Chap. III. ILLNESS OF NATIVES. ' * gh 
winter, had no bad effect on any of our party ; and, with 
the exception of the period during which the gale of 
wind lasted, all the days were genial and exhilarating, 
and some much warmer than English summer weather. 
On the 18th, a calm still detained us at Te-awa-iti. 
The youngest and favourite wife of Tipif the principal 
chief at that place, fell ill to-day. According to the 
universal native custom on such occasions, she was re- 
moved from his house to an open shed near it, and 
became tapu, so that she might eat no food. Tipi and 
his friends, who hourly expected her death, sat wailing 
and weeping around her, now and then discharging 
their muskets. Mr. Robinson, the surgeon of the ship, 
restored her for a time by breaking through the tapM^ 
giving her a little wine, and moving her back to the 
warm hut. The natives were urgent for a dose of 
Epsom salts, which they have been taught by the 
whalers to consider a sovereign remedy for all com- 
plaints. While talking with some of the white inhabi- 
tants as to the general health of the natives, we learned 
that they fret so much when once affected, that they very 
much aggravate the disease. Some of the whalers said, 
" When a maori tells you he's a-going to die, by 
" he will, and no mistake about it. They takes the fit, 
" and off they goes in the sulks." My subsequent expe- 
rience has fully confirmed the fact so roughly men- 
tioned by the sailor. When once attacked by a very 
rapid consumption, which they alone are subject to, 
they say the Atua or " Spirit " has seized them, and 
they will take no encouragement. Much of this may 
be owing to their knowledge that they must be exposed 
to all the vicissitudes of the weather. 
19th. — Some dispute arose as to the proprietorship of 
a whale which the native boat had harpooned. A 
rival agent had instigated the natives to ask more 
F 2 
