430 NEW ZEALAND. [CHAP. xvm. 



ence, however, they allowed us to examine the whole place. At 

 this village we rested some hours, during which time there was 

 a long discussion with Mr. Bushby, concerning the right of salo 

 of certain lands. One old man, who appeared a perfect genealo- 

 gist, illustrated the successive possessors by bits of stick driven 

 into the ground. Before leaving the houses a little basketful oi 

 roasted sweet potatoes was given to each of our party ; and we 

 all, according to the custom, carried them away to eat on the 

 road. I noticed that among the women employed in cooking, 

 there was a man-slave : it must be a humiliating thing for a 

 man in this warlike country to be employed in doing that which 

 is considered as the lowest woman's work. Slaves are not allowed 

 to go to war ; but this perhaps can hardly be considered as a 

 hardship. I heard of one poor wretch who, during hostilities, 

 ran away to the opposite party ; being met by two men, he was 

 immediately seized ; but as they could not agree to whom he 

 should belong, each stood over him with a stone hatchet, and 

 seemed determined that the other at least should not take him 

 away alive. The poor man, almost dead with fright, was only 

 saved by the address of a chief's wife. We afterwards enjoyed a 

 pleasant walk back to the boat, but did not reach the ship till 

 late in the evening. 



December 30th. In the afternoon we stood out of the Bay of 

 Islands, on our course to Sydney. I believe we were all glad to 

 leave New Zealand. It is not a pleasant place. Amongst the 

 natives there is absent that charming simplicity which is found 

 at Tahiti ; and the greater part of the English are the very refuse 

 of society. Neither is the country itself attractive. I look back 

 but to one bright spot, and that is Waimate, with its Christian 

 inhabitants. 



