Chap. IX. PURCHASE OF WANGANUI. 285 
naked, and plentifully bedaubed with red paint and 
charcoal ; all constantly carried some weapon, as though 
by instinct and the habit of danger. 
Captain Chaffers, John Brooks the interpreter, 
IMacgregor, and some of his crew, accompanied me to 
a par era which had been spread in a place kept clear 
for me. 
Perfect silence reigned throughout the multitude 
while speeches were made; and every word must 
have been heard by every member of the assembly. I 
began by asking the chiefs if they had finally made up 
their minds to complete the sale. Five or six of them 
immediately answered, that they had had many moons 
(months) to do that in, and that all that they wanted 
was for me to bring the paper that they might sign, 
and the goods that they might carry them away. 
Several chiefs then rose in succession, and fully de- 
scribed the country sold, tracing all the rivers up to 
Tonga Riro, and saying tou kainga ! " thy place," 
after the name of each. 
Rangi Tauwira, the old chief nearly bent double 
with age, arrogated, without exciting a murmur of 
dissent, the right to be called the take or " root" of 
the tribes. " I am so old," said he, " that you can all 
" remember from tradition better than I can tell you, 
" whether this is not true. This is my White man ; — 
" the land is for him !" 
E Kuril still remained by me, explaining the full 
meaning of the expressions used. He did not speak in 
public ; indeed, this seemed reserved entirely for the 
kail matua, or "elders "of the tribes. For when, in 
answer to my request that any native objecting to the 
sale would now speak, an inferior and middle-aged 
chief named Makeiu rose to do so, a curious scene took 
place, which illustrated in a forcible manner the au- 
