BARTER. 
359 
wards when Captain Fitzroy allowed their claim to their 
former possessions, they again returned and occupied them ; 
it was an unfortunate admission, and may he viewed as the 
primary cause of the present sad war. 
If a tribe had been conquered, or had retreated before 
their enemies, but were able to return and reoccupy their 
lands, their enemies had no claim to them, unless some of 
them returned and cultivated any part, in that case such 
would individually obtain a right to a portion, although they 
did not constantly reside upon it ; in this way the chief 
Taratoa acquired his claim in the Rangitikei district, through 
which his tribe had formerly made a hostile raid ; he was 
suffered to return and cultivate there, and so became a pro- 
prietor in common with its ancient owners. 
If a tribe be permitted to reside in another district and 
build a pa, that also gave a right ; thus, when Te Paratehau 
and his party retreated from the Upper Hutt, and were 
received by the Rangitikei natives, and built Marama i 
hoea, they thus acquired a claim on that spot. But especially, 
should a tribe permit the chief of another to be buried in 
their district, his relatives obtained a valid claim, to be 
regarded as owners in common to the lands of that district; 
thus, Pehi obtained a settlement at Pipiriki ; Turoa his 
father was allowed to be interred there, and from that day 
his son Pehi became the possessor of the best part of it as 
his mara, and made it his chief abode. In fact, there were 
many ways of acquiring a right to land, some of which, 
though singular to us, are acknowledged according to Maori 
custom, as giving a valid title. 
Barter. 
The Maori custom in this respect was very singular. They 
had no money, nor did they, strictly speaking, barter, but 
when a friendly party visited another, whatever they took a 
fancy to was at once given, however much it might be prized 
by the owners, and nothing was said about recovering com- 
pensation, still it was fully understood that one must be 
