oceed on any
expedition without consulting us, and looking upon us as a species
of superior beings, paid the greatest respect to our opinions. He
frequently asked me about the states of Europe, and the kingdom of Great
Britain, and appeared lost in admiration at the account I gave him of
our shipping, and the immensity of the ocean. We taught him to regulate
the government nearly on the same plan with the British constitution,
and to institute a parliament and degrees of nobility. His majesty
was the last of his royal line, and on his decease, with the unanimous
consent of the people, made me heir to the whole empire. The nobility
and chiefs of the country immediately waited upon me with petitions,
entreating me to accept the government. I consulted with my noble
friends, Gog and Magog, &c., and after much consultation it was agreed
that I should accept the government, not as actual and independent
monarch of the place, but as viceroy to his Majesty of England.

I now thought it high time to do away the custom of eating of live flesh
and drinking of kava, and for that purpose used every persuasive method
to wean the majority of the people from it. This, to my astonishment,
was not taken in good part by the nation, and they looked with jealousy
at those strangers who wanted to make innovations among them.

Nevertheless, I felt much concern to think that my fellow-creatures
could be capable of such barbarity. I did everything that a heart
fraught with universal benevolence and good will to all mankind could
be capable of desiring. I first tried every method of persuasion and
incitement. I did not harshly reprove them, but I invited frequently
whole thousands to dine, after the fashion of Europe, upon roasted meat.
Alas, 'twas all in vain! my goodness nearly excited a sedition. They
murmured among themselves, spoke of my intentions, my wild and ambitious
views, as if I, O heaven! could have had any personal interested motive
in making them live like men, rather than like crocodiles and tigers. In
fine, perceiving that gentleness could be of no avail, well knowing
that when complaisance can effect nothing from some spirits, compulsion
excites respect and veneration, I prohibited, under the pain of the
severest penalties, the drinking of kava, or eating of live flesh,
for the space of nine days, within the districts of Angalinar and
Paphagalna.

But this created such an universal abhorrence and detestation of
my governmen