CHAPTER XXIV. 



Now Zoaland — Bay of Islands — Kororareka — Fences— Flag- — Paibia — 

 Natives — Features — Tattow — Population — Colour — Manner — War- 

 Canoes — Prospects — Mackintosh — Fern — Church — Resident— Vines 

 — Village — Houses — Planks — Cooking — Church — Marae — First Mis- 

 sion — Settlers — Poraare — Marion — Cawa-Cawa — Meeting — Chiefs — 

 Rats — Spirits — Wine — Nets — Burial — Divine Service — Singing — 

 Causes of Disturbances — Reflections and Suggestions — Polynesian 

 Interests — Resources for Ships in the Pacific. 



Dec. 21. At daylight we were about four miles from Cape 

 Brett, and nearly the same distance from Point Pococke; 

 while in the north-west the Cavalle islands showed themselves 

 indistinctly. A light easterly breeze enabled us to steer to- 

 wards the Bay of Islands. — Few places are easier of access 

 than this bay : excepting the Whale-rock, whose position is 

 well ascertained, there are no hidden dangers : and within the 

 line of the heads, there is little or no current deserving notice : 

 outside that line, the current generally sets to the south-east 

 about a mile an hour. 



Compared with mountainous countries, the northern parts of 

 New Zealand are not high ; but they cannot be described as 

 low land. Perhaps the expression, ' moderately high land,' may 

 convey an idea of such as is more than two hundred^ but less 

 than twelve hundred feet above the level of the sea ; which are 

 the limits I have in view. In distant profile the land inclines 

 too much to regular and convex outlines to be picturesque. 

 It is only along the sea-coast that steep cliffs, and a more broken 

 boundary, cause enough variety to please the eye of a lover of 

 landscape. Approaching nearer, the interior of the country, 

 varied by hill and valley, with an agreeable mixture of wood- 

 land and cleared ground, makes a favourable impression upon 

 the mind, from the natural association of ideas of capability and 

 cultivation ; but whether it pleases the eye, as a picture, must 

 depend probably as much upon the kind of scenery lately 

 viewed, as upon preconceived ideas. With us the recent im- 



