378 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XIII. 
we started along the unknown coast the next morning. 
About nine miles from TVaikanae, we came upon the 
remains of a fortification of some extent, five or six 
acres being surrounded by a mound and trench, and a 
few carved posts still remaining in the ground at one 
end. On the south bank of the Otakl river, about a 
mile further on, were still more recent remains of a large 
'pa. My slave informed us that these had been the respect- 
ive residences of the two tribes on the first arrival of the 
Ngatiawa from Taranaki five years before, but that con- 
stant feuds and skirmishes had taught them to recede 
from each other, and leave the country between the 
two rivers as a neutral ground. We forded the Otaki 
river about a quarter of a mile above its mouth, and 
passed through two stockaded villages on the north 
bank. In one of these a White man, a retired whaler, 
had a house ; and after a short chat with him we 
pushed on to Mr. Hadfield's new ware, which was 
situated about half a mile further north, among the 
sand-hills between the beach and the principal pa of 
Otaki. Having found the native teacher, we were 
admitted into the house, which was a neatly-built and 
substantial erection, entirely the work of the natives, 
but fitted by a White carpenter with doors, windows, 
and a chimney-piece. 
We prepared to cook our evening meal, and to 
spread our blankets on the floor ; but the news of our 
arrival had spread to the village, and we were soon 
inundated with visitors. At least fifty natives of all 
ranks, ages, and sexes, crowded the doors and windows, 
and, unmindful of all persuasion or menace, filled the 
whole room. One very arrogant young chief, whose 
name we did not learn, evidently held the highest 
authority, but would not exert it in our favour. He, 
and like him all his followers, laughed at our entreaties 
