Chap. VIII. EXCURSION UP THE WANGANUL 261 
anxious to reach TVanganui in time, if possible, to get 
a passage with the fleet of canoes, and as the weather, 
moreover, which had continued fine during the whole 
of this excursion, became cloudy and threatening, I told 
them that I knew the way and would proceed alone, 
and they might follow the next morning. They deter- 
mined, however, to accompany me ; and we pushed along 
over the sandy desert to the sea-beach. Here we found 
the tide up to the foot of the cliff, and called a halt. 
Prayers were read by one of the party ; and I then 
invited them to make a meal which would last them 
to JWanganui. One of them replied, after looking at 
the sun, that it had not yet begun to descend, and that 
they might not eat till then. I could not believe their 
statement, that the White missionaries had impressed 
this observance upon them, as such an idea seemed too 
absurd. I left them, however, to their own will. 
When the tide had ebbed sufficiently, we travelled on ; 
but, owing to a halt which we were obliged to make 
for a meal in the afternoon, did not arrive at my former 
encampment on the north bank until an hour after 
dark. We here found a row of low sheds, built since 
our departure by some fishing party. On my firing a 
shot, one of Turoa% sons came over in a canoe from 
Tf^ahipima, with a basket of potatoes, which were soon 
roasted in the ashes. He related the various news of 
what had occurred since our departure. Among other 
things, the great fleet had started, but had been 
obliged to put into Wangaihu by foul weather. I there- 
fore despatched one of the boys immediately to tell 
jE Kuru to wait for me. 
In the morning, Turoa came over with his large 
canoe to carry me over to the pa ; and many other 
natives also came to greet me. About noon E Kuru 
arrived ; a hard gale having set in from the west, which 
