Z E A 
depth. It was sharp at the bottom, and consisted of three 
lengths, about two or three inches thick, and tied firmly to¬ 
gether with strong plaiting: each side was formed of one 
entire plank, about 12 inches broad, and about an inch and 
a half thick, which were fitted to the bottom part with equal 
strength and ingenuity. Several thwarts were laid from one 
side to the other, to which they were securely fastened, in 
order to strengthen the canoes. These vessels are rowed 
with a kind of paddles, between five and six feet in length, 
the blade of which is a long oval, gradually decreasing till 
it reaches the handle; and the velocity with which they row 
with these paddles is surprising: their sails are composed of 
a kind of mat or netting, which is extended between two 
upright poles, one of which is fixed on each side. Two 
ropes fastened to the top of each pole serve instead of sheets. 
The vessels are steered by two men, having each a paddle, 
and sitting in the stern; but they can only sail before the 
wind, in which direction they move with considerable swift¬ 
ness. These Indians use axes, adzes, and chisels, with 
which last they likewise bore holes. The chisels are made 
of jasper, or of the bone of a man’s arm ; and their axes and 
adzes of a hard black stone. Their tillage of the ground is ex¬ 
cellent, owing to the necessity they are under of cultivating or 
running the risk of starving. A long narrow stake, sharpened 
to an edge at bottom, with a piece fixed across, a little above 
it, for the convenience of driving it into the ground with the 
foot, supplies the place both of plough and spade. The soil 
being light, their work is not very laborious; and with this 
instrument alone they will turn up ground of six or seven 
acres in extent. Their fish-hooks are of shell or bone; and 
they have baskets of wicker-work to hold the fish. Their 
warlike weapons are spears, darts, battle-axes, and the pa- 
too-patoo. The spear, which is pointed at each end, is 
about 26 feet in length, and they hold it in the middle, so 
that it is difficult to parry a push from it. Whether they 
fight in boats or on shore, the battle is hand to hand ; their 
contest must be bloody. 
Several missionary stations have been established in New 
Zealand, for the double purpose of civilizing the ignorant 
natives, and instructing them in the truths of the Christian 
religion; and the missionaries continue still struggling against 
the serious obstacles opposed to their progress, from the fe¬ 
rocious habits and superstitions of the natives, by whom they 
are frequently ill-treated and abused. It was in the year 
1814 that the first missionary settlers were established among 
the New Zealanders, on the Bay of Islands, by the Rev. 
Samuel Marsden, well known for his unwearied perseverance 
in this enterprise, and for the skill with which he has con¬ 
ducted it. Many difficulties were encountered; but the 
settlers still continued their efforts. The settlements were 
again visited in 1819 by Mr. Marsden, when a tract of land, 
consisting of 13,000 acres, was purchased from one of the 
chiefs, and the missionaries were settled on it. He also un¬ 
dertook a journey across the island, on which he discovered 
a large river, making its way, with its tributary streams, into 
the sea on the opposite shore. This river he named Gambier. 
He has since visited the settlements, for the purpose of super¬ 
intending and encouraging the missionaries. And several 
New Zealanders, who were brought to New Holland, and 
had there an opportunity of witnessing the arts and improve¬ 
ments of civilized life, have been of great service to the mis¬ 
sions. On the part of the missionaries there has been no 
want of perseverance or of courage. But the warlike habits 
and savage manners of the natives oppose great obstacles to 
their exertions. They are in all respects savages, possess 
their characteristic cruelty, improvidence, and brutality— 
their hatred of industry—and their disposition to steal 
wherever they can. The missionaries having, of course, 
no force to oppose for their protection, are frequently mal¬ 
treated by them and abused when they refuse to comply with 
their requests for iron tools, or any other article they may 
take a fancy to; and their lives do not appear to be in great 
security, stationed as they are among such a horde of merci¬ 
less savages. They appear, however, undismayed; and are 
prosecuting their labours, both spiritual and temporal, with 
Z E B 811 
the greatest assiduity. They are cultivating the ground for a 
subsistence, and have already ample store of excellent wheat- 
they have also turned their attention to the breeding of cattle, 
some of which have been imported from New Holland for 
their use; and they have several of the natives employed in 
the-sawing of wood, in which the country abounds, and 
which affords an article of export to New South Wales. We 
cannot expect that, in the present generation, any great im¬ 
pression will be made, or that it will be easy to reclaim the na¬ 
tives from their inveterate attachment to savage habits: and one 
great obstacle to the planting of any new community in this 
country, on the principles of civilized life, seems to be the 
want of any protection. If an industrious society were be¬ 
ginning to flourish and to grow rich in this wilderness, what 
security have they against the insatiable cupidity of the 
wretches by whom they are surrounded ? To improve the 
country, the missionaries ought to be protected; and if thev 
were joined by a band of resolute colonists, who would pro¬ 
tect their own rights, and at the same time respect the rights of 
the natives, this accession of strength would certainly greatly 
conduce to the steady progress of the settlement. They might 
then proceed in their labours, both spiritual and temporal, 
particularly the latter; for if the natives will not listen to 
their religious exhortations, it would still be of great im¬ 
portance to instruct them in the arts of civilized life; and by 
degrees the missionaries might draw to them European colo¬ 
nists, and thus form an industrious and thriving community. 
The progress they have already made, under so many dis¬ 
couragements and obstacles, is certainly astonishing. Amono- 
other enterprises, they have succeeded in reducing to writing 
the language of the natives, and have constructed a New Zea¬ 
land grammar, for the benefit of such new missionaries as may 
be inclined to adventure on this field of missionary enterprise. 
The population of New Zealand has been variously calcu¬ 
lated, from 100,000 to 150,000. 
ZEA'LED, adj. Filled with zeal. Not in use. _This 
good king’s judgement was over -zealed. Fuller. 
ZEA'L-LESS, adj. Wanting zeal.—Look on your inde¬ 
votion, that heartless, zealless behaviour in this very home 
of God. Hammond. 
ZEA'LOT, s. [.zeloteur , French; tyXuTy ?, Gr.] One 
passionately ardent in any cause. Generally used in dis¬ 
praise.—The fury of zealots, intestine bitterness, and division, 
were the greatest occasion of the destruction of Jerusalem! 
Kins: Charles. 
ZEA'LOTRY, s. Behaviour of a zealot.—No casuist is 
sufficient to enumerate or resolve the many intricate niceties 
and endless scruples of conscience, which some men’s and 
women’s more plebeian zelotry makes; as about ladies’ 
cheeks and faces, &c. Bp. Taylor. 
ZEA'LOUS, adj. Ardently passionate in any cause._It 
is not at all good to be zealous against any person, but only 
against their crimes. It is better to be zealous for things than 
for persons : but then it should be only for good things; a 
rule that does certainly exclude all manner of zeal tor ? ill 
things, all manner of zeal for little things. Sprat. 
ZEA'LQUSLY, adv. With passionate ardour.—To enter 
into a party as into an order of friars, with so resigned an 
obedience to superiors, is very unsuitable with the civil and 
religious liberties we so zealously assert. Swift. 
ZEA'LOUSNESS, s. The quality of being zealous. 
ZEAMAH, a river of Algiers, which falls into the Medi¬ 
terranean; 6 miles south-south-east of Cullu. 
ZEB, or Zib, a village of Syria, near the sea-coast, 9 
miles from Acre. 
ZEBBEY, a town of the island of Malta, said to contain 
4000 inhabitants. 
ZEBDAINEH, a village.of Syria; 14 miles north-west 
of Damascus. 
ZEBEE, a considerable river which flows through the 
south of Abyssinia, and has been supposed to fall into the 
Arabian sea; but, according to the information obtained by 
Mr. Salt, it is lost in the sands. 
ZEBEER, a village of Irak Arabi; 12 miles west of 
Bassora. 
, ZEBEN, 
