462 



ANNUAL REGISTER, I8I7. 



who regardeil us with silent con- 

 templation, and seemed rather oc- 

 cupied in forming conjectures as 

 to the motives that induced us to 

 visit their covuitry, than in taking 

 any particular notice of what we 

 were doing. They appeared not 

 to feel any interest whatsoever in 

 the distribution of the biscuits and 

 sugar-candy, and while the young 

 folks, with few exceptions, were 

 all us merry as possible, these 

 mute sages were wrapped in pro- 

 found meditation. Stdl looking 

 on us with an air of dignified gra- 

 vity and serious rellcction, they 

 never uttered a word, and a strange 

 association of ideas formed in my 

 mind some lesemblance between 

 them and the Roman senators, 

 when Brennus came with hostile 

 vengeance to destroy the city. 

 But they had nothing of this kind 

 to dread from us, as we wished 

 rather to improve, tlian demolish 

 their wretched capital. 



After having finished our repast, 

 we walked through the village, 

 which we found to consist of 

 about fifty huts, and one hundred 

 and liFty inhabitants. -The liuts 

 weie nuich better built than those 

 upon the island, and the I'oofs of 

 many of them were shaped like 

 the curved top of a waggon, while 

 others extended in the form of a 

 sharp ridge, increasing in breadth 

 frou) tlie smnmit to the extremi- 

 ties on each side. A small enclo- 

 sure in which tlicre was a shed 

 where tlie inhabitants used to take 

 their meals, surrounded each of 

 these huts, and the general effect 

 of the whole was not uninter- 

 esting. 



Tlie solemn hour of night was 

 now approaching, and leaving 

 these poor villagers, we returned 



to the camp, accompanied by our 

 friend Shunghi, whose fidelity and 

 attachment were sincere and de- 

 voted. We were also attended by 

 the New Zealand sailor, who used 

 to act as interpreter between us 

 and his countrymen ; and on our 

 arrival, we found the warrioi's all 

 seated on the ground, and the 

 brother chiefs, George and Tip- 

 pouie, in the midst of them. On 

 our approach they instantly made 

 room for us, and we were invited 

 by George to place ourselves next 

 to him, and some d jessed potatoes 

 were laid before us in a basket, 

 which we were to partake of for 

 our supper. 



After eating a few of the pota- 

 toes, we entered into conversation 

 with George, and anxious to leain 

 from him all the particulars re- 

 specting the Boyd, w'e immediately 

 conmienced that melancholy sub- 

 ject. 



After George had commimicated 

 to us all the particulars 1 have 

 narrated, it was time to prepare 

 for rest, and the warriors, stretch- 

 ing themselves on the ground, be- 

 gan to wrap their kakahows more 

 closely aljout them. The scene 

 now became awfully appalling. 

 Night threw its gloomy shade over 

 the ruthless murderers of our 

 countrymen, while we, but two in 

 number, remained perfectly de- 

 fenceless in the midst of ihem ; 

 trusting only to the internal dic- 

 tates of their hearts, for the pri- 

 vilege of existing a single instant. 

 Yet reflecting on their disposition, 

 which is never vengeful without 

 sufficient cause, we felt no alarms 

 for our safety ; and though per- 

 haps we may have subjected our- 

 selves 'to the imputation of having 

 unnecessarily exposed our lives in 



a per- 



