aS2 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. XIV. 
It is rather a colony for persons of contented mind 
to enjoy life better with the same means, than for for- 
tune-hunters to acquire a great and rapid increase of 
means wherewith to go back and enjoy life in the old 
country. But in the enjoyment of life in the colony, 
I include the constant pleasure of seeing scenery through 
a clear atmosphere, of breathing pure and invigorating 
air, of sleeping nine months in the year with your bed- 
room window open, and yet never feeling it too warm for 
fire when rain or a gale of wind keeps you in-doors. 
For otherwise you are always out of doors, watx^hing 
the robust growth of your plants or the brilliant rising 
and setting of the sun, the surprising condition of the 
cattle without any great care, or the constantly varying 
but constantly beautiful appearances of the landscape, 
be it ever so meagre, which is open to your view. A 
gentleman who had lived nearly four years at Pf'lan- 
ganui almost without doing anything, and totally with- 
out society or excitement, expressed the calm and con- 
tentment thus infused into the most secluded existence 
in the following words : — 
" So we continue to vegetate. How it is we are not 
" all killed with ennui, I cannot imagine, for a duller 
" life than ours at present cannot be conceived ; but I 
" must say, I never in my life found time hang so lightly 
" on my hand, or was more free from care, blue devils, or 
" sickness, than since I have been here. The days pass 
" so quickly that you can scarcely believe that Sunday is 
" come again. Few can say with certainty what day of the 
" week it is ; and yet you do nothing ; walk a few times 
" up the beach, smoke a pipe or two, chat with a few 
, " Maoris, kill a pig, and the day is done." 
IVahtne iti, who always accompanied me to the 
houses of the different settlers, was delighted at the 
urbane treatment which was secured to him by our 
companionship. He appeared to take as great interest 
