446 -V^H^ ZEALAND 



afforded good protection. The general introduction 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 stockade 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 firearms over it. On the level of 

 the ground little archways sometimes pass through this breast- 

 work, by which means the defenders can crawl out to the 

 stockade to reconnoitre their enemies. The Rev. W. Williams, 

 who gave me this account, added, that in one Pas he had 

 noticed spurs or buttresses projecting on the inner and pro- 

 tected 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 disciplined 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 firearms 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 in 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 civilisation, there 

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

 I heard a characteristic anecdote of what took place some time 

 ago in the south. A missionary found a chief and his tribe in 



