40
Minutes of Evidence Before Select Committee on
- Catechist, and laid the Payment down at his Door, which consisted of Blankets, Axes, and some Tobacco, and a few other Trifles.
Mr. Shepherd had not occupied the Land?
- He had merely been and looked at it.. He told the young Chief that it belonged to him, and nobody else could have it; but the young Chief told him if he did not occupy it himself somebody else should do it.
What was the Result?
- Mr. Shepherd objected to take back the Payment, stating that, according to European Purchase, it was his, and he should not take the Purchase Articles back again. The Chief said he should; he, Mr. Shepherd, said that was not according to the European Custom, nor theirs, to take it back after it had been parted with. The Chief said he had not given the Value for it, or why did the other give him Four Times as much; and he said if he did not take it back he would take off his Head, but that was only a Threat; then he, the young Chief,
went away, and left the Price, and he has since sold the Land for Four Times as much.
Did Mr. Shepherd give it up?
- Yes; he was obliged to do it, or something serious might have occurred.
Was that a large Island?
- No, not a large Island.
Is it 100 Acres?
- Not so much, I should think; it is a good-sized Island, sufficient to make a Garden and Pasture.
Do you recollect any Instance in which the Land had been occupied and cultivated by the Purchaser in which the Natives reclaimed it?
- No; I know another Instance where a Native began to cultivate with the Intention to take it back, provided they were permitted. It is the native Custom to go and fix on any Part of their Country, and plant it; if they keep it that Year it belongs to them ever after; it becomes their Property.
Do you mean that a Native endeavoured to resume a Spot which had been previously sold to a Native?
- No, to an European.
But not occupied by him?
- No; he said his Blankets were worn out, and his Payment gone, and he should take his Land back again, as it was not occupied.
What was the Result of that?
- It was objected to; and James Busby, Esquire, was acquainted with it, and he sent for the Chiefs to hold a Committee with him as it was called, and the Committee assembled. I was present on the Occasion.
Was it quietly discussed?
- Yes. I saw the Chief, Maripu; he appeared angry, but it was a mere Form; he was not really angry; he asked Mr. Busby what he would do, whether he would fight; he told him no, he had a way of fighting by which he could succeed; he asked him in what Way; and he said as soon as a Man of War came in, he should send a Letter on board, and they should bring it up even with his Fortification; the Captain of the Ship would give Orders to fire, and if he was there he would be killed. After some little Conversation similar to that the Chief agreed, if they would give him a good Feast of Flour and Sugar mixed up with Water, and boiled, he would take no further Notice of it, and leave the Purchase to remain.
He let the Purchaser have the Land again?
- Yes; that belonged to Mr. William Fairburn.
Before the Natives went to cultivate the Land, how long had Mr. Fairburn had it without proceeding to cultivate it?
- Several Years. I understood it was a long while before I arrived that he bought it.
In
