124 NEW ZEALAND. 



dry them on hot stones, by which means they keep a long 

 time. That they may better protect themselves against their 

 enemies, they build their villages on the tops of the highest 

 hills, and surround them with palisades and trenches. They 

 are said to have improved in the construction of their houses, 

 but there is still great room for improvement ; they are yet 

 small, low, and very filthy. Their furniture consists of a few 

 mats and baskets, an old sea-chest and an iron pot or two, in 

 which they cook their food. 



The New Zealanders are industrious, compared with most 

 of the South Sea Islanders. They cultivate a surplus of 

 provisions for sale, cut timber, clean flax, raise pigs, poultry, 

 &c, &c. They also ship as sailors on board of whalers* and 

 other vessels, which may stand in need of their services. 

 They are apt in learning the names of the rigging, and are 

 very active aloft. 



In disposition they are zealous, revengeful, and cunning; 

 but, on the other hand, they are hospitable and generous to 

 strangers. Their courage is not to be questioned. Their 

 wars often last till one or the other of the parties are exter- 

 minated, and it is said that the horrible custom of feasting on 

 the flesh of their prisoners is still practised by the tribes who 

 occupy the interior of the island. These Avars are oftentimes 

 occasioned by the bad conduct of single individuals, their 

 crimes being charged to the whole tribe to which they may be- 

 long. The tribes who live about the Bay of Islands are well 

 acquainted with the use of money. They are also well ac- 

 quainted with fire-arms, and in their conflicts prefer them to 

 the weapons of their own manufacture, which consist of spears 



* Whales are very numerous about New Zealan. and a great number of vessels 

 resort there to engage in the whaling business. Th" American vessels alone amount 

 to seventy or eighty a year 



