286 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
lished an account of the voyage: and by Messi’s. King, 
Kendall, and Hall, with their wives and five children, two 
sawyers, and a smith ; a horse, a bull, two cows, a few sheep, 
and poultry of different kinds, were also taken. They first 
anchored at Matouri Bay, about twenty miles to the north of 
the Bay of Islands. 
Mr. Marsden landed with his party at Waiawa, but he and 
Mr. Nicholas only stayed on shore for the night. There he met 
Tara, better known by the name George, the Chief who cut 
off the Boyd, and he slept by his side, in full confidence that he 
might do so with perfect safety. This fearless conduct shows 
his natural strength of mind most forcibly, when he could thus, 
without protection, entrust his life the very first night he slept 
on shore alone with that savage and cannibal Chieftain. It is 
interesting to know, that the very first work of this servant of 
Him who is the Prince of Peace, was to make peace between the 
Bay of Islands and Wangaroa natives, and to put an end to the 
deadly feud which had so long existed between them. Thus 
the foundation of the Gospel in New Zealand was laid in peace 
—a happy omen for its future success. The description which 
Mr. Marsden himself gave of that memorable night, is so 
graphic, that it must be given in his own words:—“As the 
evening advanced, the people began to retire to rest in differ¬ 
ent groups. About eleven o’clock, Mr. Nicholas and I wrapped 
ourselves up in our great coats, and prepared for rest also. 
George directed me to lie by his side. His wife and child lay 
on the right hand, and Mr. Nicholas close by. The night was 
clear, the stars shone bright, and the sea in our front was 
smooth. Around us were numerous spears, stuck upright in 
the ground, and groups of natives lying in all directions, like a 
flock of sheep upon the grass, as there were neither tents nor 
huts to cover them. I viewed our present situation with 
sensations and feelings that I cannot express—surrounded by 
cannibals, who had massacred and devoured our countrymen, 
I wondered much at the mysteries of Providence, and how 
these things could be! Never did I behold the blessed ad¬ 
vantage of civilization in a more grateful light than now. I 
did not sleep much during the night. My mind was too 
