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 another embassy would have come in response, if at any time after the Governor's arrival in the Colony a similar message had been sent. Since the Governor had after all to re-open communications himself, it is a pity that he did not do so earlier, instead of keeping the whole Colony in suspense; and if he had not been so fortunate as to hear of what was taking place, and so had not sent the sword-bearer on, it is impossible to say where the mischief would have ended. This narrow escape from hostilities only shows how exceedingly dangerous it is to indulge in any ambiguous action where barbarous races are concerned.

At the termination of the palaver, Buaki and his followers rose and walked round the shed, shaking hands in turn with every European present. As Buaki repeated this ceremony with the Governor, the latter said, through the medium of the interpreter:—

"You see I am not a mud-fish."

One of the retinue immediately nudged me and said:—

"There! Did you hear that?"

I replied "Yes."

"Ah! it's a beautiful simile, now, isn't it?"

I said "I don't quite see how."

"What? You don't see it?"

"No."