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granted the interview and was awaiting us. I therefore proceeded 
to the Royal residence. The king’s palace — a spacious hut, 
built in the best style of Maori architecture with a flag-staff next 
to it — was situated upon the heighest point of the neck of land 
between the AVaikato and AVaipa, with a view of both rivers. 
Some smaller huts standing aside among ferns and shrubs were 
the first signs of the future capital of New Zealand designed by 
the king’s party. The flag on the flagstaff had a centrepiece 
of white surrounded by a red border; on the white there was 
a blue cross, besides that the inscription “Nuitireni” and three 
diamond-shaped figures. In front of the royal residence stood a 
sentinel in blue uniform with red facings and 
shining brass-buttons. This was the guard of 
the palace. AVe entered through the door into 
a large room; in which there were about twenty 
persons assembled. On the right side , in a dark 
corner, sat upon a mat of straw and wrapped 
in a dark blue blanket a blind old man , his head 
bowed low Avith age, it was Potatau Te AVhero- 
Avhero, King of the Maoris. The face of the 
old man tattooed all over, displayed handsome 
regular features; the deep scar upon his fore- 
head betokened the veteran warrior , who had fought through 
many a bloody cannibal-fight. Potatau returned our salutations on 
being presented to him only with slightly raising of his head. 
Captain Hay told him of our travels, but the old man spoke not 
a word. Two young men, however, setting near the king were 
very curious to receive from us information as to European history 
and geography, and kept up the conversation in his stead. It was 
evident, that the decrepit old man, Avho was on the very brink 
of the grave , 1 merely lent his celebrated name to the support of 
the royal title, and that other, younger men were at the head of 
the national movement, the so-called “king movement”. A tall 
The flag of the Maori 
King. 
1 Potatau Te Wherowhero died in 1860. His son Matutaera was created King 
under the name of Potatau 11. 
