CHAP. VII.] PURCHASE OF LAND. 161 



large masses of the perpendicular cliffs had fallen 

 down and obstructed the bed of the river. In 

 future times this picturesque valley, as well as 

 Mount Egmont and the smiling open land at its 

 base, will become as celebrated for their beauty as 

 the Bay of Naples, and will attract travellers from 

 all parts of the globe. 



On the 28th of December we again reached the 

 beach without accident, and with somewhat better 

 reason to be satisfied with our success than on our 

 last return. I found a large number of natives at 

 Nga Motu from the Otumatua and Waimate, as- 

 sembled for the purpose of selling the whole Tara- 

 naki district. As the return of the Tory was daily 

 expected, the beach looked as if a fair was being held 

 on it. A European also had arrived from Kawia, 

 accompanied by many natives, for the purpose of 

 dissuading those at Taranaki from ceding to the 

 Company their territorial rights ; not, however, from 

 any disinterested intention, or for the sake of the Ta- 

 ranaki natives, but because some parties were anxious 

 to buy the land for themselves, either from the small 

 remaining body of the original native proprietors, or, 

 if they would not agree to the terms proposed, from 

 their conquerors, the Waikato tribes. It was said 

 that the missionaries were much concerned in these 

 transactions. 



On the 31st I started in the boat for the Waitara, 

 which is eight miles to the northward of the Sugarloaf 

 Islands. This river has a bar at the entrance, over 



VOL. i. M 



