Chap. VII. THE INFANT TOWN. 181 
fair was going on, rather than a serious settlement. 
All seemed ajffected by the bright blue sky and lovely 
scenery around. In the midst of the toil and confusion 
of landing goods, and looking for relations in the 
crowd, every countenance beamed with good humour 
and enjoyment. The very whalers would now and 
then condescend to show an awkward clodhopper the 
handiest way of hauling a package up the sloping 
beach. But few natives figured in the scene ; as this 
spot had not been inhabited for many years, owing to 
the constant danger from the proximity of the moun- 
tains, whence Pakihure and his brother fugitives were 
said to have more than once made successful forays 
upon the dispersed settlements of their conquerors, and 
of the few Ngatiawa who had arrived in Blind Bay 
after its conquest by Rauperaha and his followers. 
Such at least was the reason assigned to me by Mark, 
the young chief of Rangitoto on D'Urville's Island, 
who came while I was here on a friendly visit to Cap- 
tain Wakefield. 
Near the highest point of the path between the 
haven and the town was pitched the small square 
tent in which Captain Wakefield slept. From hence 
he had only a few steps to walk to the flag-staff, where 
he communicated with the shipping by means of 
Marryat's signals ; and he was conveniently placed for 
going to whichever location required his presence. 
In the midst of the great amphitheatre was a low 
isolated mound. Here a long range of wooden houses 
served as hospital, survey-office, and emigration- 
barracks ; and a constant stream of immigrants, with 
their bundles, was flowing either way between the 
summit of this small Acropolis and the nearest point 
of the lagoon to which the tide would allow the large 
boats to ascend the channel of the Maitai. Wooden 
