SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
589 
and the new and strange ideas which it naturally excited. 
About three o'clock in the morning, I rose and walked 
about the camp, surveying the different groups of natives ; 
some of them put out their heads from under the top of their 
Jcalcahus (a rough shaggy mat, which is like a bee hive), and 
spoke to me ; when the morning light returned, we beheld 
men, women, and children asleep in all directions, like the 
beasts of the field." His confidence and efforts to obtain 
peace were rewarded ; in the morning Ruatara, Hongi, and 
Korokoro came and hungied , i.e., rubbed noses, the Maori 
way of salutation, with the Wangaroa Chief, in token of 
future peace and amity. 
From Matouri, they went to the Bay of Islands, near the 
entrance of which Ruatara lived, at a place called Rangihu, 
and there the first missionary station was placed, and there 
also the first Sabbath was kept, and that day was indeed a 
high day, being Christmas- day, 1814. Ruatara appears 
to have done everything in his power to do honor to the 
occasion : he enclosed about half-an-acre of land with a fence, 
and hoisted the British flag, which, though not bearing the 
dove as the emblem of peace on its waving folds, has hitherto 
floated as the defender of those who bore the message of 
peace, and imparted confidence, that however remote the 
spot wherever it was hoisted, they were safe. 
Mr. Marsden remarked, “ On Sunday morning, when I 
was on deck, I saw the English flag flying, which was a 
pleasing sight in Hew Zealand. I considered it was the 
signal and dawn of civilization, liberty, and religion, in that 
dark and benighted land, I never viewed the British colors 
with more gratification, and flattered myself they would 
never be removed till the natives of the island enjoyed the 
happiness of British subjects." Thesp words were prophetic. 
Ruatara passed the remainder of the day in preparing for the 
Sabbath : he erected a pulpit and reading-desk in the centre 
of the enclosed space ; these he made out of an old canoe, 
and covered with cloth, given him in Sydney, he formed 
seats in a similar way for the European portion of the con- 
gregation ; then, having made all his arrangements he and 
