Chap. I. " DEN OF THIEViES. """ if 
knowledge could no longer be said to exist. One of the 
firnij a poor half-starved and very vulgar son of a 
tanner, who had in some way obtained the aristocra- 
tic name of Burleigh, grandiloquently offered me 
satisfaction with " swords, pistols, or any other 
" weapon," for what he had done. AVhen I quietly 
declined this kind offer of satisfaction for stealing 
my property, and told the hero that he might think 
himself lucky if I did not put him into gaol for 
felony, he laughed, and said, " There was no law in New 
" Zealand ; there was no fear of his getting put into 
" gaol !" I then gave him fair warning that I would try 
my best ; but by the time I got to Port Nicholson, he 
had decamped on board an American whaler lying at 
Kapiti, along with the runaway carpenter, who had also 
assisted in the felonious amusement. Thus I had no 
means of securing a ruffian, who had made use of the 
Government licence for selling grog, to encourage others 
to assist him in robbing me, and to form head-quarters 
for a den of thieves. 
Yet, during all this time, I would have engaged to 
provide a very efficient constabulary, extending for 
twenty miles on the three main tracks by which bad 
characters could arrive or escape, by means of the au- 
thority of E Kuru, and some other native chiefs, on 
whom dependence might be placed, and with no expense 
except when called into action. 
About the beginning of August, I received intelli- 
gence that the Sandfly had struck on a rock in making 
the anchorage at Kapiti on a dark night, and had sunk 
with all her cargo. As there was some chance of 
getting her up again, I proceeded by land to Waikanae, 
with two native lads to carry my blankets and provisions. 
After finding all efforts to raise the vessel vain, I 
proceeded to Wellington. 
