204 NEW ZEALAND. 



where seen liis likeness : it will bo found in Rctzch's 

 outlines to Schiller's ballad ofFridolin, where two 

 men are pushing Robert into the burning iron fur- 

 nace. It is the man who has his arm on Robert's 

 breast. Physiognomy here spoke the truth ; this 

 chief had been a notorious murderer, and was an 

 arrant coward to boot. At the point where the 

 boat landed, Mr. Bushby accompanied me a few 

 hundred yards on the road: T could not help admi- 

 ring the cool impudence of the hoary old villain, 

 whom we left lying in the boat, when he shouted 

 to Mr. Bushby, " Do not you stay long ; I shall be 

 tired of waiting here." 



We now commenced our walk. The road lay 

 along a well-beaten path, bordered on each side 

 by the tall fern which covers the whole country. 

 After travelling some miles, we came to a little 

 country village, where a few hovels were collected 

 together and some patciies of gi'ound cultivated 

 with potatoes. The introduction of the potato has 

 been the most essential benefit to the island : it is 

 now much more used than any native vegetable. 

 New Zealand is favoured by one great natui-al 

 advantage, namely, that the inhabitants can never 

 perish from famine. The whole country abounds 

 with fern ; and the roots of this plant, if not very 

 palatable, yet contain much nutriment. A native 

 can always subsist on these, and on the shell-fish, 

 which are abundant on all parts of the sea-coast. 

 The villages are chiefly conspicuous by the plat- 

 forms, which are raised on four posts ten or twelve 

 feet above the ground, and on which the produce 

 of the fields is kept secure from all accidents. 



On coming near one of the huts, I was much 

 amused by seeing in due form the ceremony of 

 rubbing, or, as it ought to be called, pressing no- 

 ses. The women, on our first approach, began 



