1835. 



NATIVES —CHUIICII— OXEN. 



587 



heard. It was dark coloured, and not unlike good elderberry 

 wine. It is made from the small currant-like fruit of a 

 shrub, which the settlers call ' native vine ;** but the resem- 

 blance to a vine is about as evident as that of a common elder- 

 berry bush. The fruit grows in clusters, much like small 

 elderberries in appearance, but it contains stony kernels, which 

 are said to be unwholesome, if not poisonous. Women collect 

 the juice by squeezing the bunches of fruit with their hands. 

 I have heard that it is used after fermentation as well as in its 

 pure juicy state, but some assert the contrary: it might then 

 assuredly cause intoxication ; I doubt, however, their often 

 obtaining, or keeping, a sufficient quantity. It dyes the hands 

 of the women and children who collect the juice, so deeply, 

 that they cannot efface the stain for many days afterwards. 



Instead of rubbing, or rather pressing, noses, these people 

 have adopted the custom of shaking hands : every one expects 

 to have a shake. Yet with all their asserted equality, and demo- 

 cratic ideas, there must be a considerable distinction of rank, 

 and difference of occupation, among them ; for I particularly 

 noticed that two chief persons of this tribe, who rather resem- 

 bled the higher class at Otaheite, had far less swarthy com- 

 plexions, and less hardened extremities, than the others: 

 one of them, considered by Mr. Baker to be the head of the 

 tribe, was more like an Otaheitan ' Eri,' and less like the ordi- 

 nary New Zealanders than any other native I saw, while at 

 their island. From the meeting place under the large tree, we 

 went to see a chapel which the natives were building, by their 

 own free will and labour ; and in our way we passed through 

 yam and potato grounds, so neatly kept, that no gardener 

 need have hesitated to commend them.* The intended chapel 

 was a lightly framed building of wood, with a thatched roof. 

 The natives seemed to be very proud of it, and were much gra^ 

 tified by our praises. Some large oxen, in a pen, were feeding 

 on young branches, and leaves of trees, gathered for them by the 



* Cook speaks in strong terms of the neatness and regularity of their 

 cultivated grounds. 



