210 A NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE. 



Haven Bay, one of the owners of the schooner Eliza 

 approached* me very mysteriously, and asked the 

 privilege of a few minutes conversation with me. 

 Of course I acquiesced, wondering at the motive for 

 his request. I was soon enlightened. He stated that 

 in the settlement where he lived, at Jacob's Eiver 

 Bluff, at the extremity of the middle island, their 

 former phj'sician, who for many years had practised 

 in the vicinity, had died, and they, therefore, were 

 without medical attention. Having heard my ship- 

 mates call me Doctor, and discovering, upon inquiry, 

 that I had dabbled somewhat in physic at home, he 

 made up his mind that I M'^as an expert practitioner, 

 and the idea entered his head to secure me as a resi- 

 dent at the Bluft'. He stated the matter to me, 

 assuring me of a remunerative practice, and, as a 

 further inducement offered me one of his daughters 

 as a wife. He represented her as a beautiful half- 

 caste girl — and I found, upon inquir}'', that he did 

 her but justice. I was both amused and surprised at 

 the ardor with which he urged the matter, and did 

 not give him a final answer, wishing to draw him 

 out. The old fellow thought that he had me safe, 

 when I deemed it time to put a stop to it, and in- 

 formed him that my engagements to the owners of 

 our ship were of so urgent a nature that I could not 

 leave without the captain's full consent. He assured 

 me that there would be no difficulty about that, if I 

 would but give my consent to the matter; he would 

 stow me away so that no one would be able to find 

 me, and at the end of their cruise carry me to the 

 Bluff. Of course I could not consent to this, although 

 every time he renewed his solicitations, he enjoined 



