402 NEW ZEALAND. 



Mission, which is generally considered the most active, and is doing a 

 great deal of good. 



The native pas are generally scenes of revelry and debauchery. 

 My crew soon got tired of their visits to that of Pomare, and com- 

 plained much of the dishonesty of the natives. Pomare and his suite 

 paid the ship a visit a few days after our arrival, for the purpose of 

 obtaining his quota of presents. I received him and all his retinue 

 with kindness, and made him several presents, among which was a 

 fowling-piece ; but he had, in going round the ship, seen one of Hall's 

 patent rifles, that loaded at the breech ; and nothing would satisfy him 

 but to exchange the gun I had given him for one of these. He 

 surprised me by at once comprehending its facility of use, and its 

 excellent manufacture. After a great deal of importunity, I consented 

 to the exchange, but found that he was inclined, after having once 

 succeeded, to beg every thing that struck his fancy. In this he was 

 followed by the other chiefs, among the rest by Hoia, his brother. To 

 the latter, I gave an old cocked-hat, which pleased him exceedingly, and 

 I was not a little amused to see him wearing it, and dressed in a tight 

 coat and vest, with bare legs, exhibiting one of the most ridiculous 

 figures imaginable, although in his own opinion the beau ideal of 

 elegance. Pomare went about the ship begging for military caps with 

 gold bands, and was extremely importunate until he found that nothing 

 more could be obtained. I by no means admired his appearance on 

 this visit ; for, although of good proportions, tall, and well made, he is 

 awkward and parrot-toed. His height and manner of walking make 

 this defect more apparent, and he wants that dignity which is sometimes 

 seen in a savage of our country. The New Zealanders, however, struck 

 us as having a closer resemblance to our North American Indians than 

 any others we had yet met with among the Polynesian nations. I was 

 surprised to see how little respect was paid to the orders of Pomare by 

 his followers, and was told that there is little authority acknowledged by 

 those who are free. His slaves and wives are those who must sustain 

 the burden of his wrath ; their lives are at his disposal, and with them 

 his will is law; they seem, however, to be treated kindly. Pomare is 

 said to be entirely under the control of his favourite wife, of whom I 

 have heretofore spoken. She is a far more respectable person than 

 her husband, and was the most intelligent native I met with. 



Wishing to see their war-dances, I requested Pomare to gratify us 

 with an exhibition, which he consented to do. The ground chosen 

 was the hill-side of Mr. Clendon, our consul's place, where between 

 Ihree and four hundred natives, with their wives and children. 



