23rd.
dence in the Meeting House. We returned to camp about dark.
113
I now felt that the recent change that had come over the people in this district (owing to the measures we had adopted) was likely to be permanent. Numbers of elders greeted us thanking us for the steps we had taken to punish the culprits in the murder case; they were profuse in thanks and offers of assistance in procuring food, coolies, &c. Proclamations were issued by Lockhart assuring the people of our desire to protect them and directing all the villagers to return to their houses and resume the cultivation of their lands. By every possible means we endeavoured to restore order and confidence and with success far beyond our hopes.
It now became evident that a large force in the Hinterland had become unnecessary, and when Your Excellency ordered me to reduce my numbers to 200 men "unless grave and urgent reasons to the contrary should exist", I felt that in complying, the reduction would not imperil the safety of our position.
A few days later I recommended a still further reduction to 100 men, a measure which Your Excellency approved.
It seems unnecessary to chronicle in detail the unimportant events that succeeded my return to Taipo on the 27th ult. Peace had been restored in the Western portion of the district, and with judicious treatment it was fair to assume, that a like confidence would soon be felt in British good Government in the Northern portion of the Territory. These anticipations
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}
Q
23rd.
+
dence in the Meeting House. We reufrned to camp about dark.
113
I now felt that the recent change that had come
over the people in this district (owing to the measures we
had adopted) was likely to be permanent. Numbers of elders
greeted us thanking us for the steps we had taken to punish
the culprits in the murder case; they were profuse in thanks
and offers of assistance in procuring food, coolies,&c. Pro-
clamations were issued by Lockhart assuring the people of our
desire to protect them and directing all the villagers to re-
turn to their houses and resume the cultivation of their lands
By every possible means we endeavoured to restore order and
confidence and with success far beyond our hopes.
It now became evident that a large force in
the Hinterland had become unnecessary, and when Your Excellency ordered me to reduce my numbers to 200 men "unless grave and urgent reasons to the contrary should exist",I felt that in
complying, the reduction would not imperil the safety of our
position.
A few days later I recommended a still further
reduction to 100 men, a measure which Your Excellency approved
It seems unnecessary to chronicle in detail
the unimportant events that succeeded my return to Taipo on the 27th.ult.Peace had been restored in the Western portion
of the district, and with judicious treatment it was fair to assume, that a like confidence would soon be felt in British
good Government in the Northern portion of the Territory. These
anticipations
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