So long as England deliberately chose to leave the country in the hands of barbarians, barbaric customs had to be reckoned with.
From this discreditable business it is a relief to turn to Mr.Busby's bloodless puerilities.

In 1835 he drew up a federal constitution for the Maori tribes, and induced thirty-five of the northern chiefs to accept it.

This comical scheme would have provided a congress, legislation, magistrates, and other machinery of civilization for a race of savages still plunged in bloodshed and cut asunder by innumerable feuds and tribal divisions.

A severe snubbing from Mr.
Busby's official superiors in Australia was the only consequence of this attempt to federate man-eaters under parliamentary institutions.
The still-born constitution was Mr.Busby's proposed means of checkmating a rival.

In the words of Governor Gipps, this "silly and unauthorized act was a paper pellet fired off" at the hero of an even more pretentious fiasco.