NEW ZEALAND. 391 



Pomare is said to place much confidence in her judgment. She was 

 the best-looking native I saw in New Zealand, but would not be called 

 handsome elsewhere. The missionaries have not yet been able to 

 produce any effect upon Pomare or the family connected with him. 

 Pomare's chief warrior is Mauparawa, who has been persuaded 

 to remain with him, although a native of Hauaki, on the river 

 Thames. 



Mauparawa is a much finer-looking man than Pomare, — in appear- 

 ance a very Hercules; but the effects of dissipation are beginning to be 

 perceived in his powerful frame. He has long been a favourite with 

 the whites, who admire him for his prowess. Many of his followers 

 came with him to join Pomare, of whom few are now left ; for in an 

 expedition last year he lost almost all of them : having landed on Aoteu 

 or Barrier Island, he was overpowered and badly wounded, barely 

 escaping with life. One of his acts of daring took place in the last 

 feuds with the Kororarikans, by whom he was much detested. Wishing 

 to put a disgrace upon them and show his contempt, he one night took 

 his canoe, and with six of his followers left Pomare's pa or stronghold 

 for Kororarika, the heart of his enemies' strength. He landed there 

 in the midst of his foes, whom he found fast asleep. Drawing up his 

 canoe on the beach, he went to the house of a white man, whom he 

 awoke, and ordered him to give himself and followers some spirits, 

 threatening him, in case of refusal, with instant death. They took 

 their spirits quietly, desiring the man to say to the Kororarikans in 

 the morning, that Mauparawa had been there in the night, with some 

 insulting message ; but before leaving, it occurred to him that the man 

 would not have the courage to tell of his visit : he therefore determined 

 to leave his own canoe, (which was very well known,) and take a 

 whale-boat in its stead. All of which was done merely to throw a slur 

 upon his enemies, at the risk of his own life. 



Another person of some note, is a cousin of Pomare, called 

 Charley Pomare, the son of the former ruling chief of that name. 

 Hoia, the brother of the king, appears to be a stupid fellow. Charley 

 Pomare was very talkative, and although young, appears well-informed 

 in the history of the island, and is quite intelligent. In his accounts, 

 he dwells particularly on the extensive ravages committed by Shougi, 

 who I believe was taken or went to Europe. After his return, finding 

 he had lost influence in his tribe, in order to regain it, he committed 

 some of the most barbarous cruelties that have ever disgraced these 

 islands, and made his name terrible among the tribes. Most of these, 

 before his wars, had from three hundred to one thousand warriors, but 

 only a few now remain in some of those who were formerly powerful 



