396 
ORIGIN, AS TRACED BY LANGUAGE. 
landed, planted potatoes, and sowed cabbage and turnip 
seed ; one of tbe natives went on board ; they were much 
alarmed lest be should be eaten ; they received presents of 
red cloth ; he said he was then old enough “ to catch a fish 
and cook it . 39 
Before iron axes were brought to the country, all used to 
laugh at him about the tradition of there being any which 
had handles fastened on without being tied, supposing it was 
impossible, and thinking the tradition was only an idle tale 
of their forefathers, to excite their wonder ; their ideas 
were the same about there being animals which carried 
men. This old chief accompanied some of his people to 
Waimate, and there saw a horse for the first time, with 
one riding it, he was greatly delighted, and reminded his 
followers of their traditions, saying. You would not believe 
me about the beasts on the other side of the water, whence 
our fathers came, but you see I was right. In the north, the 
memory of Captain Cook is much revered, but that of 
Governor King far more so ; he is spoken of with great 
affection ; it was by him that pigs were first introduced into 
that part of New Zealand, they were a very large breed; 
some got into their sacred groves and rooted amongst the 
dead, for which they were shot, the others were used as horses, 
the natives taking them, perhaps, for the wonderful animals 
their forefathers spoke of, and so hard did they try to use 
them as such, that they were all soon killed. Governor 
King visited the north end of the island, and it was his 
kindness to two natives, Huru and Toki, who were carried 
to Norfolk Island to teach the prisoners the way of manufac- 
turing flax from the jpJiormium tenax , which endeared him to 
the natives, and was, under Providence, the cause of the 
Gospel being brought to this island ; on such apparently 
trifling circumstances do the greatest events often depend ! 
Mr. Marsden's first desire to send Missionaries to New 
Zealand, arose from his there meeting with those two natives, 
and being struck with their superior intelligence ; they were 
afterwards sent back to their country, enriched with presents, 
and the natives of that part boast that they were the first who 
