SUPERSTITIOUS FEARFULNESS. 93 
to the cost of their lives, that they have been mise- 
rably deceived, and were by their own lies hurried 
on to their destruction. This was the case with 
respect to the greater portion of the party cut off 
by the natives of Tauranga, when they went 
down there to seek for satisfaction, after the death 
of their friends in the battle of Kororareka ; their 
dreams and their oracles, except in one case, 
spake loudly /or them; but only one returned to 
tell the miserable tale of the destruction of all his 
companions. — The person who consults the oracle 
always carries the sticks with him to the battle , 
and should the expedition move by water, he has 
a canoe which is strictly tapued, and into which 
no food is allowed to be put. The medicine, and 
the garments for wrapping up the heads of their 
friends, should they lose them in the fight, are all 
that is allowed to be carried in this sacred vessel. 
The natives of New Zealand, like all others 
of uncultivated minds, are superstitious, and 
fond of telling the most romantic and frightful 
tales. They have a great dread of being out in 
the night; and fancy every thing they hear and 
see is coming to harm or to destroy them: 
hence, we always find a native, when travelling 
alone, manages to arrive at some village before 
sun-set, that he may ensure himself company for 
the hours of darkness, and not be exposed to the 
dangers which he dreads. There are certain 
seasons of the year in which they are more super- 
stitious than at others; at least, the mania at that 
