T H E^ PACIFIC OCEAN. 137 



aee, named Kokoa. He was prefented to me bv his own ^^p7- 



o ' r ^ ' ^ Fsbruar}*. 



father, who, I believe, would have parted with his dog 

 with far lefs indifference. The very little clothing the boy- 

 had, he llript him of, and left him as naked as he was born. 

 It was to no purpofe that I endeavoured to convince thefe 

 people of the improbability, or rather of the impoffibility, 

 of thefe youths ever returning home. Not one, not even 

 their nearefl: relations, feemed to trouble themfelves about 

 their future fate. Since this was the cafe, and I was well 

 fatisfied that the boys would be no lofers by exchange of 

 place, I the more readily gave my confent to their going. 



From my own obfervations, and from the information of 

 Taweiharooa and others, it appears to me that the New 

 Zealanders muft live under perpetual apprehenflons of be- 

 ing deftroyed by each otlier; there being few of their tribes 

 that have not, as they think, fuftained wrongs from fome 

 other tribe^ which they are continually upon the watch to 

 revenge, And, perhaps, the defire of a good meal may be 

 no fmall incitement. I am told that many years will fome- 

 times elapfe, before a favourable opportunity happens, and- 

 that the fon never lofes fight of an injury that has been 

 done to his father. Their method of executing their hor- 

 rible defigns, is by Healing upon the adverfe party in the 

 night ; and if they find them unguarded (which, however, 

 I believe, is very feldom the cafe), they kill every one indif- 

 criminately ; not even fparing the women and children. 

 When the maffacre is completed, they either feafl and gorge 

 themfelves on the fpot, or carry off as many of the dead 

 bodies as they can, and devour them at home, with a6ls of 

 brutality too fhocking to be defcribed. If they are difco- 

 vered before they can execute their bloody purpofe, they 

 generally fleai off again j and fometimes are purfued and 



Vol. I. T attacked 



