land sold by this Chief belonged to him?
- I suppose it did. There were several Chiefs present belonging to that Part of the Island, and I think if he had not had a Right to dispose of it they would not have permitted him to do so.
Were they under the head Chief of the Clan?
- Yes; Shunghi, the head Chief, was present.
Was he the head Chief of the Clan?
- He was the Areekee.
Did the other make Objections to the Sale?
- No.
Did the Missionaries select the Land where they thought fit, and was it Land that was not in Cultivation before?
- I do not recollect that any of it was in Cultivation; the Dwelling of the Missionaries was erected on it, and their Settlement was formed there.
Close to the Sea?
- Yes.
Did you hear any Observations any of the Tribes or any of the Chiefs made upon the Subject of this Land?
- No. One of the Missionaries purchased , he told me, of one of the Rungateedas, who are the Gentry of the Country, being the Relations of Chiefs, many of whom possess Lands, and I suppose have the Right of disposing of them, for this Man sold from Two to Three Acres to one of the Missionaries, which was put into Cultivation when I was there.
Were many of the Natives Christians at that Time?
- Not one.
