110 LAND-SHARKS. [PART I, 



I have already remarked that there are a few head 

 of cattle upon the island. They thrive well, and 

 are claimed partly by Rauparaha, partly by E Hiko, 

 to whom they were given as a present, or in charge, 

 by Mr. Cooper of Sydney. Owing to the petty 

 feuds amongst these people, and occasional sales to 

 other parties, the stock has not increased, although 

 there are pasture-grounds and food for a much larger 

 number. 



Kapiti and the adjacent islands have been sold 

 over and over again to different parties, and spots 

 may be found to which half a dozen different per- 

 sons lay claim. The chiefs sell their land as many 

 times as they can, still finding hungry sharks ready 

 to purchase, though not very liberal in their offers, 

 who establish by these means some shadow of a 

 claim. A future investigation into the land- titles 

 will afford much work and profit to the lawyers. 



Fish of many kinds is taken at Kapiti in great 

 abundance, and will become one day an important; 

 article of commerce. We caught with the sieve 

 large quantities of a curious fish, belonging to the 

 genus Balistes, about a foot long, and with a rough 

 parchment-like skin of a brownish colour, which 

 our carpenter used in the place of sand-paper. The 

 first ray of the dorsal fin moves in a curiously-formed 

 joint, and the sailors ascribed to it a poisonous 

 quality. The fish itself afforded a very wholesome 

 and agreeable food. Herrings, mackerels, gurnets, 

 flatfish, several kinds of skate, and a variety of other 

 fish, may be caught here in any quantity. 



