180 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. V. 
remained an unmoved spectator of the whole scene, and 
steered his boat to the shore in high dudgeon. 
Colonel Wakefield immediately declared the nego- 
tiation at an end, and ordered the goods below. The 
turbulent chiefs loudly vented their disappointment at 
this aspect of the affair, laid the blame on each other 
and on him, and accused him of partiality to Hiko. 
They asked why he was to be set before the old men, 
and what he had to do with the land, to be considered 
for so much ? Some of them even made some of their 
customary grimaces at Colonel Wakefield, expressive 
of defiance and contempt ; and Tungia began dancing 
about and uttering a violent harangue, which seemed 
to indicate an intention to attack the ship. Some few 
small articles were pilfered from the heaps in the con- 
fusion, and taken ashore under the mats of slaves who 
had been set to do this. 
They threatened, and tried every means to intimidate 
Colonel Wakefield into proceeding with the affair. 
They said they would sell the land to the French and 
Americans, or to the ships from Port Jackson, of 
which they said plenty would come presently; and, 
finally, they expressed their determination to go to 
Port Nicholson and kill all our natives there. 
Throughout this critical scene Colonel Wakefield 
displayed the most admirable courage and presence of 
mind. He laughed at their taunts, and treated their 
threats with indifference; and at length told them that 
they must leave the ship, whether the affair went on 
or not, if they could not behave more quietly. He 
refused their repeated proposals to buy their lands, and 
to leave Hiko to deal for his own ; and managed, by 
exemplary command of temper and countenance, and 
by a due mixture of firmness and mildness in his 
replies, not only to subdue their riotous disposition, but 
