XVIII 
EXCURSION TO WAIM ATE 
449 
with two dollars. When I showed the chief a very small 
bundle which I wanted carried, it became absolutely necessary 
for him to take a slave. These feelings of pride are beginning 
to wear away ; but formerly a leading man would sooner have 
died than undergone the indignity of carrying the smallest 
burden. My companion was a light active man, dressed in a 
dirty blanket, and with his face completely tattooed. He had 
formerly been a great warrior. He appeared to be on very 
cordial terms with Mr. Bushby ; but at various times they had 
quarrelled violently. Mr. Bushby remarked that a little quiet 
irony would frequently silence any one of these natives in their 
most blustering moments. This chief has come and harangued 
Mr. Bushby in a hectoring manner, saying, “ A great chief, a 
great man, a friend of mine, has come to pay me a visit—you 
must give him something good to eat, some fine presents, etc.” 
Mr. Bushby has allowed him to finish his discourse, and then 
has quietly replied by some such answer as, “ What else shall 
your slave do for you?” The man would then instantly, with 
a very comical expression, cease his braggadocio. 
Some time ago Mr. Bushby suffered a far more serious 
attack. A chief and a party of men tried to break into his 
house in the middle of the night, and not finding this so easy, 
commenced a brisk firing with their muskets. Mr. Bushby 
was slightly wounded ; but the party was at length driven 
away. Shortly afterwards it was discovered who was the 
aggressor ; and a general meeting of the chiefs was convened 
to consider the case. It was considered by the New Zealanders 
as very atrocious, inasmuch as it was a night attack, and that 
Mrs. Bushby was lying ill in the house ; this latter circumstance, 
much to their honour, being considered in all cases as a 
protection. The chiefs agreed to confiscate the land of the 
aggressor to the King of England. The whole proceeding, 
however, in thus trying and punishing a chief was entirely 
without precedent. The aggressor, moreover, lost caste in the 
estimation of his equals ; and this was considered by the 
British as of more consequence than the confiscation of his 
land. 
As the boat was shoving off, a second chief stepped into 
her, who only wanted the amusement of the passage up and 
down the creek. I never saw a more horrid and ferocious 
2 G 
