90 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



to convert a missionary, had not noticed them, and was 

 now standing among the other passengers watching the 

 interesting operation of splicing harness ; but when I 

 held up a few shells, he straightway, satchel in hand, 

 began scooping in everything he came across. 



The harness was patched all too soon, but it was not 

 until my carpet bag refused to close its jaws, and one 

 of my shirts, with arms and neck tied up, presented a 

 decided aldermanic appearance. The shells were most 

 abundant opposite Capity Island, and I have no doubt 

 we could have collected a wagon-load. It is only after 

 storms they are so plentiful, and many times, the driver 

 informed me, not a shell is to be seen. 



The Maoris formerly must have lived largely on 

 mollusks ; for pippie shells in mounds, from ten to 

 twenty feet high, could be seen above the beach. 



We passed the wreck of a great iron ship, where 

 several hundred Swedish emigrants narrowly escaped 

 losing their lives. The captain mistook a Maori camp- 

 fire for the government light at the southern extremity 

 of the north island, and after navigating thousands of 

 miles of stormy seas in safety, as he was endeavoring to 

 pass between the islands, ran his vessel ashore within 

 fifty miles of Wellington his destination. 



We came very near leaving father behind where we 

 stopped for dinner. He went out to admire the fruit- 

 trees, and we were nearly out of sight when he came 

 back. I was seated on top of the stage, and thought 



