xviii EXCURSION TO WAIMATE 449 



with two dollars. When I showed the chief a very small 

 bundle which I wanted carried, it became absolutely necessary 

 for him to take a slave. These feelings of pride are beginning 

 to wear away ; but formerly a leading man would sooner have 

 died than undergone the indignity of carrying the smallest 

 burden. My companion was a light active man, dressed in a 

 dirty blanket, and with his face completely tattooed. He had 

 formerly been a great warrior. He appeared to be on very 

 cordial terms with Mr. Bushby ; but at various times they had 

 quarrelled violently. Mr. Bushby remarked that a little quiet 

 irony would frequently silence any one of these natives in their 

 most blustering moments. This chief has come and harangued 

 Mr. Bushby in a hectoring manner, saying, " A great chief, a 

 great man, a friend of mine, has come to pay me a visit — you 

 must give him something good to eat, some fine presents, etc." 

 Mr. Bushby has allowed him to finish his discourse, and then 

 has quietly replied by some such answer as, " What else shall 

 your slave do for you ? " The man would then instantly, with 

 a very comical expression, cease his braggadocio. 



Some time ago Mr. Bushby sufifered a far more serious 

 attack. A chief and a party of men tried to break into his 

 house in the middle of the night, and not finding this so easy, 

 commenced a brisk firing with their muskets. Mr. Bushby 

 was slightly wounded ; but the party was at length driven 

 away. Shortly afterwards it was discovered who was the 

 aggressor ; and a general meeting of the chiefs was convened 

 to consider the case. It was considered by the New Zealanders 

 as very atrocious, inasmuch as it was a night attack, and that 

 Mrs. Bushby was lying ill in the house ; this latter circumstance, 

 much to their honour, being considered in all cases as a 

 protection. The chiefs agreed to confiscate the land of the 

 aggressor to the King of England. The whole proceeding, 

 however, in thus trying and punishing a chief was entirely 

 without precedent. The aggressor, moreover, lost caste in the 

 estimation of his equals ; and this was considered by the 

 British as of more consequence than the confiscation of his 

 land. 



As the boat was shoving off, a second chief stepped into 

 her, who only wanted the amusement of the passage up and 

 down the creek. I never saw a more horrid and ferocious 



2 G 



