PASSION FOR WAR. 
114 
In the next place, their propensity for war is 
to be described. The inhabitants of these islands 
are much inclined to warfare : they drink in the 
principle with the notions of infancy : the young 
are trained to acts of oppression and cruelty, both 
by the precept and example of their parents and 
friends : but to call them a brave people were a 
sad mistake, unless a few instances of utter reck- 
lessness may be denominated bravery. When 
attacked, however, they will sometimes fight with 
the most determined ferocity, for the safety of 
their wives and near relatives and friends, for 
their villages and cultivations, and sometimes 
even for their name. There is no national bond 
of union amongst them ; each one is jealous of 
the authority and power of his neighbour; the 
hand of each individual is against every man, 
and every man’s hand against him : and here, as 
in other countries, where there is no other pro- 
tection for property than that of force, the strong 
seldom or never let pass an opportunity of plun- 
dering or destroying the weak. 
It is but rarely the case that a New Zealander 
will advance to the attack, unless he is sure of 
victory. There may be some solitary instances 
of recklessness, or, we may perhaps say, of bold- 
ness, by which tribes have been led on to meet 
their equals in the field ; but these are very rare, 
and have happened under peculiar circumstances. 
They are all exceedingly fond of predatory ex- 
cursions ; not with the intention of killing, but to 
take by force the crops raised by the industry of 
