1 68 ■ Voijage of the Novara. 



couple of English carpenters who joined the crowd, and 

 welcomed us to the interior. They were employed in con- 

 structing for the natives, at an expense of £400, a wooden 

 chapel, as the Maories attach great importance to having a 

 place of worship, where those resident on the spot, or any oc- 

 casional European stranger, may unite with them in spending 

 the sabbath in a becoming manner. The majority of the New 

 Zealanders are Christians, and belong almost exclusively to 

 the High Church of England. Service is performed partly 

 by missionaries, who traverse the country up and down, 

 partly by itinerant spiritual teachers, regularly engaged for 

 the pm-pose, the latter of whom have occasionally to struggle 

 against severe privations and obstacles of various kinds. 

 Many natives educated by the missionaries travel through the 

 country preaching and praying, and by their exemplary con- 

 duct must greatly influence their fellow-countrymen. In 

 almost every hut in the village we found a Bible, or a hymn- 

 book and prayer-book, in the Maori tongue. 



"Notwithstanding their undoubted capacity, the natives will 

 not apply themselves to any handicraft pursuits, which indeed 

 they attach so little value to that they regard the shoemaker 

 and the tailor, for example, as inferior to them. On the other 

 hand, the merchant or the seaman stands in high esteem ; and 

 the warrior holds the chief place in their estimation, while 

 they themselves consider them not inferior to the Europeans, 

 with respect to courage, firmness, and love of war. 



^' About noon we set out on our return. The route chalked 



