NEW ZEALAND. 393 



the chief touched the shore, a curious scene ensued. All the boatmen 

 seized their paddles, and ran some distance along the beach, where, 

 they halted, and formed themselves into a compact body, in martial 

 array. Those of the pa did the same, and were stationed in front of 

 the canoe ; the former party then returned, and when near, the latter 

 made simultaneously, ten or twelve leaps directly upward, waving their 

 paddles over their heads, and giving at each jump, a hard guttural 

 sound, like hooh. The two parties then changed positions, when the 

 boatmen went through the same motions, after which the whole 

 mingled together. This ceremony was supposed to represent that used 

 on the return of a war-party. Pomare was found shortly afterwards 

 seated in front, of his house, surrounded by his people, who were busily 

 engaged in preparing a great feast, for which he was giving directions, 

 and which shortly took place, accompanied by much merry-making. 



The chief, Pomare, on one occasion paid a visit to the gentlemen 

 of the squadron at Mr. Tibbey's, with some fish for sale, and for which 

 he had been fishing several hours. He first asked a shilling for them, 

 which was handed to him, when he immediately raised his price to 

 two shillings, and when this was refused, he went away in high 

 dudgeon, and complained to me on my arrival, that he had not been 

 treated well. Many instances of the same kind occurred. 



Mr. Hale induced Hoia, Pomare's brother, to give him a list of the 

 various clans of the great Yopaki tribe, which under Shougi had 

 formerly been the terror of all New Zealand. From this and other 

 authorities, the number of the tribes were given at one hundred and 

 five, in which were comprised upwards of sixty thousand fighting 

 men. Those who are more acquainted, and have the best oppor- 

 tunities of knowing, state the population at less than three hundred 

 thousand ; there are others who rate the population from thirty to forty 

 thousand. A mean between the two estimates would be nearer the 

 truth. From the information I received, I am satisfied that it cannot 

 be great. The population of both islands is said to amount to from 

 one hundred and forty to one hundred and eighty thousand, and the 

 whole of this number are on the north island, with the exception of 

 three or four thousand who are on the southern island. It is re- 

 markable that every tribe has a name peculiar to itself, and distinct 

 from the district which it inhabits : thus the natives of Kororarika are 

 called Yaitawake ; those of Hauaki (the river Thames), Ngaitawake ; 

 and with few exceptions these names begin with the syllable of Nga or 

 Ngati — most commonly the latter. These names are thought to have 

 reference to clanship. The members of each tribe appear to be all 

 connected by the ties of consanguinity. 



vol. 11. 50 



