Chap. XIII. E A'fZiJf/— TREATMENT OF HIS SLAVES. 381 
of four layers : the innermost, tuhe tohe reeds, like the 
walls ; the second, bark of the totara ; the third, 
raupo ; and the outside one, tufts of fine grass, put on 
like shingles, with the roots downwards. The roof 
was supported by one post in the centre of the house, 
a foot in diameter, which upheld a huge slab as a 
ridge-pole ; and four large corner rafters, and several 
smaller ones, all neatly adzed out of solid trees, sloped 
down to the four walls. Two tie-beams, six inches 
each in diameter, supported the inward pressure of the 
walls, directly under each end of the ridge-pole, to 
which they were attached by perpendiculars. 
A splendid hog was brought alive as the customary 
present ; and one of the surveying-men, a butcher by 
trade, proceeded to show his science. A store of 
potatoes, pumpkins, kumeras, and shallots, was piled up 
in one corner of the house, and a fire was lit near the 
middle, on the hard earthen floor ; and a numerous 
troop of E Kuril's followers and relations busied them- 
selves in helping the butcher and the cook, fetching 
water, peeling potatoes, or strewing one end of the 
house with clean fern for our sleeping-place. 
Little Heuheu was as busy as the rest, and chat- 
tered a lively description of all our proceedings. I 
remember being struck by the kind greeting which 
E Kuru gave him, almost as though he had been his 
own son. He kindly dwelt on his courage in coming, 
and his endurance in carrying my heavy load, and evi- 
dently felt sincere pleasure when I loudly praised the 
boy's services. By this sort of treatment, E Kuru had 
secured the perfect devotion of his slaves. Except in 
cases of misconduct, I never heard him use a threat or 
a harsh word towards them. They were treated exactly 
as members of the family, and allowed to take part in 
the amusements as well as the labour of the tribe. 
