426 Transactions. 



infant in her arms, who appeared to be equally cherished by both parents. 

 As we had seen in other parts, the slave girls granted their favours to the 

 first-comer for the merest trifle, whilst the married women were inaccessible. 

 In order to prove the extent of the scruples touching conjugal fidelity, 

 M. Gaimard made all sorts of offers to Tawiti to obtain the favours of his 

 wife ; that rangatira was deaf to all these seductions, even of the ofEer of an 

 ordinary musket, and contented himself each time by responding, " Tapou " 

 (sacred, defended) [tapu]. But when the doctor came to offer, as a 

 pleasantry, a double-barrelled gun, this savage chief, incapable of resisting 

 an offer so seducing, pushed his wife into the arms of the stranger, whilst 

 he held out the other hand for the gun. Before judging too severely these 

 children of nature, it must not be forgotten that in their eyes an arm of that 

 kind is to-day a greater prize than a chamberlain's key, a marshal's baton, 

 or even a Minister's portfolio, in the eyes of a European. 



As I had already remarked in similar cases at the Bay of Islands, the wife 

 of Tawiti showed the greatest repugnance to part- with a shark's tooth 

 which she carried in her ear. The only reason she offe /ed was that this 

 tooth came from a stranger {tangata he), a response which had often been 

 made to me at Paroa. It must follow that these Natives hold singularly 

 to souvenirs of friendship which have been left them, if, indeed, it is not the 

 efiect of a superstitious sentiment. 



At 5 o'clock the canoes returned alongside, bringing an immense 

 quantity of fish. These islanders ceded them to the sailors for scraps of 

 biscuit, and showed great probity in their bargains. The yawl brought two 

 loads of wood, which was easily procured from Koreha Island. 



The whaleboat returned at 7.15 p.m. with all our voyagers. After 

 having ascended the Mogoia [Tamaki] River three or four miles, they landed 

 on the shore of a narrow isthmus, which they crossed, and then found them- 

 selves on the basin of Manoukao. They had nothing but praise for the 

 proceedings of the Natives, and were received by them with all possible 

 honour. I refer the reader to M. Lottin's account* for details of this 

 interesting excursion, and the results of his explorations ; for the rest, it is 

 now proved that the island of Ika-Na-Mawi in that part is reduced to a 

 very narrow tongue of land [at Otahuhu]. 



This discovery may become of great interest for any settlements which 

 may take place in the bay of Shouraki, and the interest augments the more 

 if further reconnaisances demonstrate that the port of Manoukao is sus- 

 ceptible of receiving ships of a certain size, for such an establishment 

 would thus be found within reach of the two seas, both east and west. 



Toupaia [Tupaea], the principal chief, could not come on board till the 

 morning ; but Inaki, rangatira 'paraparao,'f who had received the gentle- 

 men at Manoukao, accompanied them on their return. He was of medium 

 height, but very well built, with an expressive face and proud attitude, 

 and a truly warlike air. He appeared to be altogether independent of 

 Rangui, who on his side affected to treat him with haughtiness. The 

 latter did not cease to repeat that Inaki was much inferior in rank, and 

 that he was but a rangatira paraparao, allowing also that he was a very 

 brave wan'ior. I concluded that, as in other countries of the globe, Inaki, 

 though inferior to Rangui by birth, had perhaps acquired by his courage 



* Note 16 [at the end hereof]. 



f A title which coiTesjwiids to that of first lieutenant of the i^rincipal chief, and 

 confers on him the function of chief warrior. 



