NEW ZEALANDERS. 251 



sity, editors and reporters, authors and 

 artists, wits and men about town, who 

 contributed on most evenings when I 

 was admitted to the social and intellectual 

 enjoyment. 



On one occasion a scion of the nobility, 

 of whose acquaintance I was somewhat 

 proud and while really deserving the name 

 of an eccentric, was a kind friend and more 

 worthy gentleman* introduced two New 

 Zealand chiefs, dressed as Englishmen. Their 

 real character did not first strike me; but 

 on my endeavouring to address them, their 

 reply was so incomprehensible, and their 

 looks and gesticulations so ferocious, that 

 my friend thought it necessary to put his 

 head over the box, and whisper in my ear 

 to warn me not to aggravate them by any 

 further remarks, or they would kill and eat 

 me. Not wishing to be food for cannibals, 

 I desisted trying to elicit anything more 

 from them; but they seemed on good 



The late W. Barham, Esq. 



