the conduct of the sealers, the women had better be detained at the asylum provided for them by the Government."
That very month, however, there is a new and extraordinary phase. Mr. Robinson appears triumphant in an official sense, but is compelled to adopt a compromise with these pertinacious rovers of the sea. The two irreconcilable foes are seen on terms of agreeable amity. The shrewd, crafty, and energetic Munro directs the tactics of his subjects. Policy succeeds where force is of no avail. Mr. Robinson wants to catch the Blacks, and the sealers want their women. Who could be of such service to the hunter as the enterprising and not too scrupulous fishermen? They knew the coast and the haunts of the tribes. They had boats, and could carry off small parties to the depôt This is laid by the logic of Munro before the leader of the mission. It is very true, and very clear. He is informed that the men are prepared to help him, and that they can, and would, bring him lots of glory and substantial recompense as the prince of capturers.
The bait is skilfully laid. It received approval But why this sudden change,—this conversion of implacable resentment into proposed coalition? What is the price? The noble sealers disclaim selfish principles; they want to serve Mr. Robinson and the Government. But they gently submit that. though thus willing and ready, they need one necessary auxiliary,—the presence of their faithful and affectionate spouses for guides! Negotiations are completed. The guides are allowed.
Few things more amused me in tracing the course of Mr. Robinson through his scarcely-to-be-distinguished manuscript correspondence, than the official announcement of the terms of this positive treaty, and his chuckling over the clever bargain he had made; though, in fact, he had shown his hand and lost the game. This passage occurs in his letter of June:—
"As a further inducement for the sealers to act energetically in the enterprise that they are about to be engaged in, I allowed them the privilege of their native women in its widest sense; in doing which I found it expedient to use much finesse, in order to cope with the different characters of these peculiar people." He adds naively enough, "The sealers are perfectly satisfied with the arrangements." Certainly.
The "slavish and licentious concubinage" is permitted for reasons of State!
