Chap. XV. PLUNDER OF A WRECK BY NATIVES. 426 
were not under his authority. At TVangaihu we met 
with Pukeroa, the old magician of Guard's island at 
the mouth of the Pelorus, who was on his way to 
JVaikato by way of the Wanganui river. He had 
also secured a large portion of the spoil ; but ridiculed 
the idea of restoring it to the friends of the deceased, as 
quite contrary to all Maori custom. He loudly asserted, 
that when a boat, canoe, or ship was wrecked, all look- 
ers-on were entitled to whatever they could pick up. 
He was much delighted at having found a case of 
bottled gin. On my return to ff^anganui, I forwarded 
a list of the things which I had seen, and a statement 
of what I had heard, to the Magistrate at Port Nichol- 
son ; but no further notice was ever taken of the 
affair. 
Soon after this, the Jewess schooner of sixty tons, a 
vessel owned in Port Nicholson, entered the river, and 
anchored at Purua. There were several passengers 
on board, who had come to inspect the proposed district. 
As I intended to travel up the river to E Kuru, who 
had gone to collect pigs at the inland settlements, I 
offered places in my canoe to three or four of them ; 
and we thus formed a merry party. 
The canoe was roomy and safe, fitted with a mast 
and sail, and manned by four or five strong rowers, 
selected from the train always attendant upon Ware 
IVik'itoria, or ** Victoria house," as E Kuru had chris- 
tened my establishment. 
The kareau platform was covered with clean native 
mats, and abundance of food and bottled beer was stowed 
away in the bottom of the canoe. The weather was 
uniform, sunny, and exhilarating because not oppres- 
sively hot ; and thus we were rather on a party of 
pleasure than an exploring expedition. 
We slept the first night at a village opposite 2 e 
