I propose, therefore, that one of those associations should be formed
in which the risk of each of the members is confined to the amount of
his stake in the concern. The first step would be to draw up a
prospectus. In this I would advise that no mention should be made of
the fact that the Erewhonians are the lost tribes. The discovery is one
of absorbing interest to myself, but it is of a sentimental rather than
commercial value, and business is business. The capital to be raised
should not be less than fifty thousand pounds, and might be either in
five or ten pound shares as hereafter determined. This should be amply
sufficient for the expenses of an experimental voyage.
When the money had been subscribed, it would be our duty to charter a
steamer of some twelve or fourteen hundred tons burden, and with
accommodation for a cargo of steerage passengers. She should carry two
or three guns in case of her being attacked by savages at the mouth of
the river. Boats of considerable size should be also provided, and I
think it would be desirable that these also should carry two or three
six-pounders. The ship should be taken up the river as far as was
considered safe, and a picked party should then ascend in the boats.
The presence both of Arowhena and myself would be necessary at this
stage, inasmuch as our knowledge of the language would disarm
suspicion, and facilitate negotiations.
We should begin by representing the advantages afforded to labour in
the colony of Queensland, and point out to the Erewhonians that by
emigrating thither, they would be able to amass, each and all of them,
enormous fortunes—a fact which would be easily provable by a reference
to statistics. I have no doubt that a very great number might be thus
induced to come back with us in the larger boats, and that we could
fill our vessel with emigrants in three or four journeys.
Should we be attacked, our course would be even simpler, for the
Erewhonians have no gunpowder, and would be so surprised with its
effects that we should be able to capture as many as we chose; in this
case we should feel able to engage them on more advantageous terms, for
they would be prisoners of war. But even though we were to meet with no
violence, I doubt not that a cargo of seven or eight hundred
Erewhonians could be induced, when they were once on board the vessel,
to sign an agreement which should be mutually advantageous both to us
and them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account