140 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. V. 
I sang out, SO that all the bystanders might think I 
was bidding him farewell. 
I then told my carrier to untie his kit, and to spread 
one of my blankets on the sunny side of the log, close 
to Taratoa. I reclined u}>on the blanket in chieftain- 
like comfort, cut up some tobacco, filled my pipe, called 
out to the slaves with an air of authority to bring fire, 
and, after lighting my pipe and taking two or three 
puffs, handed it familiarly to the chief. He took it from 
me, but forgot to use it, for he was aghast at my cool- 
ness. The pipe remained in his extended hand ; his 
mouth was half open ; his features expressed the utmost 
astonishment. The rest of the people, about a hundred 
in number, pressed closer round the log, anxious to 
see the upshot of my singular conduct. At last I got 
up and addressed the chief. 
" The great chief of the Ngatiparewawa" I said, 
" is kind to his friend, the chief of TVanganui. He 
" has said that the name of Tiraweke is marked on 
" his heart. He sees that his friend is tired with the 
" long walk, and he does not wish to send him across 
" the river till his legs are rested. It is good : T'lra- 
" weke will be a manuhiri (or " honoured guest") of 
" Taratoa till he is strong to pursue his path. The 
" great chief of Manawatu will clean out a house in 
" his village for his visitor, and strew the floor with 
*' young fern. He will tell his wives and his slave- 
" women to prepare the ovens, and to lay out a feast 
" worthy of a great name. He will send his young men 
" to the sea for fish, and to the fresh- water creeks for 
" the fat eels of the swamp. He will gather the finest 
" kumera from the gardens, and bid his guest get 
*• strong on the good food of the land. Tiraweke was 
" a fool not to see into the heart of his brother. He 
" will smoke his pipe for two weeks in the village of 
