l^ ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEAIAND. Chap. I. 
remembered that no white man had dwelt there, and 
that they rarely saw one except on a trading or mis- 
sionary visit. The missionary system had therefore en- 
joyed a fair trial without the interference of civilization. 
They were all mihanere or converts ; many of them 
called themselves " the Aj)ostle Paul," " the A[)ostle 
" Timothy," or the " Apostle Luke ;" " Martin Lu- 
" ther," " Ezekiel," or " Solomon." They sang hymns 
night and day, almost incessantly ; discussed at length 
obscure points of doctrine, and even words introduced 
into the books, which were new to their language, with 
indecent virulence ; and carried this exaggeration of 
religion so far, as to be weaving a gigantic and s})lendid 
mat in the pa, which they told all inquirers was for 
Ihu Karaiti, and therefore not to be sold ! 
And yet the greatest circums})ection could not ])re- 
vent them from pilfering to an unlimited extent from 
the traders ; they were harassing and overbearing in 
their dealings, prone to cheat in bargaining by any dis- 
honourable trick, inhospitable in the highest degree, 
and claiming payment for the very slightest service or 
gift, such as even fetching a calabashful of water from 
the river. 
The Wanganui settlers had observed a great deal of 
the same spirit among the mihanere natives with whom 
they had dealings. But they all acknowledged, that 
neither the Taiipo natives, nor the followers o{ EKuru, 
nor those others who were under any good and power- 
ful chief, could be accused of these bad qualities. 
The only case of theft that occurred during the visit 
of the Taupo war party had been unknown to me, until 
the stolen things were restored to me. It appears that 
one of the Rotorua allies, against whose evil designs 
Heuheu had so vigorously guarded, had taken, through 
an open window of my house, a large pocket-comj)ass and 
