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required to pay these honours. Davis and Young, the two persons before noticed, are much favoured by the king, and are raised to the rank of chiefs, and have extensive grants of land. The lands are in the highest state of cultivation. The island of Wahoo, though only secondary in size, is one of the most important on account of its fertility, and because it possesses the only secure harbour to be met with in the group. During the thirteen months Campbell was at Wahoo, about twelve ships touched there. The navy, in 1809, was about sixty vessels: these were then all hauled on shore, and preserved with great care, it being time of peace these were chiefly sloops and schooners under forty tons, built by native carpenters under the direction of Boyd. The "Lilly Bird" is, however, about two hundred tons; but this vessel was bought from the Americans. Indian corn and many garden regetables are cultivated with suecess; and in a short time the breed of cattle, horses, and sheep, left there by Captain Vancouver, will be abundant. The king has several horses, and is fond of riding. Many individuals have large flocks of sheep and in some of the large islands there are considerable herds of wild cattle. The chiefs are proprietors of the soil, and let the land in small farms to the lower orders, who pay rent in kind; the chiefs pay a rent and other subsidies to the sovereign. There were at Wahoo at one time, during our author's stay, about sixty whites, chiefly English, left by American vessels; several amongst

them were convicts who had escaped from New South Wales. Many inducements are held out to sailors to remain; if they conduct themselves with propriety, they rank as chiefs, and are at all events certain of being maintained, as the chiefs are always anxious to have white men about them.

Many artificers are in the king's employ; all that are industrious are well rewarded by him; many, however, are idle and dissolute, particularly the convicts; the latter have introduced distillation into the island, and give themselves up to drinking. Davis, a Welchman, who was very industrious, so puzzled the natives, that they could only account for his singularity by supposing him one of their own countrymen, who had gone to Cahiete, or England, and after his death had returned to his native land. Most of the whites have married native women, by whom they have families, but no attention is paid by them to their education or religious instruction. The chiefs about the king have each a separate office assigned to him-as treasurer, &c. The king is entirely absolute.

Though the people are under the dominion of some chief, for whom they work or cultivate the ground, and by whom they are supported in old age, they are by no means to be considered as slaves attached to the soil, but are at liberty to change masters when they think fit. The principal duty of the executive is entrusted to the priests, and by them the revenue is collected and the laws enforced. They believe in a future state, when they will

be

be rewarded or punished for their conduct in this world. There were no missionaries on the islands.

"The use of ava is now giving way to that of ardent spirits; they are very fond of smoking tobacco, which grows in great abundance. Many of the natives who are employed as carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths, and tailors, do their work as skilfully as Europeans; and at the king's forge none but natives were employed. All dealings are conducted by barter; they know, however, the value of dollars, and take them in exchange; but these are rarely brought out again into circulation vessels are supplied with fresh provisions, live-stock, salt, and other articles of out-fit, giving, in return, fire-arms and all other European articles. Sandal wood, pearls, and mother of pearl, the produce of these islands, are frequently purchased for the China market. It is probable that the Russians will in future derive from hence the principal supplies for their settlements on the Fox islands, and north-west coast of America, and even Kamschatka. Whilst the author was with the Russians, it seems it was in contemplation to establish a settlement at one of these islands, though this project was afterwards abandoned; and it is obvious that at no very distant period, these islands must become objects of great importance to America. Provisions, from the frequent arrival of ships, are not cheap.

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with muskets and bayonets: in their exercises, rapidity is more regarded than precision. All the natives are trained to arms, and are bound to attend the king's person in his wars. Although he is anxious to induce white people to remain, no encouragement is given to deserters; nor are those who wish to depart detained. In 1809, says Campbell, the king seemed about 50, stout and well made; the expression of his countenance agreeable; mild and affable in his manners, and appeared . to possess great warmth of feeling; and though a conqueror, is very popular amongst his subjects: he has amassed by trade a considerable store of goods, and treasure in dollars. He encourages his subjects to make voyages in the ships which touch at the island: and many have been to China, and even to the United States, and has amongst the natives many good sailors. His residence was built in the European style. He had two wives, and was about to take a third.

We shall conclude our extracts from this book, with the following description of the author's journey to take possession of his farm. "We passed by foot paths winding through an extensive and fertile plain, the whole of which is in the highest state of cultivation; every stream was carefully embanked to supply water for the taro beds; where there was no water, the land was under crops of yams and sweet potatoes; the roads and numerous houses are shaded by cocoa-nut trees, and the sides of the mountains covered with words to a great height; we halted two or

three

three times, and were treated by the natives with the utmost hospitality. Fifteen persons with their families resided on my farm, and they cultivated the ground as my servants; there were three houses on the property, but I found it more agreeable to live with one of my neighbours, and get what I wanted from my own land."

Authentic Anecdotes of the Life of Major-General Claude Martine.

General Martine, a man SO well known in India, both by his eccentricity and his riches, was the son of a silk-manufacturer at Lyons in France, in which city he was born, and in which some of his father's family still reside.

At an early age he expressed a dislike to follow his father's inactive profession, and determined to choose one more congenial to his disposition. He accordingly enlisted in the French army, and soon distinguished himself

SO

much, that he was removed from the infantry to the cavalry, and afterwards appointed a trooper in Count Lally's body-guard, a small corps of select men, that was formed for the purpose of accompanying that officer to Pondicherry, of which place he had then been appointed governor.

Soon after Lally's arrival at Pondicherry, he began to exercise his power with such oppressive severity, and to enforce the discipline of the army with such a rigid minuteness, that his conduct excited the disgust and detestation of the whole settlement. Several remonstrances were drawn up VOL. LVIII.

against him, and transmitted to France; and many officers of distinction resigned their appointments. He, nevertheless, persevered in his injudicious system of discipline, with an unremitting strictness, unmindful of the representations of some officers who were in his confidence, and totally blind to the dangers he was thus foolishly drawing on himself, till it was too late to avert them. Though he must have been sensible that he had lost the affections of the army, yet he seemed not aware of the consequences to which that loss might lead. The troops were so dissatisfied, that when the English army laid siege to Pondicherry, great numbers deserted from the garrison; and at last his own body-guard went over in a body to the enemy, carrying their horses, arms, &c. along with them. This corps was well received by the English commanders, by whom Martine was soon noticed for the spirit and ability which he displayed on many occasions. On the return of the British army to Madras, after the surrender of Pondicherry, Martine obtained permission of the Madras government to raise a company of Chasseurs from among the French prisoners, of whom he got the command, with the rank of ensign in the Company's service.

A few weeks after he received this appointment, he was ordered to proceed with his Chasseurs to Bengal. On their passage, the ship in which they were embarked sprung a leak, and Martine, by great fortitude and perseverance, but with much difficulty, saved himself and some of his men, in 2 I

one

one of the ship's boats. The ship foundered off Point Guadawar, the promontory which separates the coast of Coromandel from that of Orissa; and thence Martine and his men proceeded in the ship's boat to Calcutta, which place they reached, after surmounting many dangers and great hardships.

He was received with much kindness by the Bengal government, and appointed a cornet of cavalry, in which service he continued until he had risen by regular succession to the rank of captain in the line, when he got a company of infantry.

Shortly after this promotion, he was employed by government to survey the north-east districts of Bengal, being an able draftsman, and in every respect well qualified for that purpose. When he had completed his journey to the north-east district, he was sent to Oude, in order to assist in surveying that province. While employed in this service, he resided chiefly at Lucknow, where he amused himself in showing his ingenuity in several branches of mechanics, and his skill in gunnery, which gave the Nabob Vizir Sujah-ud-Dowlah' so high a notion of the value of his services, that he solicited and obtained permission from the Governor and council of Calcutta, to appoint him superintendant of his artillery park and arsenal. Martine was so well satisfied with his appointment, and with his prospects in the service of the Nabob Vizir, that he proposed to the Governor and council, to relinquish his pay and allowances in the Company's service, on the condition

of his being permitted to retain his rank, and to continue in the service of the Nabob Vizir. This proposal was complied with; and from this his subsequent prosperity commenced.

He was now admitted into the confidence of the Vizir; and in the different changes which took place in the councils of his Highness, as well as in the various negociations with the English government, he was his secret adviser; he seldom however appeared at the Durbar; and he never held any ostensible situation in the administration of the Vizir's government; but there is reason to believe, that few measures of importance were adopted without his advice being previously taken. Hence his influence at the court of Lucknow became very considerable, not only with the Vizir, but with his ministers, and that influence was the source of the immense fortune which he amassed. Besides a large salary with extensive perquisites annexed to it, he used to receive from the Nabob frequent presents of considerable value; and when any of the Nabob's ministers, or other men of consequence about the court, had any particular measure to carry with their master, or personal favour to ask of him, it was their custom to go privately to Martine, and obtain his interest in their cause, which, if he was at times induced to refuse, he took due care to procure for them ultimately, by other means and with adequate compensation

During the reign of Asoph-udDowlah, father of the present Vizir, Martine made a consider

able

able sum of money by encouraging that prince's taste for the productions of Europe, with which he undertook to supply him. Another mode by which he realized money was, by establishing an extensive credit with the shroffs, or bankers, in Oude, and the adjacent provinces; so that no public loan could be made without his having a share in it. The extraordinary degree of favour and credit which he thus acquired in the Vizir's dominions, induced all descriptions of people to repose in him such an implicit confidence, that in times of public commotion, they flocked to him from all quarters, to deposit their moveable property, which on the condition of paying him twelve per cent. on its full value, he engaged to secure and return them on demand. This alone must have been a source of immense profit, in a country where, for upwards of twenty years of his residence in it, personal property was so often exposed to danger.

The vast riches which he accumulated by these various and singular modes, he does not appear to have laid out with a very generous spirit. He is said, indeed, to have been hospitable to the English gentlemen who resided at Lucknow, but his table was little calculated to invite his acquaintance to it, either by the elegance of the entertainment, or the conviviality that presided at it. Very few instances have come to our knowledge of his private bounty and benevolence. He is said to have assisted his family at Lyons, by occasionally remitting small sums of money; and by his will he has left them 25,0001.

But the principal object of his ambition, and wish of his heart, seems to have been to amass immense treasures in order to gratify himself by the possession of them while he lived; and by bequeathing almost the whole of them on his death, to the support of pious institutions, and public charities, to leave behind him the reputation of a philanthropist. Meanwhile every sensible reader will judge of his title to that name, not from the bequests of his will, but from the actions of his life.

After having lived twenty-five years at Lucknow, he had attained by regular succession the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Company's service.

At the commencement of the war with Tippoo Sultan in 1790, he presented the Company, at his private expense, with a number of fine horses, sufficient to mount a troop of cavalry. He was soon afterwards promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Company's army, which object the present of horses was obviously designed to obtain.

In 1796, when the Company's officers received brevet rank from his Majesty, Martine was included in the promotion of colonels to the rank of Major-General.

Some years before this he had finished a spacious dwelling-house on the banks of the river Goomtee, in the building of which he had long been employed. This curious edifice is constructed entirely of stone, except the doors and window-frames. The ceilings of the apartments are formed of elliptic arches, and the floors made. of stucco. The basement-story comprises two caves or recesses 21 2 within

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