You do not know whether the Natives can distinguish at all between the Conduct of English Ships of War and of Merchant Ships?
- I am not aware. I should consider that they would, as every thing is so orderly on board a Man of War; whilst, on the contrary, the Crews of the Merchant Ships are under no Control when on shore at the Bay of Islands.
You think that if a Man of War was stationed there her Crew would not set so bad an Example as the Crews of those Whalers?
- I do not think the Commander would permit it.
You stated that there were Four or Five hundred runaway Convicts or Seamen?
- Yes, about the Northward of the River Thames; living with the native Females in the most disgraceful Way.
Do they live in considerable Communities together, or are they scattered among the Natives?
- They are scattered among the Natives, and, if any thing, more degraded than the Natives.
Are any of them regularly married to native Women?
- Some few are.
Are you aware whether they have many Children, either by regular Marriages or by Intercourse?
- They have Children; some few Half Casts; but not many.
Is that a Race of Persons likely to increase by Descent?
- Yes, I should consider so. Some few of the trading Europeans have been married to the Natives. I was present at a Marriage at the Wesleyan Settlement just before I left.
Do not those native Women who have Children very often destroy them?
- I never met with an Instance, but it may be the Case. There is no Half Cast in the Interior; they may sometimes be killed, but I have not seen or heard of any thing of the Sort in the Interior.
Do you consider that if a Resident were empowered to arrest and transport those Persons who commit Acts of Violence against each other or against the Natives that would be likely considerably to decrease the Number of them?
- There would be some little Difficulty in arresting them, they would flee among the Natives.
Would you think if the Resident had Authority from the Crown of England to arrest and punish those People, the native Chiefs would assist him in taking up Persons who had been guilty of Acts of Violence?
- Yes; he would have to give a small Payment; that would be sufficient to bring them up to his Door. If Mr. Busby was to state to a young Chief (the old Chiefs might not be so attentive) that he would give him a Blanket if he got such a Man who had committed an Offence, he would get sufficient Force, and bring him up with his Hands tied behind him.
Would he bring any Man up, whether he had committed any Offence or not, for a Blanket?
- Yes; if they were told so by any Person whom they considered a Gentleman they would consider that he had committed something, though they were not acquainted with it; they would consider him as a guilty Man, and conceive that there was a just Reason for the Order.
If the Resident sent Persons known to be authorized by him into the Country to arrest those People, would the Chiefs interfere to prevent it?
- They would not prevent it; they would assist.
If the Resident demanded an Offender of the Chiefs, or sent a small Number to apprehend him, would the Natives interfere, by Force prevent the Apprehension?
- No; the Natives would not interfere.
