53 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. III. 
passed, having some hoj)es that a small vessel with 
surveyors, which was to follow us from England im- 
mediately, might have made a quick passage and ar- 
rived. The inlet lay, however, in majestic silence, not 
a curl of smoke betraying even the presence of natives. 
ITie solemnity of the tapu seemed to be again imposed 
on its woods and waters. 
As we passed between Point Jackson and the inner- 
most of a reef of low rocks which stretches out nearly 
a mile into the Strait, we experienced the buffeting of 
a strong tide-rip or race. These are very frequent in 
many parts of the Strait ; and arise from the force of 
the tide, which, generally speaking, flows five hours 
from north to south, and ebbs seven hours in the op- 
posite direction. The numerous friths and bays, how- 
ever, cause various eddies and cross currents ; which 
can only be known by experience. Our guide, as I 
have before said, was a perfect pilot for the Strait, hav- 
ing coasted about the various beaches and inlets for 
more than twelve years. 
His life in New Zealand has been an eventful one. 
In the year 1834, on his return from a trip to Sydney 
in the ship Harriet, he was wrecked in Ohao bay, near 
Cape Egmont. The natives of that part of the coast 
assembled in large numbers to plunder the wreck ; 
and a fight ensued between them and the crew, which 
ended in the defeat of the White party. Some of them 
were killed ; and the rest, including Guard's wife and 
two young children, were taken prisoners. Guard, 
with some few of the party, was assisted in escaping in 
a boat from Moturoa, or the Sugar-loaf Islands, by 
some of the natives concerned. He thus reached 7 e- 
awa-iti, whence he found his way to Sydney. He then 
laid the circumstances before the Council of New 
South Wales, and the consequence was that an expe- 
