424 NEW ZEALAND. 



where the missionaries reside, they have done much to put a stop to 

 this practice. After the arrival of our gentlemen, an instance occur- 

 red of a chief having killed a boy about fourteen years of age, as a 

 medicine for his son, who was sick ; and as this prescription did not 

 effect a cure, a girl about the same age was to be served up, but the 

 timely interference of the missionaries prevented it. 



The present condition of the New Zealanders is inferior to that of 

 some of the other Polynesian nations. There is, as in other places, 

 little or no occasion for labour; the industry of a few weeks is all that 

 is needed to supply them with food for the year; their traffic in pigs 

 and other supplies to whalers and traders is quite sufficient to procure 

 their necessary supply of clothing. It is said their moral condition 

 has much improved of late, and that they are becoming sensible of 

 the advantages of civilized life. In the former direction there is still 

 great room for improvement, and the latter, I should think, as yet 

 far above their ideas of honesty and of the obligations they owe to 

 those about them. Perhaps those who have become somewhat 

 attached to the Christian religion may be a little improved, but the 

 only instance that we can recall to our recollection is that of the chief 

 Ko-towatowa. The chiefs, however, in general show a growing dis- 

 position to acquire comforts about their dwellings, and in comparison 

 with the other natives, are almost cleanly in their persons. Industry 

 is also making progress in the cultivation of their plantations. If I 

 could believe it possible that the dwellings of the lower classes of the 

 people had ever been more filthy, or their persons less cleanly, I 

 would more readily credit that some improvement had taken place. 

 Numbers are said to be able to read and write their own language, 

 having been taught by the missionaries, and then have afterwards 

 been known to take a pride in instructing others, and to display a 

 great eagerness in the acquisition of farther knowledge ; but they 

 are far, very far behind, in the rudiments of education, the natives of 

 other groups where the missionaries have been established, although, 

 as respects natural capacity, they may probably rank higher. 



There is much that is worthy of notice in the missionary opera- 

 tions here. They seem to have pursued a different course from 

 that followed at the other groups, and appear to begin by teaching 

 the useful arts, and setting an example of industry. This has given 

 rise to much remark. The missionaries of the Episcopal Church 

 appear to keep aloof from the natives, and an air of stiffness and 

 pride (unbecoming a missionary in most minds) seems to prevail. 



