142 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. V. 
little way before a light southerly breeze, which failed, 
however, when we had got opposite to Waikanae. 
While we were anchored with a kedge, three chiefs, 
belonging to the TVanganui tribes, came off from 
fVaikanae to commence negotiations for the sale of 
their district. They were allied to the Ngatiaway 
and had taken great part in the defence of the place 
on the 16th of last month. They heard all the usual 
explanations, described the boundaries within which 
their claims lay, and, after receiving a fowling-piece 
each in part payment, signed a deed which had been 
translated to them. Two of them, Te Kiri Karamu 
and Te Rangi Wakarurua, returned on shore. K.uru 
Kanga, the son of the latter, and principal chief of 
TVanganui, remained on board to show us the en- 
trance of the river, and that we might land him to 
prepare his people for the completion of the purchase 
on our return. He was an active, intelligent man; 
and seemed highly anxious to have White men among 
his people. He was attended by a slave, who acted 
famously as valet-de-chambre, anticipating the slight- 
est want of his master. This chief had taken a dis- 
tinguished part in the battle of fVaikanae. He was 
universally known as a brave warrior and skilful 
general ; and I have since been told by IVatanui, 
E Ahu, and other principal chiefs of the Ngatiraukawa, 
that, had it not been for his determined gallantry and 
that of his attendants, they should have won the day. 
On the morning of the 18th, as we lay nearly be- 
calmed off the sandy beach between TVaikanae and 
Otaki, Rauperaha came on board, on his way from the 
, latter place to Kapiti. He seemed ill at ease, although 
we greeted him kindly notwithstanding our aversion 
for his character. He asked for some grog, and then 
took an early opportunity of stating, in the most bare- 
