INHUMAN PRACTICES, 
242 
over whom they have authority or influence. 
Husbands and wives do not quarrel as formerly ; 
nor is it probable that domestic brawls will rise 
any more to the height to which they were 
formerly carried. 
The suppression of many inhuman and super- 
stitious practices is, further, one of the efiects 
that may be traced to the iufluence of the Gospel 
in this land. Reference has been already made 
(p. 175) to the death of the warrior Hongi. I 
find the following remarks on the occasion, in my 
Journal, March 9th, 1828: “Hongi, New Zea- 
land’s most brave and illustrious warrior, is 
dead : he died on the 6th ; and all, as yet, is peace. 
He strongly recommended those by whom he was 
surrounded, to live at peace with the Europeans, 
and to protect the Missionaries. The conduct of 
the natives on this occasion has been very pleas- 
ing. It is customary, in this benighted land, for 
the relations or friends of a departed chief to kill 
a slave, or a number of slaves, male or female, as 
a satisfaction to his manes, that they may accom- 
pany and wait upon him in the world of spirits. 
The Missionaries have often remonstrated with 
them upon the folly, cruelty, and wickedness of this 
savage custom. It was expected, that when Hongi 
died, a more than usually large number of slaves 
would be murdered : so complete, however, is the 
change in the mind and conduct of the natives, 
that not one individual has been slain. We can- 
not refrain from hoping that t)ie example of 
