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considered profitable to have a canal dug for the purpose of con- 
necting in a direct line the most important water route of the 
country with a harbour in the immediate neighbourhood of Auckland. 
A walk from Waiuku to Purapura brought us to the camping- 
place of the natives on Awaroa Creek. There we met a large 
company, that had embarked upon a trading trip to Onehunga, 
and had just arrived from Waikato. It was really an interesting 
scene. The men, large, robust figures, with grave faces beauti- 
fully tattooed, were cozily smoking their pipes, while the women 
were busy peeling potatoes with the sharp-edged shells of the 
common Waikato Unio ( Unio Aucklandicus ) , and preparing their 
social repast. But as on such journeys nothing is left behind, 
there was also no lack of children, dogs and pigs playing about 
in unrestrained companionship. The provisions, which the natives 
carried with them, consisted of large quantities of dried Waikato- 
eel, and baskets of peaches, apples and potatoes. The articles 
for the market were flour, flax and Kauri-gum. We received 
a cordial invitation to partake of their meal, but contented our- 
selves with conversing with them instead. They were extrefnely 
talkative, and, like all Maoris, curious to learn our names and the 
object of our expedition. My name caused them no small diffi- 
culty, and it was really amusing to observe them, as they endea- 
voured to pronounce it in the most different manner, until at last 
one of them seemed to have found its true version. He called me 
Hokitata, and from the pleasure and satisfaction shown at it by 
all the rest, I could easily infer, that by it he had found the right 
word with the right meaning. My friend Purchas had previously 
informed them , that I had come from afar for the purpose of see- 
ing their country, and that I was about to return soon. Then, 
of course, I could have no name more significant than Hokitata , 
literally meaning “about to return soon.” This name, then, re- 
mained henceforth as my Maori-name upon all my excursions through 
New Zealand, with the single variation of Hokiteta in some districts, 
and the addition of Te Rata , the doctor. 
Sometime afterwards , the whole company passed through 
