17/3. ROUND THE WORLD. 139 



selling the clothes from off their backs for the merest 

 trifles, things that were neither useful nor curious. 

 This caused me to dismiss the strangers sooner than I 

 would have done. When they departed, they went 

 over to Motuara, where, by the help of our glasses, 

 we discovered four or five canoes, and several people 

 on the shore : this induced me to go over in my boat, 

 accompanied by Mr. Forster and one of the officers. 

 We were well received by the chief and the whole 

 tribe, which consisted of between ninety and a hun- 

 dred persons, men, women, and children, having with 

 them six canoes, and all their utensils ; which made 

 it probable that they were come to reside in this 

 sound ; but this is only conjecture ; for it is very 

 common for them, when they even go but a little 

 way, to carry their whole property with them ; every 

 place being alike, if it affords them the necessary 

 subsistence ; so that it can hardly be said they are 

 ever from home. Thus we may easily account for 

 the emigration of those few families we found in 

 Dusky Bay. 



Living thus dispersed in small parties, knowing no 

 head but the chief of the family or tribe, whose 

 authority may be very little, they feel many incon- 

 veniences, to which well regulated societies, united 

 under one head or any other form of government, 

 are not subject. These form laws and regulations 

 for their general good ; they are not alarmed at the 

 appearance of every stranger ; and if attacked or 

 invaded by a public enemy, have strong holds to 

 retire to, where they can, with advantage, defend 

 themselves, their property, and their country. This 

 seems to be the state of most of the inhabitants of 

 Eahei-nomauwe ; whereas, those of Tavai-poenam- 

 moo, by living a wandering life in small parties, are 

 destitute of most of these advantages, which subjects 

 them to perpetual alarms. We generally found them 

 upon their guard, travelling and working, as it were, 

 with their arms in their hands. Even the women are 

 not exempted from bearing arms, as appeared by the 



