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.
We should then proceed to Queensland, and dispose of our engagement with
the Erewhonians to the sugar-growers of that settlement, who are in great
want of labour; it is believed that the money thus realised would enable
us to declare a handsome dividend, and leave a considerable balance,
which might be spent in repeating our operations and bringing over other
cargoes of Erewhonians, with fresh consequent profits. In fact we could
go backwards and forwards as long as there was a demand for labour in
Queensland, or indeed in any other Christian colony, for the supply of
Erewhonians would be unlimited, and they could be packed closely and fed
at a very reasonable cost.
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