Chap. IV. - A NATIVE GATHERING 9S 
his head on Colonel Wakefield's knee, and said that if 
the natives were discontented with him, he should live 
with the White men, and that the tribe of England 
shouldbe his fathers. 
At this place Colonel Wakefield proposed to pay for 
the chapels and houses which the missionary delegates 
had built on a piece of flat land where he intended to 
fix the site of the town ; but Ti^arepori objected, saying 
that he had already paid for the whole of the land and 
everything upon it. 
At each of the other settlements Colonel Wakefield 
engaged the natives to be active in collecting provisions, 
clearing land, and bringing timber for building to the 
site of the town. Warepori supported the request, and 
then asked the young men to collect at Pitone, in order 
to join in a war-dance to be given in the morning. 
Colonel Wakefield was universally treated as a bene- 
factor, and we had the satisfaction of hearing on all 
hands expressions of contentment at the purchase- 
money, and eager hope for the speedy arrival of the 
settlers. The chiefs repeatedly impressed upon the 
people that their land was gone for ever, with the 
exception of what the White people would allow them 
for cultivation and residence ; that they would never 
receive any further payment for it, but would be paid 
for any labour which they performed for the White 
people ; and that the contract would be considered 
tapUy and as inviolable as any of the reservations of 
holy places which are often made among themselves. 
30th. — This morning we observed the natives ga- 
thering from all parts of the harbour. Canoes and 
parties on foot, glittering with their lately acquired red 
blankets and muskets, were all closing in upon the 
place of rendezvous ; fresh smokes rose every moment 
on shore as a new oven was prepared for the feast ; and 
