SAMUEL MAKSDEN. 
287 
seriously occupied by the present scene, and the new and 
strange ideas which it natually excited. 
“ About three o’clock in the morning, I rose and walked 
about the camp, surveying the different groups of natives. 
Some of them put out their heads from under the top of their 
kakahu's (a rough shaggy mat, which is like a bee-hive), and 
spoke to me. When the morning light returned, we beheld 
men, women, and children asleep in all directions, like the 
beasts of the field.” 
His confidence and efforts to obtain peace were rewarded. 
In the morning Ruatara, Hongi, and Korokoro came and 
hungied, i.e. rubbed noses, the Maori way of salutation, with 
the Wangaroa Chief, in token of future peace and amity. 
From Matouri, they went to the Bay of Islands, near the 
entrance of which Ruatara lived, at a place called Rangihu, 
and there the first missionary station was placed, and there 
also the first Sabbath was kept, and that day was indeed a high 
day, for it was Christmas-day, 1814. Ruatara appears to have 
done everything in his power to do honor to the occasion : he 
enclosed about half-an-acre of land with a fence, and hoisted 
the British flag, which, though not bearing the dove as the 
emblem of peace on its waving folds, has still floated as the 
defender of those who bore the message of peace, and imparted 
confidence that, however remote the spot, wherever it was 
hoisted, they were safe. 
Mr. Marsden remarked, “ On Sunday morning, when I was on 
deck, I saw the English flag flying, which was a pleasing sight 
in New Zealand. I considered it was the signal and dawn of 
civilization, liberty, and religion, in that dark and benighted 
land. 1 never viewed the British colors with more gratification, 
and I flattered myself they would never be removed till the 
natives of the island enjoyed the happiness of British subjects.” 
These words were prophetic. 
Ruatara passed the remainder of the day in preparing for the 
Sabbath: he erected apulpit and reading-deskin the centre of the 
enclosed space ; these he made out of an old canoe, and covered 
with cloth, given him in Sydney ; he formed seats in a similar 
way for the European portion of the congregation. Then, 
