10 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. I. 
clared the independence of the whole of New Zealand 
as one nation, — formed themselves into an independent 
state, with the title of " the United Tribes of New 
" Zealand," — agreed to meet in Congress " for the piir- 
" pose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice" 
and other ends, — and invited the Southern Tribes to 
join the " confederation of the United Tribes." 
There cannot be the least doubt that this document 
was composed by the missionaries at the l?ay of 
Islands, and signed by the chiefs with as little real 
comprehension of its meaning as had attended the 
signature by natives of the deeds of feoffment drawn 
up by Sydney attorneys with blanks for the names of 
places. 
The vendors in the case of Mr. Marsden's purchase 
could not be supposed to understand the words — '* to- 
** gether with all the rights, members, privileges, and 
" appurtenances thereunto belonging, to have and to 
" hold, to the aforesaid committee of the Church Mis- 
" sionary Society for Africa and the East, instituted in 
" London, in the kingdom of Great Britain, their 
" heirs, successors, and assigns for ever, clear and freed 
" from all taxes, charges, impositions, and contribu- 
*' tions whatsoever, as and for their own absolute and 
" proper estate for ever." Nor could the chiefs under- 
stand what was meant by the words in the declaration 
of independence: — "All sovereign power and authority 
" within the territories of the United Tribes of -New 
" Zealand is hereby declared to reside, entirelyisind ex- 
" clusively, in the hereditary chiefs and heads itf tribes 
" in their collective capacity : who also declare fn'at they 
" will not allow any legislative authority separate from 
" themselves in their collective capacity to exist ; nor any 
** functions of government to be exercised within the 
*' said territories, unless l)y persons appointed by them. 
