VAGRANT HABITS 
•246 
I was running from one to another, endeavour- 
ing to prevent mischief. It ended in the natives 
returning every thing which they had taken 
away, with the empty bottle and jar. The sails, 
wliich were torn in the scuffle, and set on lire, 
they promised to come up to the Kerikeri and 
mend.* — I think this will be the last time they 
will allow tlieir tapus to interfere with any of 
our proceedings. Many of them have already 
given way; and, next to those connected with the 
dead, those of the nets are the most sacred. 
The effect of tliis incident was apparent: a fort- 
niglit afterwards, when tlie tribe Ngai-te-waki 
came down to Kerikeri to prepare their nets, they 
tapued the ground opposite the Settlement, but 
allowed me to go and see them, and even to put 
my hands upon their work. They had heard of 
tlie affair at Rangihoua ; and had determined that 
all their tapus may, for the future, be disre- 
garded by Europeans with impunity. 
Generally speaking, it is no small matter to 
find that the wandering, warlike, thievish prac- 
tices of the natives are giving way to more 
settled, honest, and peaceful habits, wherever the 
Gospel prevails. They are beginning to be in- 
clined to build themselves better habitations, that 
with more comfort they may stay at home. A 
native naturally soon tires of one situation ; his 
mind always requires something new ; his habits 
• The natives afterwards made most ample restitution for 
the injury which they did us. 
