198 NEW ZEALAND CHAP. VIII 
completely cured. Our repast ended, we proceeded down 
the river again. At the mouth of it was a small Indian 
village, where we landed, and were most civilly received 
by the inhabitants, who treated us with hot cockles, or 
at least a small flat shell-fish (Zellina), which was most 
delicious food. 
11th. An oyster bank was found in the river, about half 
a mile up, just above a small island which is covered at high 
water; here the long-boat was sent and soon returned 
deeply loaded with as good oysters as ever came from Col- 
chester, and of about the same size. They were laid down 
under the booms, and employed the ship’s company very 
well, who, I sincerely believe, did nothing but eat from the 
time they came on board till night, by which time a large 
part were expended. But this gave us no kind of uneasi- 
ness, since we well knew that not the boat only but the 
ship might be loaded in one tide almost, as they are dry 
at half ebb. 
12th. We all went ashore to see an Indian fort, or heppah, 
in the neighbourhood, uncertain, however, what kind of a re- 
ception we should meet with, as they might be jealous about 
letting us into a place where all their valuable effects were 
probably lodged. We went to a bay where were two heppahs, 
and landed first near a small one, the most beautiful romantic 
thing I ever saw. It was built on a small rock detached 
from the main, and surrounded at high water; the top of 
this was fenced round with rails after their manner, but was 
not large enough to contain above five or six houses; the 
whole appeared totally inaccessible to any animal who was 
not furnished with wings, indeed, it was only approachable 
by one very narrow and steep path, but what made it most 
truly romantic was that much the greater part of it was 
hollowed out into an arch, which penetrated quite through 
it, the top being not less than twenty perpendicular yards 
above the water, which ran through it. 
The inhabitants on our approach came down, and invited 
us to go in; but we refused, intending to visit a much larger 
and more perfect one about a mile off: we spent, however, 
