296 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XH. 
those whom the grumblers are pleased to look upon as 
first their victims and finally their accomplices. 
They are, of course, disappointed men ; many of 
whom have some cause for their disap[)ointment, but 
no courage to exert themselves or to seek for means of 
overcoming the difficulties in their way. 
A large portion of the class consists of the worth- 
less idlers, of whom their families have thought to rid 
themselves by sending them to the other side of the 
world with a few hundred pounds, a land-order, and 
no friend or adviser. No language can be too strong 
for reproving such parents or guardians. The exiled 
scamp (for he has generally deserved that name in 
England) arrives on the beach, expecting to find every- 
thing as complete and comfortable as at home, only a 
good deal more like an earthly Paradise or Eldorado. 
He has probably been told that in a few years he may 
come home with a fortune ; and he thinks that this 
is to be done by standing still with his hands in his 
pockets. He has had no education to fit him for a 
colonial life ; he has not the slightest knowledge of 
the value of money ; and is one of the unfortunate 
people who can do ** anything." 
He finds that his section is some miles off, and 
covered with timber ; that he will have to live for some 
time almost by himself, to have nothing done for him, 
and in short to work, without many of the comforts 
and luxuries of an old society. And he is shocked to 
find that the gentlemen of the place do not disdain to 
be busy and occasionally to handle an axe or a hammer 
themselves ; and that the really good and pleasant 
circle of society which does exist will not acknowledge 
him or receive him amongst them till he has proved 
his qualifications to join them by roughing it like a 
gentleman and a " good colonist." He is required to 
