CHAP. III.
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Town of Tippoonah--Residence of a Chieftain--Confinement of Tippeehee's daughter for Disobedience--Dwellings of the Natives.
THE capital of this part of the country, which is situated partly on the main land,and partly on a small island, is called Tippoonah, and consists in the whole of about an hundred dwellings. On the main the dwellings of the natives are surrounded each by a little patch of cultivated ground; but the island is appropriated to the residence of a chieftain and his court, where no cultivation is carried on. This island is so exceedingly abrupt in its ascent, and consequently so easily defended against an enemy, that it is frequently the refuge of the natives in
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time of war; answering all the purposes of a citadel of considerable strength: It is also their arsenal and general depot for articles of value in times of -- peace -- I was about to add; but, alas! these times are rarely known in savage life where the population is considerable.
Tippeehee, the chieftain, has a well constructed dwelling on this island, and a large collection of spears, war mats, and other valuables.
A short distance from the residence of the chief is an edifice every way similar to a dove cote, standing upon a single post, and not larger than dove cotes usually are. In this Tippeehee confined one of his daughters several years; we understood she had fallen in love with a person of inferior condition, and that these means were adopted to prevent her from bringing disgrace upon her family. The space allotted to the lady would neither allow of her standing up, or stretching at her length; she had a trough in which her food was deposited as often as
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was thought necessary during her confinement, and I could not find that she was allowed any other accommodation. These privations, and all converse being denied her, proves that Tippeehee was determined to exhibit a severe example to his subjects; at least to such of the young ladies of this part of New Zealand as might be inclined to degrade themselves and their families by unsuitable alliances.
The long confinement, with all its inconveniencies, produced the desired effect, in rendering the princess obedient to the wishes of her royal parent. This barbarous cage, which is ornamented with much grotesque carving, still remains as a memento in terrorem to all the young ladies under Tippeehee's government.
The dwellings of the natives are usually about five feet high, the walls of which are wattled, and made close with rushes. The thatch is of strong bladed grass, and generally well applied.
The space the hut occupies is propor-
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tioned to the number of the family: there is usually but one aperture or entrance, and is, in appearance, not unlike a beehive.
These are the common lodging-huts of the natives; their cooking operations, which, indeed, do not require a great number of vessels, or attendants, are carried on in a shed at a little distance from the hut, and which is formed by fixing four posts in the ground, about five feet high, on which is laid a flat covering of rushes.
