402 NEW ZEALAND. [CHAP. xvm. 



the piles of shells, and the pits in which, as I was informed, sweet 

 potatoes used to be kept as a reserve. As there was no water on 

 these hills, the defenders could never have anticipated a long siege, 

 but only a' hurried attack for plunder, against which the successive 

 terraces would have afforded good protection. The general intro- 

 duction of fire-arms has changed the whole system of warfare ; 

 and an exposed situation on the top of a hill is now worse than 

 useless. The Pas in consequence are, at the present day, always 

 built on a level piece of ground. They consist of a double stock- 

 ade of thick and tall posts, placed in a zigzag line, so that every 

 part can be flanked. "Within the stockade a mound of earth is 

 thrown up, behind which the defenders can rest in safety, or use 

 their fire-arms over it. On the level of the ground little archways 

 sometimes pass through this breastwork, by which means the 

 defenders can crawl out to the stockade to reconnoitre their ene- 

 mies. The Eev. W. Williams, who gave mo this account, added, 

 that in one Pas he had noticed spurs or buttresses projecting on 

 the inner and protected side of the mound of earth. On asking 

 the chief the use of them, he replied, that if two or three of his 

 men were shot, their neighbours would not see the bodies, and so 

 be discouraged. 



These Pas are considered by the New Zealanders as very perfect 

 means of defence: for the attacking force is never so well dis- 

 ciplined as to rush in a body to the stockade, cut it down, and effect 

 their entry. "When a tribe goes to war, the chief cannot order one 

 party to go here and another there ; but every man fights in the 

 manner which best pleases himself; and to each separate individual 

 to approach a stockade defended by fire-arms must appear certain 

 death. I should think a more warlike race of inhabitants could 

 not be found in any part of the world than the New Zealanders. 

 Their conduct on first seeing a ship, as described by Captain Cook, 

 strongly illustrates this : the act of throwing volleys of stones at so 

 great and novel an object, and their defiance of '' Come on shore 

 and we will kill and eat you all," shows uncommon boldness. 

 This warlike spirit is evident in many of their customs, and even 

 in their smallest actions. If a New Zealander is struck, although 

 but iu joke, the blow must be returned; and of this I saw an 

 instance with one of our officers. 



At the present day, from the progress of civilization, there is 

 much less warfare, except among some of the southern tribes. I 



