CHAP. V.] NATIVE TRIBES. 75 



flock. The Church missionaries in the Bay of 

 Islands possess large properties in these districts, 

 which is perhaps the reason that they have not 

 long ago gone into the interior, where they would 

 have been far more usefully employed than in the 

 Bay of Islands, which is principally a shipping- 

 place. Some of the stations occupied by them are 

 nearly deserted by the natives, and they have there- 

 fore no congregations, unless they choose, like St. 

 Antonio, to preach to the fishes. 



III. Nga-te-whatua, a tribe occupying Kaipara 

 and Waitemata, in the Gulf of Hauraki and Manu- 

 kao. These people have been most unfortunate 

 during the last twenty years, as their whole number 

 has dwindled down to about 800. They were en- 

 closed between the Waikato and Nga-pui, both of 

 which tribes were their enemies, and dispersed them 

 in all directions ; and it is only lately that they 

 have returned, and claimed as their own a part of' 

 their original territory. In many places their 

 ancient pas are still standing, which even in the 

 recollection of the present generation had been 

 very thickly peopled. There is a Wesley an mission- 

 station at Kaipara for this tribe. 



IV. Nga-te-paoa, comprising the Nga-te-Maru, 

 the Nga-te-Tamatera, and the Nga-te-Wanaunga. 

 They decreased much during the wars with the 

 Nga-pui and their other neighbours, but still amount 

 to 5000. They live at the Waiho, or Thames, at 

 the Piako, at Coromandel Harbour, and a small divi- 



