Chap. XIII. JOURNEY TO OTAKI. 371 
CHAPTER XIII. 
Journey to Otaki — Troublesome natives — Waikawa — Natives de- 
ceive and rob us — Firmness procures restitution — Manawatu — 
Rangitikei — Scarcity of food — Timid natives — Fine country — 
Cold — Fording rivers — Wanganui — Greetings — E Kuru gives 
me a house — His chieftain-like treatment of his inferiors — New 
Zealand slaves — Missionaries — Native feud — Battle of Waitotara 
— Ship-building — Confirmation of the purchase — Return to Ka- 
piti — Walk to Pitone — Harmlessness of night-air. 
We started from Pitone amid the affectionate farewells 
of Epuni and his followers, on the morning of the 
27th ; and slept that night at Parramatta whaling- 
station, in Lieut. Thomas's new house, the floor of 
which was well strewed with clean fern. The second 
night we reached Pari-pari, and early the next after- 
noon we arrived at TJ^aikanae^ well drenched by a 
heavy shower of rain. We were most hospitably 
received by old Rangi Tf^akarurua at the Tf^anganui 
village. 
Mr. Stokes called on the Rev. Mr. Hadfield, who 
resided in the midst of the principal p«, and was 
received very kindly by him. He insisted on our 
making use of a new house built for him at Otaki, and 
gave Mr. Stokes a letter to one of his native teachers, 
who had charge of the key. Mr. Hadfield had not yet suc- 
ceeded in effecting a complete reconciliation between the 
two tribes, and I could not at first engage any native 
to carry my burden through the hostile country. Old 
Rangi, however, ordered a lad of thirteen, who was a 
slave to his son, E Kuru, to proceed as my servant, and 
2b2 
