CHAPTER VII
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CHAPTER VII.
Land purchased by European settlers --On the want of a local government --Introduction of commercial arts --Stability of purchases of land --Immorality and false claims of many shipmasters --European claims that are regarded as futile among the natives --Precautions necessary to be observed in purchasing land --The author's purchase of land at Taiaruru Kororarika and the district of Waitangi --Variety of claimants --Services rendered by the missionaries --Letter from some chiefs to William the Fourth --Arrival of the British resident --Choice of a national standard --Conduct of a portion of the natives to the resident --The Baron de Thierry -- His arrival.
Land may be purchased in large tracts, about various parts of New Zealand, and should the British government think proper to colonize the country, the principal half of the soil being unowned, would fall to the state.
The missionary families all possess various private farms of some extent. The allotments pur-
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PURCHASES OF LAND,
chased by the trading part of the British community, is of infinitely less agricultural importance and extent. The native landholders, in such parts of the country as I have visited, continually requested me to purchase land among them, and also bade me remember to invite settlers on the soil, invariably asserting, that the only method to prevent the native population from unceasingly warring against each other, was for Europeans to reside among them, and in consequence raise new wants among the tribes, and by that method, employ their minds and bodies, especially for the scraping of flax and cultivating the neglected soil.
In Wangaroa, when the "Buffalo" store ship was there, in 1835, taking in a cargo of pine spars for the British government, scarce an European resided at that part. At the present moment, almost all the land has been purchased by Europeans. Messrs. Shepherd and Kemp missionary catechists, possess a large proportion of timber land, including some miles of country. Several commercial Europeans have also purchased larger farms in this vicinity, than elsewhere. At Kaipara, Maungakahia, where in 1833, a white man was accounted a lusus naturae, Europeans have purchased large tracts of sand. Mr. Baker, a catechist has some thou-
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BY MISSIONARIES AND TRADERS.
sands of acres in the latter beautiful valley. To the northward, the missionaries and traders have been similarly careful in justly purchasing and providing for their respective families, many miles of water frontages, forest, plain, hill, and valley. Extensive allotments on the banks of the Bay of Islands and Hokianga belong to the above two portions of the European community, and large tracts between the above ports, centrically situated, belong almost exclusively to the Church missionary families. To particularize separate districts would be uninteresting to the general reader, suffice it to observe that scarcely a river flows on either coast of the Northern Island whose banks are not possessed, in part, by our countrymen, who sadly want a paternal government to keep them in decent order.
Partial colonization daily increases in despite of the attempts which well-intentioned philanthropists towards the aborigines, have made to defer it, and the British government have already a number of loyal subjects in embryo, ready to swear allegiance and dutiful obedience to her Majesty, whenever her Imperial pleasure confers on them the gracious recognition.
Land once purchased, after the approved native method, is tapued to the purchaser and becomes his property. The native landholder,
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STABILITY OF PURCHASES.
in demanding a price, generally reminds the buyer, (to enhance the value of the soil and increase the price,) that the property, he is about to dispose of, descends to the children of the purchaser; that the articles of the trade or money, (as the case may be for the purchase,) soon evaporates, and early after, nothing is left to the seller; but the land is always in existence, and in the hands of an European invariably improves. The natives are often struck with astonishment at the many little improvements in agriculture, brought into use by new comers, such as hand-mills, wells, and many ingenious trifles, saving time and manual labour.
Mr. Stack, a truly zealous missionary, formerly attached to the Wesleyan Society, on viewing the missionary premises, in Wangaroa, some years after he, together with his brethren, had been driven from the place, was requested by some resident natives to return once more and karakia, (preach,) to them on eternal things, on the site of the old settlement. Mr. S. enquired if, after having been driven from the land, it would not be necessary to repurchase the soil. The question excited some surprise in the natives, who distinctly gave him to understand, that land, once purchased fairly, could not be taken away by the natives.
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FOLLY OF SHIPMASTERS.
Several masters, commanding whaling ships, have often put into the Bay of Islands and other parts of New Zealand, and have cohabited with the native chief women belonging to the villages opposite to which they have anchored. These men have occasionally made what, in the country, may be termed expensive presents of ammunition and clothing to the parents and relatives of their female friends, and in return, have expected they had the power of demanding, from the friendly chiefs, such portions of territory as they might, in the plenitude of their wisdom, require: this was a mistake, as was also the supposition, that the simple assent of the chief was only necessary to transfer the property of their children and retainers without the actual purchase of the land so assigned, and consultation of each person interested in the property. The presents above mentioned, however costly, are regarded by the New Zealanders as mementos indicative of the folly of the donors in favour of their women, and who would have been infinitely more respected, even by the receivers, had they been less reckless of the property, in many cases, belonging to the shipowners, and put on board, for refreshing the crew during the voyage, though thus expended in moments of drunkenness and infatuation.
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ILLEGAL CLAIMS.
Many such cases have occurred by men, void of honour and understanding, who have urged claims to property, after being respectably settled by European purchasers for years, on the fancied right as having, on such spots, many years previously, given loose to drunken riot, and the lowest dissipation, with company similarly disposed in taste and sentiments.
Land has been presented by a chief to a child, on the latter being named after him; thus, Mr. J. Kemp, catechist, at the Keri Keri, surnamed one of his sons after the celebrated chief, Titore, and a large piece of land was presented from the latter to the former as acknowledgment for such European complaisance; but the infant dying early after, the land was taken back by its original owner. This custom is prevalent in the Polynesian islands; thus a son of Mr. Charles Barff, a respectable and useful missionary, in the island of Huaheine, for the London Missionary Society, also named a son after a chief named Pui, with similar results. But these claims are not binding in New Zealand, as the whites are supposed to possess many riches, and it is regarded as an unworthy act, to deprive the inferior members of a chief family of a share of the payment that would accrue to them in case the land was sold; the
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WHALE FISHERY.
honour of thus giving the land away solely belongs to the chief, who, however he may be applauded by Europeans for the deed, is looked upon as a kuori, or fool, by the natives.
The Island of Victoria is peopled with a large number of Europeans, who have settled in the various bays frequented by the black whale, (balaena mysticaetus.)
These gangs, as they are called, have been inhabitants of the country for many years past, and procure a great quantity of oil and whalebone per annum, The fishery, which is purchased by the merchants of Sydney, in November last, (1837,) yielded a very lucrative season. These Europeans intermarry with the native women, and an intercourse, which morality cannot favour for a moment, has, in some degree, detached the natives from the wandering life they have hitherto led. Perhaps, not less than one hundred and fifty sail of ships of various tonnage, lie on and off the coasts of New Zealand, in the months from April to November, and afterwards frequent the middle ground, as are termed the seas between New Holland and the coast of New Zealand.
The requisite method in purchasing of land, is to request the principal chiefs of the district, to speak with his friends and the claimants of
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METHOD OF PURCHASING
the extent and situation of the allotment you may require, stating the amount you propose giving, and in no case overrating the quantity or quality of the property, or value of the cash you may feel disposed to give. The chief will acquaint his tribe of your proposals, and after discussing the matter, if all the parties, who are interested, feel agreeable to dispose of it, the chief will send for you, as it will be absolutely necessary the place you may have chosen should be visited and the limits well-determined, accompanied by native and European witnesses. After such visit, during which they mark down the boundaries, you return with the proprietors to your dwelling, and produce what was promised to be given. If the amount is approved of, the title deeds are drawn out carefully; the boundaries, payment and claimants are particularly described. The instrument is signed by each claimant, writing his name or making a facsimile of his moko or tattooing on his countenance. The native witnesses do the same, and the Englishmen follow the example. The utu or payment is delivered to the principal chief, who distributes to each claimant what he imagines he may be entitled to, and sometimes gives a trifling share to such strangers as may be present.
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FREEHOLD PROPERTY.
It often happens that the liberality of the chief consumes the entire payment, nothing remaining for himself, in that case; but few purchasers would fail in rewarding his self-denial. To adopt the method most pleasing to the generality of natives, I invariably added a quantity of trifles that each slave of the various claimants might also partake.
Some years since I was passing a beech in my boat, on which a number of persons had assembled. A chief among the crowd recognised me, and called to me by name to pull in-shore; I did so, and found some natives whom I well knew, disposing of some land to an English gentleman. As I was accidentally on the spot, I received a trifling portion of the payment, as it appeared I possessed a claim, in having passed at the time the land was being disposed of. My four boatmen also got a trifling remuneration for a similar reason.
Two several settlements I purchased of the natives, by my own previous application. Three smaller settlements I also purchased at different periods, and against my inclination at the time. I made the latter purchases, principally to avoid the continual annoyance of the native owners, having slept in their villages and incautiously said, in answer to their continued request to do
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COGIZABLE CLAIMS
so, that I would probably purchase a farm among them.
In my first purchase at Taiaruru, and the second of Parramatta on the Kororarika, I had much trouble and annoyance, and relate the attending circumstances, as they will show, the many inconveniences the earlier settler is sure to feel in pioneering the road for those who will more happily succeed him in his path.
In both the above settlements there were no end to claimants, who founded their titles on the most whimsical and frivolous pretensions.
The title deeds I had drawn out, were copied exactly from William Penn's document, with the North American Indians. One party demanded payment for having caught their fish in the bay, for many previous years; and had dried the said fish on the beech. Another party had a claim to prefer, as being related to a young chief, who in climbing a tree for the fruit of the karaka, had fallen from a bough; and escaped, nearly breaking his neck. An impudent fellow forwarded his claim for an "utu," pretending to have slept at different periods in an adjoining bush on the estate, and proceeded to cite his witnesses; but they were
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LAND PURCHASES.
too intent in putting forth their own pretensions to pay particular attention to this somniferous demand.
The above parties were no sooner satisfied, than a new company arrived on the land, under a chief named Kapotai; they were a wild bush looking race. These people were enemies to the former claimants, and the speeches towards each other were so insulting, that I expected nothing less than a battle would take place; and as discretion is said to be the better part of valour, I began to look out for a convenient eyrie, as I felt no inclination to be otherwise than neutral.
Luckily for me, the courage of the head chief of the first party was probably preserved for some more valuable occasion. He quietly received a quantity of contemptuous language, until the name of his wife was mentioned in a tone of biting sarcasm; he then hastily stepped towards the speaker, and for the moment, looked and probably thought like a chief; but the hectic flush on his face, caused by the insult, rapidly passed away, and he appeared to sink into apathy.
He then beckoned his people to man the canoes, following them himself, saying "E'ha ti
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DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED
ou te oki," what care I for what you say? departed with his share of my property.
Kapotai and I soon arranged matters: he distributed not a few native anathemas on the party who had just quitted us; adding, that in any dealings with them, the Taniwoa (or native Neptune) himself, would naturally be taken in, much less a booby (moio) like myself; (I inclined my head for the compliment) and if I wanted to do what was just, I ought to deal with good men only, pointing to his friend, the venerable Haututu and himself. I told him I had occasion to admire his candour, as the flatterer, I perceived, formed no part of his character; and concluded by adding, that doubtless he would improve upon acquaintance.
If my words had no effect on him, my property had, as he, together with Autitu and his son Kokowai, did the deed (that is, signed it).
This latter party were, and still are, if they have escaped the ovens of their enemies, the roughest beings I had yet seen in the land; and their countenances, from long habitual practice in studying to frighten their enemies, had become so abominably fiendish, that a glance, indicative of the tender passion from Kapotai, would have frightened a hyaena into hysterics.
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IN THE PURCHASE OF LAND.
The second purchase was still more annoying, at Parramata on the Kororarika.
This settlement, similar to my other purchases was wholly unoccupied by the natives. In front was a large Waitapu or burying ground, in which had been deposited whole generations, (ancestors of the neighbouring claimants), from time immemorial.
I first purchased this land from a chief named Heke, heir at law, and nearest surviving relative of Toi tapu or holy Toi, a venerable priest and the most graceless old gentleman, that ever put on sacerdotal garment, or afterwards relieved himself of the incumbrance. Any reader acquainted with the Church Missionary transactions in New Zealand, will easily call to mind this formerly pragmatical personage, who had been deceased but two months previously.
This old cannibal's affections had, until within a few years of his demise, been so various, that he would greedily have devoured his boon companion; and yet at the same moment lament with tears, the loss of his friendship; though his person (in a well cooked state) was present before him. I gave his heir apparent, and nephews' sons of the chief Korokoro the payment that was demanded for the place, about nine and a half acres of waterside frontage. I had just satisfied
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FRESH PAYMENTS DEMANDED
them, when three surviving wives of the deceased, came for an utu; luckily the old ladies were not included in the purchase. I paid them without any disputation, and also an old slave handmaid of the deceased polygamist. I then requested to know if any more of his ladies were in being; but though at least a dozen were counted out by name before me on the tips of the speaker's fingers, yet they had all preceded Toi in his journey to the Reinga.
This mighty affair was finished, when the chief Moka, a testy wilful pugnacious exotic, demanded his share for having capered in a war dance after the battle on the beech in 1830. On my pointing to his hip in which he had received a musket ball, and consequently limped, saying he could not dance in the lame state he then was, another payment was demanded for reminding him of his misfortune; but on this head I got a coup de grace, by applauding the furious valour that procured his mishap; this softened the vain chief, and he was satisfied with the remuneration thus easily obtained.
Afterwards a new and sweeping demand was made by no less perhaps than two hundred and fifty persons, who also demanded "utu" for the wai tapu, in which their relations and friends had been buried, or it was intended they ought
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AND NEW CLAIMS INSTITUTED.
to have been, had they not been killed and eaten elsewhere. First came Rewa, his brothers, and their generation; Tarria, the largest man in the Pacific islands an ogre to the life, his son Akiro a friendly man and their followers, including their ancestry, present generation, and early posterity; even all these people I satisfied, some English shipmasters being witnesses to the payment.
I now felicitated myself, on having concluded my purchase, in which every person had expressed satisfaction for his share of the payment, when the chief Titore returned from the war at Tauranga. This personage, inflated by having led the troops in the late contest, though beaten in every action, was furious or pretended to be so, that he had not seen the payment for the land, though he admitted his claim solely arose from his being my neighbour, holding a dignified rank. This "great Captain" was so troublesome, that I was induced to send to Paihia, and request the Reverend Henry Williams to favour me with his interposition; he kindly acceded to my request--made Titore sensible that he had not the slightest claim to the land, except what a distempered imagination caused him to imagine, namely that Europeans would succumb to his fiat like the natives. However I made Titore a present, but my asto-
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NEW DIFFICULTIES.
nishment was not a little increased on the reverend gentleman informing me, that he was sorry to add, the entire land I had purchased belonged to himself, that the old proprietor from whom he had received it, long previous to his death, in presence of his relations and friends, (many of whom were then present and assented to the fact) had received it from an ancient race of owners, his ancestors. Mr. Williams added, that he had secured the land to himself by the native law of planting on the ground, and reaping the produce when mature, but generously proposed to give up his claim to me (in consideration of the expense and trouble I had undergone) and agreed to receive a native payment in acknowledgment of his claim, which I assented to, on the spot with pleasure.
I applied ever after to this gentleman, or to his brother the Reverend W. Williams, previously to purchasing land; the valuable knowledge they possessed of the innumerable native laws and the tribes into which the people were divided, being of essential service to both natives and Europeans. On every application I made to either of those gentlemen, they assisted me with the kindest promptitude; and as their presence was often required on the allotments some few miles distant, notwithstanding
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NATIVE TRAVELLERS.
being subjected to much inconvenience, they invariably complied with cheerfulness.
Much competition having arisen among Europeans for the purchase of land, it has raised the value in proportion among the native proprietors, especially to the northward; and every unpurchased part of the Bay of Islands will be found fully as expensive, as in any populous city in Europe.
The natives, within the last five years are fully alive to the value of land from the daily increasing intercourse with foreigners, and travelling themselves, as they do throughout every part of their country, besides frequently visiting the Australian Colonies, Great Britain, the United States, and in several instances the Continent of Europe. I have met with many New Zealanders in the various whaling parts of North America. I saw a native of the East Cape on board the United States frigate, "Macedonian" at New York, previously to her sailing on the South Sea exploring and surveying expedition; this man stated himself to be a superior chief in his own country; but I knew his master and the tribe in which he was a slave. He begged I would be silent on the subject, as he did not wish to be lowered in the estimation of the white men.
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GRAFTING FOREIGN CUSTOMS.
These native travellers are held in much repute by their countrymen, as they give a lively description of what they see or hear abroad; and as may be expected from a people who are naturally inventive geniuses, their tales do not lose by repetition.
A single proof of the notice taken by these people of foreign customs shall suffice.
My boat has been more than once stopt from further progress up a river, the reason assigned being, that the natives were aware that European vessels paid pilotage in Port Jackson to men incorporated as pilots, whether their presence was required or not, and they thought their right equally just. A committee of chiefs took place in Hokianga, some time back, to debate whether they should demand anchorage money or not from shipping, and as it is, a much higher price is demanded, and paid, for water, than is required from vessels in the colonial ports, where human and mechanical labour with large sums have been expended in transporting the invaluable fluid to the harbour from interior districts, as at the port of Sydney.
I was absent the greater part of 1836 from the Bay of Islands; and on my return, the altera-
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DECLENSION OF MORALITY.
tion in the character of the natives on the Kororarika, which is opposite to Paihia, the Church Missionary Station, astonished me.
Several of the gentlemen attached to the mission enquired of me, if I did not perceive the fact of the increase of crime, and decline of civilization among those people, and of the missionary instruction introduced. It was too apparent; a petition had been consequently drawn out, directing the attention of the British Government to the subject, of the lawless conduct of runaway seamen, and prisoners from the colonies; this was received in England last year by the Government. (Note 11.)
On the arrival of Captain La Place in the, French Corvette "la Favorite," in October 1831, a report was industriously circulated in Sydney and the Bay of Islands, that this enterprising commander intended to take possession of the country in the name of his august master, Louis Philippe. This fabulous report gave rise to some heroics in the colonial papers, which would have induced a stranger to that press, to imagine a Mars had turned editor, assisted by an Achiles, as printer's devil. It occasioned a few of the native chiefs to hold conferences, which resulted in their requesting the missionaries to address a latter to his late Majesty
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LETTER TO WILLIAM THE FOURTH.
William the Fourth at their dictation, it ran thus,
"King William. We the chiefs of New Zealand assembled at this place, called the Keri keri, write to thee, for we hear thou art the great chief on the other side the water, since the many ships that come to our land belong to thee.
"We are a people without possessions; we have nothing but timber, pork, flax and potatoes. We sell these things, however, to your people, and then we see the property of Europeans; it is only thy land which is liberal towards us; from thee come also the missionaries, who teach us to believe in Jehovah God, and in Jesus Christ his Son.
"We hear that the tribe of Marion is at hand, coming to take away our land. We therefore pray thee to become our guardian and friend of these Islands, lest the tearing of other tribes should come near to us, and lest strangers should come to take away our land; and if any of thy people should be troublesome and vicious towards us, for some people are living here who have runaway from ships, we pray thee to be angry with them, that they may be obedient, lest the anger of the people of this land fall upon them. This letter is from us, from the chiefs of the natives of New Zealand."
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ARRIVAL OF THE RESIDENT. 219
"Signed, 'Warrerahi,' 'Rewa,' 'Patuone,' 'Nene,' 'Kekeao,' 'Titore,' 'Ripi,' 'Temorenga,' 'Hara,' 'Atuahaere,' 'Moitara,' 'Matangi,' 'Taunui.' "
On the 5th of May 1833 H. M. S. "Imogine" arrived in the Bay, with James Busby Esq., as passenger, bearing the appointment of British Resident in the country.
On the 17th he landed, in company with the officers of the ship, and was received by the natives at landing with their usual welcome of the dance, which has been observed, is equally significant of peace or war.
The natives felt anxious to know the tenor of Mr. Busby's commission among them. Though they often express their wish that soldiers might be landed for the protection of British interests, and to preserve peace among themselves, they nevertheless, with their usual fickleness, or perhaps maturer reflection on their present absolute power, which would depart from them, desire the contrary. The letter of Lord Goderich was read to them in the native language the pleasing addition of blankets and tobacco was distributed to the principal chiefs, and a mess of boiled flour followed in succession--a dish worthy of a prince, in the estimation of these primitive people.
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NATIONAL STANDARD CHOSEN.
Another era in the politics of the country took place some time after. H.M.S. Alligator, Captain Lambert brought to the Bay of Islands, a number of flags for the inspection of the chiefs, that they might choose a national standard for their country, whereby vessels built in their ports might roam the ocean without molestation or exposure to the hazard of being taken as unnational craft. The standard then selected has been made use of, and acknowledged as under English protection. It is a St. George's Cross, red on a white ground, with a smaller cross, in a fourth of the surface of the flag with four small white stars, on a blue ground.
On the standard being hoisted, it was received with loud acclamations by the Europeans and natives assembled; the latter had an opportunity of speechifying which is seldom neglected by these people.
Mr. Busby was gratified with a salary of five hundred pounds per annum, which sum was taxed on the Colony of New South Wales, and an additional sum of two hundred and fifty pounds per annum to be expended in presents for the native chiefs. Those presents would have enabled the donor, not only to command the respect and affection of those uncivilized sons, but they would have formed a body around
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ATTACK ON THE RESIDENCY.
him, ready to act on the command of a Resident of the British Government; but the contrary was the case; unversed in the language, customs., or habits of the people--retiring within himself, avoiding the respectable class of Europeans, and choosing a locality distant from the natives and traders, the character of Mr. Busby as a British Consul was early lost; and the native tribes on whose land he took up his residence, treated him with indifference, and at a later period with insults. The conduct of these unruly tribes among whom the Resident located himself, was disgraceful. European mechanics were scarcely to be procured to finish the official residence, exposed to the bad conduct of these natives.
Such trifling particulars would be unworthy of notice, did they respect any other person than the sole civil officer bearing a commission in the service of a great nation. These unworthy proceedings nearly attained their height on the night of the 1st of May, 1834, just one year after Mr. Busby's residence in the country, when a chief, named Reti, of the Waitangi, tribe, made an attack on Mr. Busby's premises, robbed the house occupied by the European servants adjoining, and discharged several loaded muskets. Mr. Busby, who hastened to the protection of his family was in the act of leaving the
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FRESH INSULTS
door of his residence, when a musket was discharged, and the ball, striking against the door sill, split the wood and the splinters grazed his face, causing the blood to follow. The ruffians soon retreated with their booty.
The chiefs were assembled some time after. They made many speeches with the usual intention of never carrying them into effect.
Reti still resides at his old residence, and the Resident never received any satisfaction for the gross insult, by which he narrowly escaped being sacrificed.
As the conduct of that gentleman has been characterized by strict justice towards the natives, this attempt to deprive him of life and property should have been severely visited. I will add but one more instance of the little influence of the person of the Resident among the New Zealanders.
On the 12th of January, 1836, some European ship-masters wished to purchase a tract of forest land, in the district of Wananaki, a few miles to the southward of Cape Brett.
The land in question had been depopulated many years, and the conquerors, who had conjointly destroyed the original proprietors, resided in separate villages some miles distance from each other in the Bay of Islands. The principal
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TO THE RESIDENT.
chief of the north village was Waikato, the native mentioned as having formerly been presented to George the Fourth. The chief of the village, south, was E'Toi, surnamed Poniard. Both parties agreed to meet at Mr. Busby's to state their respective claims. They arrived as appointed, and each party ranged themselves on either side of the residency. Some of the brethren of the mission attended to listen to the result. Waikato commenced speaking, and was followed by several of his tribe, in which they used many abusive expressions to the opposite party, who were three times their number, and caused the latter to express their indignation at such conduct, on which Waikato and his party ran to an adjoining bush, and instantly returned with their muskets loaded with ball, these they hastily presented and discharged at the opposite party, killing two men and wounding four. There was sad confusion in consequence; the unarmed party rushing into the house of the Resident for protection. The Europeans ran up to Waikato's party to stop the effusion of blood, but those perfidious people had decamped as fast as possible. The influence of the missionaries stopped the farther effusion of blood, which the native law requires as retaliation. A new cause of alarm, of a very singular nature, threatened to displace
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BARON DE THIERRY.
Mr. Busby from his situation. The circumstance is fully detailed in a document, the first ever printed in the English language in New Zealand, and may be accounted as the earliest diplomatic essay, (see note 10); premising that not a single person, save the resident, placed the slightest credence in the intentions of the Baron de Thierry, who, it is stated was the son of a reputable French emigre in England, and at the period referred to, residing at Tahiti, and married to a lady of superior accomplishments and elegance. The land in Hokianga, it is said, was justly purchased for the Baron, in 1822, by Mr. Kendall; and a few Europeans, with many natives yet remember the circumstance.
The Baron has since, (September, 1837,) sailed for Hokianga, taking with him a number of emigrants. He has published a lengthy address to the white residents and proposes ruling by moral force only.
Later information has been received, dated the 20th of February, 1838, stating the arrival of this enthusiastic leader, and that his colonists had seceded from his authority, and entered on employments as farmers on their own account.
