422 



NEW ZEALAND. 



they did not harm any thing, and declined to enter into any explana- 

 tion until they had seen the missionaries. Taking their seats quietly 

 at the gate, they awaited their return, which did not take place for 

 some hours after, when they demanded an explanation of the sup- 

 posed wrong, and atonement for it; and being satisfied, they departed 

 without any molestation or injury whatever. It will, in all proba- 

 bility, be said, that such patience was in consequence of the parties 

 complained of being missionaries ; but that could not well have been 

 the case, for they are by no means popular with the natives, and the 

 reason is, that the missionaries show very little regard for their own 

 countrymen, which, in the eyes of a New Zealander, is a great crime. 



From all I could gather, I am inclined to believe them an 

 observant people, and that they would become an industrious one, 

 were it less easy to provide themselves with the necessaries of life. 

 They show much energy of character in their warlike pursuits, on 

 which their whole minds seem yet to dwell. The spontaneous pro- 

 ductions of their soil furnish them so easily with all that is required 

 for their food and clothing, that there is no sufficient incitement to 

 industry. 



The New Zealanders are above the middle size, well formed, and 

 athletic ; they vary in colour from a chestnut to a light copper ; they 

 have black hair, very thick and curly, which many suffer to grow 

 long, while others crop it close. I saw few with whiskers, and their 

 beards were light. The forehead is high, sloping backwards; the 

 nose frequently aquiline and prominent; the eyes are black and 

 piercing, but rather small ; the tattooing gives a hardness of outline 

 to the chiefs that is not so observable in the common people ; they 

 want, however, the softness of the rest of the Polynesian family, of 

 which they are a part, not having the full muscles, or soft contour of 

 face, which we had hitherto observed among the groups we visited ; 

 they are as indolent as the other cognate races, but more capable of 

 undergoing fatigue. 



DO O 



The following is one of their traditions respecting their origin. 

 The first natives came from Hawaiki, situated towards the east, in 

 several canoes, and the names of some of the principal men, were 

 Tanepepeke, Tanewitika, Taneweka, Rongokako, Kopaia, Kornan- 

 poko ; the canoes in which they came were called Kotahinui, 

 Kotearawa, Kohorouta, Takitima. They settled first at Kawia, on 

 the western coast ; near Maketu, Turanga, and Ahuriri, at the east 

 cape. The natives, it may be as well to remark, say that this 



