HONGI. 
511 
a room of the palace, which he was taken to see ; when he 
beheld the looking-glasses, he said to the King, what 
are all these glasses for, to multiply shadows, when he had 
plenty of real men ? he did not want such things ; his 
bearing and deportment was extremely dignified, when 
treated as a great man, he assumed the manner of a prince ; 
but when only regarded as an object of curiosity, he never 
failed to show his disgust, and even indignation ; a striking 
instance of this occurred at a gentleman's house, where a 
large party had been invited to meet the Chiefs ; Hongi had 
assumed all the airs of a superior, and acted the prince, 
which he well knew how to do, until he observed some ladies 
evidently tracing the lines on his tattooed face, whilst a smile 
played on their own, which he thought implied a feeling of 
pity towards himself ; immediately he arose in a state of great 
excitement, threw himself across three chairs, and covering 
his face with his hands, remained in that position until the 
company left.* These Chiefs met with many kind friends, 
who made them liberal presents of arms and amunition, as 
injudiciously as the King, who little thought what miseries, 
murders, and enormities, they were thus giving rise to. 
As winter approached, Hongi was seized with an affection 
of the chest, which reduced him to a very precarious state ; 
a blister was recommended, which for a long time he would 
not suffer to be applied, but when it was at last, and yielded 
him speedy relief, he said he would not quit the country until 
he was supplied with a pot full of that valuable medicine ; 
when they were sufficiently restored to health, the Govern- 
ment granted them a passage to New South Wales. On 
their arrival in Sydney, they disposed of the more useful 
gifts received from their Christian friends, such as tools, 
implements of agriculture, and with the proceeds enlarged 
their stock of gunpowder and shot ; whilst they remained in 
the colony, they took up their abode at the house of Mr. 
Marsden, where they met with Hinaki and another chief, 
who had taken their passage to London. Mr. Marsden 
having perceived the bad effect Hongi' s visit had produced, 
* S Life of Rev. S. Leigh , p. 124. 
