He said that it was thoroughly necessary this should be understood,
for that the allegiance offered to the Queen could not be lightly
thrown off. If a chief once owned her as his sovereign, he could
not change his mind afterwards; and should he disobey the advice
and orders of the Resident, he would be liable to be dethroned,
and his government bestowed upon one better fitted for it. He could
not, for instance, be allowed to engage in hostilities against his
neighbors without the consent of the Resident, for it was clear that
the English could not assist him in wars in which they considered
that he was in the wrong. In these matters there must be benefits
on both sides: the chief would obtain protection against warlike
neighbors, would benefit by the presence and advice of a British
officer, and by the trade that would spring up; while, in return
for these benefits, he must acknowledge the Queen as his sovereign,
and must obey the orders of her officers just as her native born
subjects would do.
The chief looked very serious at this. "Cannot," he asked at last,
"a chief obtain the protection of the British, and afterwards remain
as an ally of theirs?"
"Not so," the captain said; "he cannot come to us when he is in
danger and ask us to send ships and men to aid him, and afterwards,
when the danger has passed, wish us good morning, and give us
nothing in return for the benefits he had received.
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