(1, p. 59.)

It is a remarkable fact, which shows the very unbusiness-like manner of doing, that the land was parcelled out in sections before it was known where such sections were to be had. Nay, even purchasers of the land paid for it before it was bought, or knew where the land lay. It was indeed very imposing to read, in some of the English journals, concerning the drawing of lots, which said, “when a native reserve ticket was drawn great cheering was made;” but this, when viewed through the medium of cool judgment, shows itself only to be a piece of deceit, when considered that such did not belong to them at the time, however much it showed a kind of charitable feeling; but it was only putting fancy in the place of reality, for when ships with emigrants were despatched, and when they arrived in the Straits,∗ the captains of such vessels had no small difficulty to learn to what port they were to steer, as the Directors of the Company could not give such information when they started, which shows on how much absurdity the formation of the Company rested at the outset.