Chap. IX. E AHU AVOIDS MISSIONARY NATIVES. 2io 
" the land is yours," said he ; "I do not know ; perhaps 
" it is. You relate as an evil deed that I took upon 
" myself to sell Manawatu to the White man. You 
" say that it was not straight. Look at me ! I E 
" Aku sold Manawatu. I alone, of my own accord. I 
" came not to consult you. I was not good to do so ; 
" I am still not good to do so. I care not for your 
" thoughts on the matter. You have described your 
" pedigree and spoken much of your great name. I 
" too had ancestors and a father. I have a name. It 
" is enough; I have done." 
No one ventured to answer this claim, which I be- 
lieve was true, to a higher descent than that of Ran- 
gihaeata ; whose fame was derived rather from hiscon- 
stant companionship with Rauperaha, and his bullying 
and boastful demeanour, than from his rank by blood. 
In the^morning they seemed very good friends ; and 
we proceeded to Pukenia rather late. We reached 
that j>« towards dusk, and had just eaten our meal 
when the missionary bell rang for prayers. E Ahu 
immediately got up, and told the boys to shoulder 
their loads. He said he could never sleep in this 
village, as he knew the people would sing hymns and 
talk hanga noaiho, or " nonsense," all night. So we 
encamped under a natural arch of rock about a mile 
further along the beach. I rolled myself up in a robe 
of opossum-skins from New South Wales, and picked 
out a spot in the shingly beach pretty free from rocky 
protuberances. 
After sleeping very soundly for some hours, I was 
awakened by the bustle of preparation ; and found that 
the chief had had enough rest, and wished to proceed, as 
he was anxious to get home. I was nothing loath, and 
we pushed on by the light of the moon, which had 
now risen, as far as ff^ainui, when daylight appeared. 
VOL. II. Q 
