SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
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battle. He lost no time in visiting the hostile parties, and 
after some difficulties and delay, he succeeded in his benevo¬ 
lent efforts, and peace was made. On the 11th April, he 
witnessed the baptism of a man and two women ; he also was 
gratified with the flourishing state of the schools, every indivi¬ 
dual in them being pretty well acquainted with the Church 
Catechism, and the chief truths of the Gospel, many also 
could write, and were pretty well acquainted with the first 
rules of arithmetic. 
The natives were quite enthusiastic in their reception of 
Mr. Marsden; they welcomed him with songs and dancing, and 
firing of guns. On one occasion, more than 2,000 armed men 
were present; he was surrounded by hundreds as he went from 
place to place. On the 2nd April, he visited Rangihu : there 
on the highest mound were Ruatara and his son interred ; the 
latter, a promising young man, who was to have returned to 
Parramatta, died the very morning of Mr. Marsden’s arrival. 
During his illness, he would often say, Oh! what would Mr. 
Marsden say were he to come whilst the New Zealanders are 
fighting ? He would be very angry. Mr. Marsden’s health being 
very indifferent, his friends hastened his return before the winter, 
or rainy season set in, and on the 16th of June he reached Sydney. 
After this visit of the venerable and indefatigable founder 
of the Mission, the work began steadily to increase. The 
Gospel had reached the hearts of the savage natives, and now 
began to show its power. 
The station at Kaitaia in the north was commenced, and at 
the Thames, Matamata, and Waikato fresh ground was occu¬ 
pied. The Missionary could now traverse the country with 
some degree of safety, although this could not be done by the 
natives themselves. An instance of this occurred at the 
Waikato. When the brethren first attempted to cross 
that river, on mold, or canoes formed of several bundles of 
sedge tied together, no other means being presented, the 
natives spied them approaching, and taking them for enemies, 
immediately levelled their guns. The Missionaries tied a 
white handkerchief to the end of a paddle, and hoisted it up. 
It was no sooner seen than down went the guns, and they were 
