Chap. II. WRETCHED HOUSES— DISPUTE, 27 
square hole at one end is the only passage for light 
or air. I intended to creep into one of them to ex- 
amine it ; but had just got my head in, and was de- 
bating within myself by what snake-like evolution I 
should best succeed in getting my body to follow, 
when I was deterred by the intense heat and intole- 
rable odour from proceeding. One large house in the 
village, with wattled walls plastered with clay, we 
were told belonged to an Englishman then in Cloudy 
Bay. The natives use it for a common habitation 
during the day, and assemble in it to prayers every 
morning and evening. They all came out to greet us 
with the constant shake of the hand. 
A mischief-making native, belonging to the Kapiti 
tribe, but who has married a woman here, tried to 
annoy us by threats and extortions of payment for 
wood and water, on account of the tapu of Ship Cove. 
As, however, his demands were exorbitant, and re- 
newed after the satisfactory settlement of the point 
by a small present, he was quietly and firmly refused 
by my uncle ; who reminded him that the natives 
had themselves broken the tapu, large numbers of 
them having removed to the immediate neighbour- 
hood of the burial-place in order to have the advan- 
tage of proximity in their dealings with us. He per- 
sisted in his violent demands ; and early one morning 
came alongside in a canoe, and carried away our fish- 
ing-sean, having first pushed over one of the appren- 
tices who was in the boat. Captain Chaffers went on 
shore with an armed boat to demand instant restitu- 
tion of the net ; and found that our tormentor had 
enlisted the feelings of the other natives in his favour. 
They were sullen and reserved, and refused to give it 
up at first. Their appearance, and the fact that many 
fresh natives were ashore, induced Captain Chaffers to 
