CHAP. XIII.] NATIVE TRIBES. 217 



western coast, several valleys are seen stretching 

 from the western hills into the plain, in most of 

 which natives reside. To the northward of Waro 

 low ridges run parallel to the sea-coast, small creeks 

 flowing between them, and the light soil there is 

 eagerly sought after for the cultivation of kumeras 

 At one of these creeks, the Wai-mimi, there is an 

 extensive bed of lignite. About two miles to the 

 northward of Kaitaia is a small fresh-water lake, 

 containing large eels and two kinds of small fishes ; 

 crawfish is also found there. 



The natives form the tribe of the Rarewa, and their 

 whole number is about 8000, including all those who 

 inhabit the valley of the A waroa. Of all the natives 

 who are under the influence of the missionaries, this 

 tribe is the most advanced in the arts of civilization. 

 This must be ascribed partly to the endeavours of 

 the missionaries and partly to the comparative isola- 

 tion of the natives, resulting from their having been 

 powerful enough to resist the aggressions of E'Ongi 

 from the Bay of Islands, and of the neighbouring 

 tribes. The traveller does not meet here with that 

 begging and grasping behaviour which renders the 

 natives on the coast so importunate ; on the con- 

 trary, they are a quiet hard-working people, and they 

 have, for a very small payment, cut a road thirty-two 

 miles long through the primitive forest, between 

 Kaitaia and Waimate, in the neighbourhood of the 

 Bay of Islands ; they have also . cut roads in the 

 neighbourhood of their own village. During my 



