Chap. XVII. CURIOUS EFFECTS OF MIST. 449 
lessly pulled Mr, Wicksteed and another passenger 
out of their warm beds to admire the strange effect. 
They had hardly got on deck when we became 
shrouded in the mist ; and a scene ensued which must 
have combined with the fog, as it drove past us, and 
retained the shadow of our rigging in gigantic propor- 
tions when an occasional gleam of the rising sun 
penetrated it, to make them think some magic was 
used in this handiwork of nature. We first heard 
voices in the fog, which I soon recognised to be those 
of the natives coming out to fish. Not so my compa- 
nions ; nor was their wonder appeased when the canoes 
hove in sight. Their hulls and sails were magnified 
by the fog into huge unwieldy ships, as they rose 
and fell on the long ground-swell ; and their crews 
appeared uncouth giants. I had engaged in a long 
hallooing conversation with them even before they ap- 
peared ; and five or six canoes were soon lashed to 
our taffrail, while thirty or forty chattering fellows 
sprang on deck to shake hands and exchange news. 
They told me that two boats, engaged in a rival trad- 
ing expedition to Patea from this place, had both been 
wrecked at the mouth of that river ; that the two ves- 
sels had arrived safely from Wellington, and had landed 
their passengers and goods ; and that the expected war- 
party from Taupo had arrived on the banks of the 
river, headed as had been foretold by old Heuheu him- 
self. After asking me the news from Poneke, as they 
abbreviated Port Nicholson, and inquiring, as usual, 
what goods I had brought for trade, they proceeded to 
the fishing-grounds, about two or three miles out to 
sea. Twenty-five or thirty canoes, bound on this 
errand, passed us or called as they went. The fog 
now cleared off, and displayed the pretty country about 
Wanganuiy smiling under a warm and cloudless sky. 
VOL. I. 2 G 
