430 



NEW ZEALAND. [chap, xviii. 



ence however, they allowed us to examine the whole place. At 

 this village we rested some hours, during which time there was 

 a long discussion with Mr. Bushby, concerning the right of sale 

 of certain lands. One old man, who appeared a perfect genealo- 

 gist, illustrated the successive possessors by bits of stick driven 

 into the ground. Before leaving the houses a little basketful of 

 roasted sweet potatoes was given to each of our party ; and we 

 all according to the custom, carried them away to eat on the 

 road. I noticed that among the women employed in cooking, 

 there was a man-slave : it must be a humiliating thing for a 

 man in this warlike country to be employed in doing that which 

 is considered as the lowest woman's work. Slaves are not allowed 

 to go to war ; but this perhaps can hardly be considered as a 

 hardship. I heard of one poor wretch who, during hostilities, 

 ran away to the opposite party ; being met by two men, he was 

 immediately seized ; but as they could not agree to whom he 

 should belong, each stood over him with a stone hatchet, and 

 seemed determined that the other at least should not take him 

 away alive. The poor man, almost dead with fright, was only 

 saved by the address of a chief's wife. We afterwards enjoyed a 

 pleasant walk back to the boat, but did not reach the ship till 

 late in the evening. 



December 2>0th. In the afternoon we stood out of the Bay of 

 Islands, on our course to Sydney. I believe we were all glad to 

 leave New Zealand. It is not a pleasant place. Amongst the 

 natives there is absent that charming simplicity which is found 

 at Tahiti ; and the greater part of the English are the very refuse 

 of society. Neither is the country itself attractive. I look back 

 but to one bright spot, and that is Waimate, with its Christian 

 inhabitants. 



