m 
ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. VI 
lot 
rota 
Sabachthani 
Hapakatanai 
seal 
hiri 
week 
wiki 
Nearly a hundred words in that book are repre- 
sented by sounds of which the meaning has to be 
explained to a native. An equal amount of instruction 
would teach him no inconsiderable part of the ele- 
ments of the language from which the sounds were 
borrowed. 
Thus the comparison of the English and Maori 
Bibles, in which I passed a great portion of the twelve 
days spent on Moturoa, induced me to believe it most 
essential that the natives should be instructed in the 
English language as speedily as possible. 
The crime of adultery was most severely punished 
by Ngamotu, or " the Islands," one of the principal 
chiefs, on his wife. He stripped her naked, and dragged 
her along the beach by the hair of the head, beating 
her violently at intervals. Nor did any one attempt 
to interfere ; the whole body of natives remaining pas- 
sive spectators of the cruel penalty. The adulterer's 
house was visited by the assembled relations of the 
wife and husband, who plundered it of everything 
they could lay their hands on, while he oflFered no re- 
sistance, or even remonstrance, according to Maori cus- 
tom. The taua, or " foray," extended to a hut belong- 
ing to him on the island, from which Barrett's attend- 
ants brought mats, flax, and other articles in great 
glee. 
We had begun to despair of the reappearance of 
the brig ; and thought it extremely probable that the 
disorderly crew had taken possession, and carried her 
off with her cargo to some other country. 
