CHAP. VII.] MOUNT EGMONT. 141 



But I answered that I was not afraid of these crea- 

 tions of their lively imagination, and that if they 

 wanted large payment for their land I must first go 

 and look at it; that it was possible though not 

 very probable that the monikoura (money-gold) 

 was found on the mountain, and that if, through 

 their refusing to provide me a guide, I was the first 

 to reach the summit, I would make the mountain 

 " tapu " for myself, according to their own law. 

 An old Tohunga, or priest, was therefore persuaded 

 to show me the way as far as he knew it, and with 

 him, and an American man of colour, I started on 

 the 3rd of December. Tangutu-na-Waikato, as 

 the worthy priest was called, was particularly qua- 

 lified for the office of guide on this expedition. In 

 the wars between the Nga-te-awa and Waikato, the 

 latter had carried away his two wives into slavery ; 

 he himself escaped to the mountain, where they were 

 unable to find him. There he lives by himself, as 

 all his kindred are gone, and cultivates small patches 

 in the impenetrable forest, which supply him with 

 food. The Waikato often chased him, but he was 

 always fortunate enough to escape. The old man 

 was renowned for his skill in the arts and the 

 mystic lore of a priest of his nation, and had lately 

 become a zealous missionary ; and although he 

 almost invariably kept his puka puka (hymn and 

 prayer books) upside down when he pretended to 

 sing his psalms or read the service, yet what he 

 sung and said pretty nearly corresponded with the 



