398 NEW ZEALAND. 



clothes that were hanging to dry on the lines, and every thing they 

 could find about the premises. The}' even took the shoes and clothes 

 off a sick boy, who was lying in the veranda. Their rapacity was 

 only stopped by the courage of the mistress of the house, who, being 

 unable to check their proceedings by remonstrances, threw a billet of 

 wood at the principal chief. This bold act astonished him, and from 

 admiration of her courage, caused them at once to desist, saying she 

 had a big heart, which is their figurative term for a courageous per- 

 son. Insults given in this accidental way, have been known to occa- 

 sion the most deadly feuds. They have, however, great command of 

 temper when insulted. As an instance of this, an anecdote was re- 

 lated to me of some chiefs having become offended at the Episcopal 

 missionaries in consequence of some transaction respecting lands, in 

 which they conceived themselves wronged. The offended parties pro- 

 ceeded to Pahia in order to demand redress; but on their arrival there, 

 the missionaries were absent, and although the whole property was at 

 their mercy, there being no one on the premises but females, they did 

 not harm any thing, and declined to enter into any explanation 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 supposed wrong, and 

 atonement for it ; and being satisfied, they departed without any mo- 

 lestation or injury whatever. It will, in all probability, 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 mis- 

 sionaries 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 productions 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 



