Chap. XVII. TREATY OF WAITANGI. 463 
were obtained. Of these signatures, upwards of 200 
were those of the chiefs inhabiting the peninsula 
north of the harbour of Manukau and the estuary 
of the Thames ; leaving only 300 to represent the 
inhabitants of more than three-fourths of the North 
Island. There is no evidence whatever that the 
assent of the powerful and warlike tribes of the in- 
terior, in the upper valleys of the JWaipa and TVai- 
kato, around Lake Taupo and the Rotorua lakes, 
was ever asked ; certainly it was never obtained. The 
greater part of the signatures were obtained at flying 
visits, and after one or at most two interviews. 
Presents of blankets and tobacco were made to the 
chiefs who signed ; and there cannot exist a doubt 
that to obtain these presents was with many the mo- 
tive for signing. 
Having not even the name of Governor or Go- 
vernment in their language, it may be supposed that 
the natives had no very precise or definite ideas of 
government ; a thing unknown in fact to their insti- 
tutions. Having no collective name for their own 
country, it may be supposed that they had no distinct 
idea of different countries, of national distinctions, 
and therefore none of foreign relations. There is no 
evidence that adequate means were taken to explain 
those large and novel ideas to them, so necessary to 
the proper understanding, not only of any treaty, but 
even of what a treaty is. Captain Symonds had 
been only a few months in New Zealand, knew but 
little of the language, and had not the benefit of the 
assistance as interpreter of the missionary at Mana- 
kauy who was absent ; and it may be doubted whether 
Mr. Fedarb, the master of the trading-vessel (who 
from his name appears not to have been an Eng- 
lishman), was capable of understanding the treaty. 
