I ©4 Voijacjc of the Novara. 



After several more of the younger chiefs had greeted the 

 Commodore and staff in the most hearty manner, Hui 

 Haupapa, of colossal statm^e and frank expression of comite- 

 nance, made with liis powerful arm a passage for himself 

 through the compact crowd, placed himself in a somewhat 

 theatrical position, and began in a loud voice, and in evident 

 excitement, brandishing his meri-meri as he spoke : — 



" The chiefs of this neighbourhood have welcomed thee.' 

 My tribe lives far from here, but I am here, and I bid thee 

 welcome ! Thou hast said we are happy and live at peace. It 

 is true the laws of our Queen have contributed to this fortunate 

 state of things. Formerly, war, murder, and spilling of 

 blood formed our chief occupation. Even now troubles 

 arise, which it is often difficult to smooth over. Just as thou 

 wert landing we were engaged reading a letter informing us 

 that a dispute of long standing between the Ngatiwhatua and 

 the Uriohare threatened to give rise to a war. Were we still 

 in our old Maori state we should assuredly have had recourse 

 to arms for its settlement, but the two tribes will remember 

 that the laws do not permit one family of our Queen's chil- 

 dren to make war against another, and they will therefore 

 restrain their anger in the hope that their differences may be 

 amicably arranged. But what interest have these things 

 for you ? You came to us in peace and friendliness, take with 

 you the love of the entire assembly, which is proud of having 

 been visited by an officer of the great king, who is a friend of 

 Queen Victoria and her children." 



