128 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. V. 
by conquest or inheritance. This operation took some 
time, as I made him repeat some of the names several 
times, in order to write them down clearly, and as 
he showed me the position of each on the map be- 
fore mentioned. He then joined with the others in 
consenting to cede the whole of his rights whatsoever 
to land in those places. They all agreed to come on 
board to sign the deed, and receive the payment, the 
next day. 
Hikoy however, fell ill, and bad weather pre- 
vented the others from leaving the shore. Rauperaha, 
who is not to be deterred by anything from his own 
selfish objects, came off through a rough sea, in a sub- 
stantial, strong-built, well-manned canoe, and tried to 
induce Colonel Wakefield to conclude the transaction 
without Hiko. " He is only a boy," said he, '* and has 
" nothing to do with the land. Give me the goods, 
" with more powder and arms. Of what use are blan- 
" kets, soap, tools, and iron pots, when we are going to 
" war ? What does it matter whether we die cold or 
" warm, clean or dirty, hungry or full ? Give us two- 
" barrelled guns, plenty of muskets, lead, powder, car- 
" tridges, and cartouch-boxes." His proposition was of 
course quietly refused. 
A small brig, the Syren, arrived here from Sydney 
to-day in the thick of the gale from N.W. Having 
tried to beat up after passing the island, she was baffled 
by the adverse wind and tide ; and Tommy Evans, who 
was prevented by their bad management in going about 
from succeeding in a gallant effort to get on board, had 
a desjierate pull back, which lasted two or three hours, 
against tide and wind. We went on board her when 
she anchored, on the gale abating in the evening, and 
found her in a wretched state, fehe had no binnacle, 
and only a boat-compass ; no second suit of sails, a boat 
