Chap. I. PANIC ON FIRST SIGHT OF A HORSE. 17 
up the steep path leading to the pa of Tihoe, they 
fairly lay down on their faces, and gave themselves up 
for lost. Half-way up the hill I dismounted, and they, 
plucked up courage to come and look at the Jcuri nui, 
or "large dog." The most amusing questions were 
put to me as to its habits and disposition. " Can he 
" talk ? " said one ; " Does he like boiled potatoes ? " 
said another ; and a third, " Mustn't he have a blanket 
" to lie down upon at night ? " This unbounded 
respect and admiration lasted all the time that I re- 
mained. The horse was taken into the central court- 
yard of the pa ; a dozen hands were always offering 
him Indian corn, and grass, and sow-thistles, when 
they had learned what he really did eat ; and a wooden 
bowl full of water was kept constantly replenished 
close to him. And little knots of curious observers 
sat round the circle of his tether-rope, remarking, and 
conjecturing, and disputing, about the meaning and 
intention of every whisk of his tail or shake of his 
ears. 
I met at this village with great kindness from all 
my old friends. Several mats, which I had paid for 
while in the process of manufacture when here before, 
were delivered to me on this occasion. 
At Patea, whither I accompanied the travellers the 
next day, we again met with rude and inhospitable 
treatment ; and I returned from thence in two days to 
fj^angmiui. 
I had, during this long sojourn at JVanganui^ a 
good opportunity of forming an opinion of the country 
and climate. Pig-hunting, or accompanying the sur- 
veyors on exploring parties, I soon became acquainted 
with most of the district between the sea and the 
broken country which closes in upon the river about 
fifteen miles up. For that distance the river runs 
VOL. II. c 
