1^4 Voyage of the Novara. 



sliipped as part of the crew two Maorles, who at the last 

 moment declared their wish to accompany us. The official 

 correspondence on this subject between the Colonial Govern- 

 ment and the Commodore is especially interesting as illus- 

 trating the watchful care taken by the New Zealand author- 

 ities in protecting the interests of the Maories. The most 

 favourable terms were sought to be secured for them, and a 

 special clause was inserted providing for their return to their 

 native country free of expense, should they express a wish to 

 that effect at the conclusion of our voyage. At first four Ma- 

 ories and a half-blood had resolved on making the voyage, 

 but when the time for embarkation came, only two adliered 

 to their determination, Wiremu Toe-toe Tumohe, and Te 

 Hemara Rerehau Paraone, both of Ngatiapakura, and belong- 

 ing to the powerful Waikato tribe. Toe-toe, himself a chief of 

 two small tribes of Ngatiapakura and Ngatiwakohike, about 32 

 years old when he shipped with us, had been baptized at 15 

 by the English missionaries, by whom he had been instructed 

 in reading and writing. He had also ^been trained to agri- 

 cultural pursuits, and at 20 he married the mestisa daughter 

 of an Englishman and Maori woman, who had presented 

 him with a son. In his 26th year he entered the service 

 of the Colonial Government as post messenger, in which 

 capacity he proved himself so useful that he had been for 

 two years postmaster of his district, which position he still 

 filled when the Novara arrived. Toe-toe was the first to dis- 

 play his willingness to assist Government in constructing 



