Lojjaltf/ of the Maories up /o 1858. 99 



fire the consciousness of their former moral degradation, and 

 of holding the European up for admiration, as the founder of 

 a new era of morality and humanity in their country ; nay, 

 one Maori, who is now a zealous missionary in the interior of 

 the island, once avowed to his hearers that he had himself as 

 a boy eaten human flesh, and had first learned througli the 

 influence of Christianity to comprehend the abominations and 

 wild-beast ferocity of his previous state, after which he had 

 begun to lead a life more worthy of the dignity of manhood. 



The members of our Expedition also enjoyed the opportunity 

 of attending a Mass-meeting of Maories in the Takapuna 

 district on the north shore of Waitemata Harbour, where they 

 gathered, from the orations of the most influential chiefs and 

 speakers, the liveliest conviction of their fidelity and attach- 

 ment to the Queen of England and her government. We in- 

 sert here a pretty full description of this remarkable meeting, 

 as well as a brief sketch of the most interesting manners and 

 customs of the aborigines of New Zealand, in order to enlighten 

 the reader as to the justice of the universally expressed dis- 

 trust of the capacity of the Maori for civilization, and the 

 more readil}'- to form an idea of tlie alarm and astonishment 

 of the English Government, on being suddenly informed that 

 the entire native population had rose in arms against the 

 European settlers. 



A wealthy and much-respected chief, named Patudni, has 

 been in the habit for many years past of inviting all the 

 friendly tribes residing in his neighbourhood, as well as the 



H 2 



