S^nrn.— Captain Damon f D'Urville's Visit in 1827. 415 



Hardly had we anchored when the sky became entirely overcast, and the 

 wind blew with force from the S.E., accompanied by much rain and a heavy 

 sea. Nevertheless, it was not long before we distinguished a long war- 

 canoe coming from the head of the bay, and approaching us, urged by all 

 the vigour of those on board, for they managed their craft with extreme 

 ability. It was not without interest to see that long and frail vessel mount- 

 ing and disappearing alternately over the rough waves. These Natives were 

 in the national costume of New Zealand — that is, mats of mouka {Phor- 

 mium tenax) [muka], more or less thick, with the exception of one indi- 

 vidual, who was properly dressed in English garments. I at first took him 

 for some deserter established amongst the Natives, the more so as he 

 accosted the corvette without hesitation, mounted on board, and asked 

 for the rangatira rahi [principal chief], and advanced towards me with 

 a deliberate air. It was not until I heard him speak, and examined 

 his partly tattooed face nearer, that I discovered he was in reality a 

 Native. 



Soon, by aid of a language half English, half New-Zealand, often aided 

 by significant gestures, I came to understand that my guest was named 

 Kangui [Rangituke], son of Te Koki, principal chief of Paihia, Bay of 

 Islands, whom I had visited four years previously. He said, with pride, 

 he was a companion of Pomare [killed by AVaikato, on the Waipa River, 

 in 1826], and, although he concealed part of the truth, I suspected very 

 quickly that he was at this time engaged in some military expedition against 

 the people of Shouraki Bay. 



One of his lieutenants, named Natai [? Nga-tai], decorated with regular 

 tattooage, attracted our attention. The facile pencil of M. de Sainson has 

 reproduced with fidelity the features and the moko [tattooing] of this New 

 Zealand warrior (see pi. xhii). [Plate XL.] 



Rangui gave me to understand that he had resided some time at Port 

 Jackson, where he had acquired his semi-European manners. In order to 

 convince me, he showed me with much gravity a torn sheet of paper, which 

 1 at first took for some certificate of a whaling captain. In effect it was a 

 certificate, but under the name of two individuals of Sydney, attesting the 

 iact that they had lodged Rangui for some days, adding that the latter had 

 promised in return to send them some spears, shells, and other objects of 

 the country. These two people, in consequence, invited all captains into 

 Avhose hands the paper should fall to remind the bearer of that promise. 

 That pleasant invitation amused me much, and I thought that those invited 

 would think much more of securing such things for themselves, rather than 

 for the two comrades of Port Jackson. For the rest, I returned to Rangui 

 his paper, with a serious air, as if its contents had given me much informa- 

 tion about him, and he appeared very well satisfied. 



After having examined for a moment the weather, our ship, and our 

 anchorage with as much aplomb as an experienced pilot, he declared that 

 we were in a very bad place, that the weather was going to be worse, and 

 that our ship would certainly perish if we did not change her position. At 

 the same time he indicated the head of the bay, and assured me we 

 should be in perfect safety there, and used all his eloquence to persuade me 

 to remove thither. Without doubt he was right, which I knew well ; and 

 more than he I desired the power to conduct the corvette under the shelter 

 of Tewara Peninsula, but the weather which prevailed did not permit me 

 to attempt it. Te Rangui, Avho could not understand my reasons, exerted 

 himself to demonstrate the necessity of leaving that anchorage, and added 



