108 



Ornaments worn. Personal appear- 

 ance of Pomare. 



NEW ZEALAND. 



Mauparawa, the warrior. 

 Charley Pomare. 



from the stone, being called Tewai Pounamu or 

 the Green-stone Water. From the name of this 

 stone, Cook, by mistake, gave the name of Tavy 

 Poenammoo to the southern island. It is also 

 supposed that Captain D'Urville's name of Ika- 

 na-maw (meaning, the fish out of Mawi), given by 

 him to the northern islands, may also be the 

 name of some place on the northern side of Cook's 

 Straits. Those who are acquainted with the natives 

 and their language say, that they have no native 

 name for either of the islands, or any part of the 

 country, and have adopted into their language the 

 names given by the whites, with modifications to 

 suit their tongue. 



It was a long time before Pomare would con- 

 sent to his wife parting with the heitiki which 

 she wore, and that belonging to himself (his atua) 

 he would not allow us to take off his neck, even 

 to look at. Our consul interpreted for me a 

 singular story that the southern natives had in- 

 vented, relative to these stones : " That they 

 were found in a large fish, somewhat resembling 

 a shark, which they were obliged to capture and 

 kill for the purpose of obtaining them. When 

 first taken from the stomach of the fish, the stone 

 is soft, but from exposure becomes hard, and must 

 be wrought in its soft state." This story was re- 

 lated by Pomare. The smaller stones were about 

 three inches in length, and the larger ones about 

 five inches. 



Pomare is a fine-looking man, and is handsomely 

 tattooed. He is six feet in height, and well-formed, 

 with the exception of his feet and legs. His dress 

 was any thing but becoming : a blanket was tied 

 about his neck, and hung ungracefully about his 

 person, leaving his right arm free ; beneath this 

 he wore a shirt and loose pair of drawers, de- 

 scending to his knees; the rest of his person and 

 his feet were bare. In his hand he usually car- 

 ries a short cloak of dogskin, called topuni, shu- 

 puni, or patutu. These short cloaks are, in shape, 

 not unlike those of the knights in ancient times; 

 they are about three feet long, being formed of 

 common cloth, mat, or sewed dogskin, dressed 

 with the hair on. Pomare's dress was surmounted 

 by a blue naval cap, with a gold-lace band. The 

 tattooing may give his features somewhat of a 

 fierce aspect, and serve to disguise the expres- 

 sion, yet I cannot but believe that his true feel- 

 ings are developed in it. His face indicates any 

 thing but a kingly character. Perhaps his repu- 

 tation for business may have something to do 

 with the impression his physiognomy produced. 

 He told me he had two wives, but it is generally 

 believed that thirty would be nearer the truth. 

 The favourite one usually accompanies him ; she 

 is highly spoken of for her good sense, and Pomare 

 is said to place much confidence in her judgment. 

 She was the best-looking native I saw in New Zea- 

 land, but would not be called handsome elsewhere. 

 The missionaries have not yet been able to produce 

 any effect upon Pomare or the family connected 

 with him. Pomare's chief warrior is Mauparawa, 

 who has been persuaded to remain with him, 

 although a native of Hauaki, on the river 

 Thames, 



Mauparawa is a much finer-looking man than 

 Pomare,- in appearance a very Hercules; but the 

 effects of dissipation are beginning to be perceived 

 in his powerful frame. He has long been a fa- 



vourite with the whites, who admire him for his 

 prowess. Many of his followers came with him to 

 join Pomare, of whom few are now left ; for in an 

 expedition last year he lost almost all of them: 

 having landed on Aoteu or Barrier Island, he was 

 overpowered and badly wounded, barely escaping 

 with life. One of his acts of daring took place in 

 the last feuds with the Kororarikans, by whom he 

 was much detested. Wishing to put a disgrace 

 upon them and show his contempt, he one night 

 took his canoe, and with six of his followers left 

 Pomare's pa or stronghold for Kororarika, the 

 heart of his enemies' strength. He landed there 

 in the midst of his foes, whom he found fast asleep. 

 Drawing up his canoe on the beach, he went to the 

 house of a white man, whom he awoke, and ordered 

 him to give himself and followers some spirits, 

 threatening him, in case of refusal, with instant 

 death. They took their spirits quietly, desiring 

 the man to say to the Kororarikans in the morning, 

 that Mauparawa had been there in the night, with 

 some insulting message ; but before leaving, it 

 occurred to him that the man would not have the 

 courage to tell of his visit: he therefore determined 

 to leave his own canoe, (which was very well 

 known,) and take a whale-boat in its stead. All of 

 which was done merely to throw a slur upon his 

 enemies, at the risk of his own life. 



Another person of some note is a cousin of 

 Pomare, called Charley Pomare, the son of the 

 former ruling chief of that name. Hoia, the bro- 

 ther of the king, appears to be a stupid fellow. 

 Charley Pomare was very talkative and intelligent, 

 and although young, appears well-informed in the 

 history of the island. In his accounts, he dwells 

 particularly on the extensive ravages committed 

 by Shougi, who I believe was taken or went to 

 Europe. After his return, finding he had lost 

 influence in his tribe, in order to regain it, he com- 

 mitted some of the most barbarous cruelties that 

 have ever disgraced these islands, and made his 

 name terrible among the tribes. Most of these, 

 before his wars, had from three hundred to one 

 thousand warriors, but only a few now remain in 

 some of those who were formerly powerful and 

 independent, and who being from their weakness 

 unable to contend by themselves, have become 

 incorporated with other tribes. The reason that 

 the natives give for this diminution is, that Shougi 

 had killed them all. His conquests embraced 

 nearly all the northern part of the north island, 

 whose warriors he then united, and led against the 

 people of the south, about Hauaki, on the river 

 Thames. With these he waged a long and bloody 

 war, and extended the name of Ngapuhi, which 

 properly belongs to the people about the Bay of 

 Islands, as far south as Kiapara. His death, which 

 happened a few years since, was a great relief 

 both to his followers and foes. 



The last war took place in 1 837, about two years 

 before our arrival. It was, in all probability, the 

 last native contest that will be waged. It was 

 caused by the disappearance of a woman of Otuiha, 

 whom the tribe of Kororarika were suspected and 

 accused of having killed and eaten. Formidable 

 preparations were made, and the allies on both 

 sides called in ; the people of Kororarika being 

 aided by the forces from Hokianga. The principal 

 battle was fought in a piece of marshy ground 

 between Waikereparu and Otuiha. Here Pomare, 



