Church Missionary Society, Exploratory visit to Waikato.
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New Zealand.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Exploratory Visit to Waikato.
It having been considered desirable that the Rev. A. N. Brown and Mr. Hamlin should proceed from Paihia, to explore the District of the Waikato, in subserviency to the object of forming Missionary Stations, they proceeded, together with some of the Native Youths attached to them, overland, on this difficult expedition. It occupied them from the 26th of February to the 17th of May of last year.
Setting forth from Waimate, they proceeded by the Wairo River, passing Mangakahia and Aotahi, to Kaipara Harbour. Landing here, they travelled by compass through the broken and trackless country in the direction of Waikato; often making their way, with great difficulty, through fern and bushes. A journey of between 70 and 80 miles, and which occupied seven or eight days, brought them to the Waikato River. Having proceeded for ten days more, they found, as will appear from the following extracts of Mr. Brown's Journal, the
--Readiness of the Waikato Natives to receive Missionaries.
March 31, 1834 --In the evening, at Native Prayers, about 200 assembled; the great majority of whom were women and children, most of the men being absent at their cultivations. They listened attentively while Mr. Hamlin addressed them; and I had a party afterward assembled round my tent door, asking a variety of questions relative to what they had been hearing. We had many anxious inquiries on all sides, as to when Missionaries would come and reside among them.
April 6: Lord's Day --Pehitukorehu, Haupokia, and Rangituatea, with nearly a hundred of the Nga-ti-maniapoto, arrived this morning; and, after the ceremonies of crying and eating were over, we held Service with them.
Pehitukorehu, who seems to be the principal Chief, is a tall, stout, venerable-looking old man, with a white beard and hoary head. He observed--
The land is large: the men are numerous: come and sit with us. I will listen, if the Missionaries stop among us, and let us see their faces; but if they come but once and do not return, I shall not perhaps attend to what they say.
Haupokia told me that his heart was in great haste to go and fight again at Taranake; but if Missionaries came and stopped with them, he would listen to their words, and give up fighting.
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In the evening, while Mr. Hamlin was holding Service with our Natives, I was engaged conversing with Kanawa and his son, Werowero, and a few other Chiefs. Werowero said that he too would leave off fighting, when Missionaries came and resided with him: he desired to be at peace with the Ngapuhi; and if Pomare and Marunga would come up to Waikato, in company with some of the Missionaries, it would put an end to their fighting, for he would be friends with them.
May the precious seed which, in weakness and fear and trembling, we have endeavoured to scatter this day in our Master's Name, be watered by the dews of the Holy Spirit, and bring forth abundant fruit to the glory of God!
The following Extracts give some intimations of the
Expectations of Benefit from Missionaries cherished by the Natives.
Hou, a Young Chief, said that his legs were strong, and he should continue to fight till the Missionaries came and, by their preaching, broke his feet. How mournfully characteristic are the words of Holy Writ, as descriptive of the state of this people: Their feet are swift to shed blood: the way of peace have they not known! Yet would I trust that the time to favour these poor Natives is not far distant, when our Missionaries, in simple dependence on Divine strength, will be enabled to "break their feet," and make known among them the only way of peace, even Jesus Christ.
Manoa, a principal Chief, seems very desirous for Missionaries to settle among his tribes; and much amused us by requesting, that, if a Missionary could not be spared, one of the Missionaries' children might be sent to reside with him. In the course of conversation, he observed-- "The Missionaries should have come and lived among us years back, and then the large tribes at Taranake would not have been cut off by us; but we shall continue to destroy each other till Missionaries do reside with us." His words fell on my ear as a severe, though, on his part, an unintentional, reproof of the supineness and lukewarmness of the Christian Church. She has not yet taken up her proper position in Missionary Exertions; and, to a large proportion of her members, might our Lord, even in the present day, address the reproof which He gave of old to the shepherds of Israel--My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
A passage from Mr. Hamlin's Journal painfully illustrates the
Dread of one another in which the Native Tribes live.
In order to cross the Waikato River, the travellers tied up the raupo, or rushes, which grew in abundance on its banks, into bundles, to float them over. On ten of these rudely-shaped floats they paddled across; and found them to answer so well, that they proceeded some miles in them, on the river. The friendly influence which the Missionaries have acquired will be noticed with pleasure. Mr. Hamlin writes--
I thought I saw a canoe, but said nothing. I told our Natives, before starting, not to run one from another, lest we should fall in with Natives, who would most probably think we were Mangakahia Natives, come again to fight: I said-- "Let Mr. Brown and me go first, and all will be well." Notwithstanding which, the two Natives, who were with us from Waikato, pulled on: when the canoe, which I thought I saw, proved to be a boat full of Natives, pulling toward us; in which was a younger brother of Werowero, the principal Chief of Waikato, and a European. When the boat met the moki (our float), the Chief in the boat said to the two men upon the moki-- "Where are you from?" "From the Ngapuhi," they replied. Seeing our mokis behind, he said-- "You are a fight." He then told the men in the boat to load their muskets, and fire on those in the moki, and take them at any rate. The two men called out-- "We are not a fight; but are come on a visit with some Missionaries, who are close behind." He would not believe them; but told the European to sling round the boat. Although I could not distinguish what they said, I could see that there was something the matter. I therefore called out to them as loud as I could, to wait till we came up: the Native with me cried out also, in English, "Halloo!" which the European recognised, and said-- "There are some Europeans behind." They then
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pulled toward us; and when they saw who we were, they entered freely into conversation with us, and said they were very anxious that Missionaries should come among them. They said we had kept ourselves at the Bay so long, that surely our children were grown large enough to become Missionaries. The Chief said-- "If some of you had come among us some time ago, Taranake would now have been alive; but now they are nearly all cut off by us." No Natives could behave better than they did to us; for they offered us a passage in the boat to Waipa; and, what was still better, they pulled on shore, and gave us nearly all the potatoes which they had, and said that we should not want while they had any to give us. Thus God provided for our need, in a way and manner which we least expected, and was better to us than all our fears.
On a subsequent occasion, Mr. Hamlin gives this further illustration:--
Struck our tents, and proceeded through the wood; at the other side of which sat two men, with their cartridge-boxes girded on, filled with ammunition, their muskets loaded with ball, and they sitting in a fighting position: at the approach of the first of our Natives, the men trembled so much, that they seemed to have no strength left for any thing. It seems that two Natives saw us coming yesterday, at a distance; and supposing us to be "a fight" from Waikato, went and spread the news that it was so; and hence arose the fears of these men. The Native assured them we were not "a fight," but Missionaries passing on to the Thames. At the Thames, it seems, they are always expecting Waikato Natives to fight; and at Waikato they are in dread that the Thames and Ngapuhi are coming to fight; while, in fact, neither party has any intention of so doing.
Notices of the Population and Country.
The Missionaries calculate, that the population of the various districts which they visited is such as to send into the field 6580 fighting-men.
The Mission is now penetrating to the bottom of the long and irregular neck of land, which stretches north-westerly from the great body of EAHEIOMAUWE, or the Northern of the two New-Zealand Islands. From a hill in the Waikato Country the Missionaries had a distant view into the centre of the southern part of this island. Mr. Brown writes--
Ascended Kakepuku with Mr. Hamlin; from whence we saw Tongariro, bearing S. E. by S. about seventy miles off: our guide informed us that there are Natives living in the neighbourhood of that mountain, which has a crater still burning: the sides are covered with white ashes, and there are hot springs at its base. We saw also Ruapaka, bearing S. S. E. This immense mountain is covered with snow, and looked like a brilliant bank of fleecy clouds cradled in the rays of the setting sun. Ruapaka cannot be seen either from the eastern or western coast, but is visible from Cook's Straits.
Second Visit to Waikato.
It appearing expedient that another visit should be paid to Waikato, with the view of determining on the proper site for a New Settlement, the Rev. W. Williams, the Rev. A. N. Brown, and Mr. Morgan, proceeded thither; and, during an absence of four months and three days, took the requisite measures, as will appear from the following extracts from their Journals, for the
Formation of a New Settlement at Ngaruawahia,
We commence with the communications of the Rev. W. Williams, at the period of their arrival at Ngaruawahia, at which place it appeared the most expedient to form a New Station.
Aug. 16, 1834 --As soon as we had breakfasted, we pulled toward the Pa; and had not proceeded far, before we were met by nine canoes, which came out to meet us. There was an immediate discharge of muskets on both sides; which we were glad to have concluded, as many of the balls from the opposite party passed close by us. We remained in our canoes for some time, opposite the Pa; when an old priest, besmeared with oil and red ochre, paddled himself across the river toward us; and having landed, he called Kati and his companions on shore, to have a ceremony performed, in consequence of their narrow escape at Wakatiwai. Before the priest began, they
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threw off every garment, and even divested themselves of the ornaments in their ears; and remained seated for some minutes before him, while he repeated his karakia. This concluded, we passed over to the Pa; where the usual ceremony of crying was gone through, which was followed by a plentiful supply of food.
Aug. 17, 1834 --We pitched our tents last night about half-a-mile above the Pa, near to the house occupied by Captain Kent, who has treated us with great civility. After breakfast, we passed over to the Pa, and assembled upward of 200 Natives to Service; at the conclusion of which, nine canoes, containing about 120 men, came from the higher part of the river. These also heard us with much attention; and we then passed on to another party of equal number. They all said it was very good to listen to our instruction; but that if we staid only for a day or two, and returned, it would be of no service to them. I told them, that I was sent to remain with them, and that others are to follow.
Aug. 18 --To-day I have had much conversation with Werowero, who is the principal Chief of Waikato, relative to the place at which I am to reside. He is anxious for me to remain near him, and is willing to give up any situation I may select; but the body of the Natives live further up the river, and it will be necessary to select a central position.
Aug. 21 --Left Ngaruawahia this morning; and had not proceeded far up the river, before the land was pointed out which Werowero wished to assign to me; but there are no Natives living within three miles, which is a great objection. We proceeded about fourteen miles, the banks on either side being lined with cultivations nearly the whole distance; but, for the most part, having but few inhabitants, except in the planting season.
Aug. 23 --We continued our course to day up the river, against a strong current; passing, on our way, two places which have been rendered memorable by the wars of the Ngapuhi. The first is called the Rore; and is the spot where Pomare, the last of the Ngapuhi who did any mischief here, met with his death. He had committed many depredations, killing a number of people and destroying much property; when at length a large body of men waylaid him on either side of the river, and succeeded in cutting off the greater part of his people. The second place is called Matakitaki. It was formerly a Pa, containing 5000 people. It was taken by Hongi, at a time when this people had no fire-arms. They fell an easy prey, not being able to make resistance, and great numbers were slaughtered. We landed in the afternoon at a village called Mangapouri, not being able to proceed so far as we wished. We were afterward much pleased with the spot; so much so, that we considered it a providential circumstance that we were not permitted to proceed further.
Aug. 26 --This evening, a messenger returned, who had been to fetch the Chief. He says, that, on his arrival, the people were talking about setting off to fight; but that as soon as the Chief heard that the Missionaries had sent for him, he said he would return, and leave the rest to settle the dispute.
Allotment of House and Garden.
Aug. 27 --This morning, Awarahi and his party arrived. He is a young man, with much vivacity in his manner, and his appearance is prepossessing. He says, that if I like to remain here, I shall have a house erected immediately; but that, with respect to himself, he is a man of war, and to war he must go at present. "Perhaps," said he, "you may have one little boy to believe on your preaching now: and by and bye, we may, perhaps, all believe. The Ngapuhi did not listen till the Missionaries had been long with them; neither can we." On telling him I had made up my mind to remain, he directly got up, and asked me to point out the spot for my house; and, in five minutes, about forty men were employed in clearing the ground upon which it was to stand, and the dimensions were marked out. In the evening, I had a long conversation with them: at the close of which, Awarahi observed, that they should soon all believe, and that our instruction is good, because it tends to their benefit.
Aug. 28 --This morning, Mr. Brown and myself were employed in planting the fruit-trees we had brought with us, in a spot of ground near to my projected dwelling, while the Natives of the place were gone in quest of materials for the house. In the course of the day we heard a salute of three guns, which announced the arrival of the Chief; who, hearing that we had arrived, had come some distance, in the dark, to see us. With him I had a long and very interesting conversation.
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He had previously expressed a wish for Missionaries, and seemed somewhat disappointed that I was not going to live a little nearer to him. But when I explained that we wished to have access to as many tribes as possible, he observed: "You are right: the place you have chosen is the channel of the river," alluding to the position of the Natives on either side. Asking what he had to say to our errand, he replied: "We have nothing to say: it is for you to speak: our part will be to listen to you."
The Missionary Promise performed.
Aug. 30, 1834 --We had a good deal of rain in the night; which gave us a bad prospect for the morning, as want of food would oblige us to continue our route to the next village. We were thankful, to be able to accomplish the greater part of our distance this morning without much rain, until we reached the opposite side of Maungatautari: here we found Mr. Morgan, having his tent pitched, at a place where there is a party of 200 men, belonging to the Chief Waharoa. The appearance of the people does not much recommend them; but they have been civil, and have made several inquiries after the Missionary, whom, they say, my brother promised they should have. They say, that when he was here, nine months ago, he requested the old Chief to give up his hatchet, which was an implement of great renown; telling him, that if he gave up fighting he should have a Missionary:--that he gave up his hatchet, and has been living quietly ever since, waiting for the completion of the promise.
Sept. 2--Arrived about noon at Matamata; where we found old Waharoa, seated at the outside of the Pa to receive us. This old Chief is one of the finest specimens of a Native I have yet seen. He is of middle stature, with small features, well formed: his beard is grey; and his hair, which is partially so, is exceedingly neat; while his dress and general deportment mark him out among the multitude as the superior Chief. He has long been celebrated as a warrior; but his manners are mild, and the expression of his countenance prepossessing. I had expected to find a surly old man, not very, well pleased, because he had not yet got a Missionary to reside with him. He soon began to talk upon the subject, but it was in a very quiet way. He said, that he had heard of Jesus Christ; and that, inconsequence of what the Missionaries had said to him, he had refrained from going to fight, under circumstances which called for him to rise up. "But," sail he, "how can I believe? I have no one to teach me; no one to tell me when it is the Sabbath Day; no one to direct me what to do: and the people around begin to jeer, and to tell me I am sitting still in vain, for that no Missionary will come." I explained to him our plans for Waikato and Tauranga; and said, that, when a Mission was established at the latter place, we hoped to do something for him. Our Settlement in the Thames, and those projected at Waikato and Tauranga, form a triangle; and Matamata lies between the three, but nearest to Tauranga. The people here behave exceedingly well; and in the evening we had a very attentive audience.
Earnest Requests to increase "the Missionary Tribe."
Sept. 9 --We passed on to Maungatapu, and met with a better reception from the Chief than at Otumoetai. He seemed to take much pleasure in shewing all that was to be seen about his fortification; describing the position held by the Ngapuhi when they made their attack last year, and relating various incidents which occurred at that period. He observed to his people: "Now the Missionaries are coming, we shall, for the first time, become a people. Other Europeans stay for a time only; but if these people come, they will continue with us." At prayers, we assembled about 150 Natives.
Sept. 13 --Arrived within two miles of Matamata, when the rain came on heavily; and we were glad to take refuge in a small village near at hand, where we pitched our tent, and sent to Waharoa for some food. The food came; and was soon followed by the old man, who wished us to have proceeded on: but finding we were comfortably fixed, he staid with us. He soon resumed the subject which seems uppermost in his thoughts--that of having a Missionary. "The Thames will believe," said he, "and Tauranga will believe, and Waikato; but what am I to do?" In the evening we had prayers; when I spoke of the happiness to be enjoyed in heaven, and said that it was God's wish that they should all go there; and that to this end, He had sent His Son to die for us. The old man looked deeply interested, and exclaimed: "That is the reason I wish for a Missionary, in order that I may be instructed."
Sept. 14 --The continuance of rain to-
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day has prevented me from going to the Pa, where the body of Natives are; but the few who are at this place came together, morning and evening, and paid very great attention. After the hymn, with which we commenced, Waharoa again exclaimed: "This is the reason I wish for a Missionary, that we may have some one to teach us." Having read the 13th and 14th verses of the 7th chapter of St. Matthew, he observed: "The narrow road is the road to Jesus Christ, and the broad road is the road which leads to Wiro." Speaking again of the great love of God toward us, he added: "And do you shew some love to me, by giving me a Missionary: if we are left by ourselves, these people you now see will die, and go the road which leads to Wiro."
Sept. 20, 1834--Proceeded to Waiharakeke; where, though there was time enough to have reached Matamata, we were obliged to remain over the Lord's Day. At prayers in the evening, poor old Waharoa continued in the same strain, directly I mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. "The people at the Thames, at Tauranga, and at Waipa, will believe, and go into the presence of Jesus Christ; but we at Matamata shall be left to go to Wiro."
Sept. 24 --Proceeded to another village, distant about four miles; where we remained, that our Natives might rest their backs. We had thus an opportunity of repeating our Message to many who can but seldom listen to it. I extracted a musket-ball from the thigh of a Chief, which immediately procured me several patients labouring under different complaints. I overheard a man inquiring the number of the Missionary Tribe. "If there are many," said he, "we may have one here."
Sept. 27 --I told Awarahi, our Chief, of the difficulties we have in bringing our supplies by way of the Thames; and that I was ashamed that I had nothing to give, at present, to the people who are at work on the house. "Oh," said he, "we do not think of that: we have got you, and that is the taonga nui" (great possession).
Oct. 18 --Being unable now to reach Waipa by Sunday, I determined to lengthen my stay, and visit the opposite side, where the Ngatimaniapoto live; and reached the abode of Haupokia, the Chief, in the evening. He is a fine young man, of very pleasing manner and much intelligence; but he is a great warrior, and has been represented as the main-spring of his party, which numbers 1000 men. He told Messrs. Brown and Hamlin, when here a few months ago, that if the Missionaries would come and live with him, he would give up fighting. I reminded him of what he had then said, which he allowed was correct; and I felt myself now at liberty to say, that Missionaries were coming to him. The people paid much attention at prayers.
A brief extract from Mr. Brown's narrative of the same visit will further exhibit the great
Importunity of the Chiefs to have Missionaries.
Aug. 17 --Went with Mr. W. Williams to the Pa: most of the people were at work upon different houses; but on my going round and telling them that it was the Lord's Day, they left their work, and assembled for Divine Worship. They were very attentive while Mr. Williams addressed them. Many old friends, whom I saw in my last journey with Mr. Hamlin, were among the group; and they all seem highly delighted at the idea of Mr. Williams residing at Waikato as their Teacher. Nearly 500 Natives, in three parties, have this day had the Gospel proclaimed among them: many have, probably, for the first time heard the glad tidings.
Aug. 22 --Continued our course up the Waipa: called at the Horo Pa, and saw a large party of Natives. After leaving that place, we met Kauae at a short distance, who urged us to return with him to the Horo; but, being pressed for time, we deemed it unadvisable to do so, and requested him to go with us up the river; which he did, to another of his residences, where we staid for the night. Kauae is the Chief who led the fight against Wakatiwai; and, if report speaks true, is a very desperate character. There is nothing however in his countenance which indicates this, although much energy and determination are displayed in it. We mentioned to him the names of the Ngapuhi Chiefs who had embraced the Gospel. "They have Missionaries," was his reply: "can I believe, through the trees?" The indignation which at first it is difficult to repress, at finding ourselves in the presence of a murderer, was softened, on this occasion, by the recollection, that, in past years, no man
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had cared for his soul; and that he had been left fast bound in the chains of Satan, with little effort on the part of the Church to break them. Now, however, the news of Salvation is, as it were, brought to his house, by the proposed establishment of a Missionary Station in this district; and I trust that that Gospel, through whose power murderers have been saved, will prove effectual to the turning of even him from the slavery of Satan, to His service, whose yoke is easy, and whose burden is light.
Sept. 3, 1834 --We went this morning, at Waharoa's request, to a plantation in the woods, near the Pa, where about 600 Natives were assembled. The men were engaged in planting potatoes, with long pieces of wood, answering the purpose of spades; the old Chiefs were sitting under the trees; and groupes of children were playing around. When they had finished planting, Waharoa proposed our returning to the fence of the Pa, in order that his people might assemble there, "to hear the talk of the Missionaries." After sitting a short time, the people rushed from the plantation in native style, and began dancing and making a few speeches, the principal topics of which formed a strange contrast: they were, War, and Missionaries. Old Waharoa said, that his residence was at a cross-path; and that, while sitting there, he should see a white man coming toward him, whom he should find to be a Missionary from Tauranga, passing through his place on a visit to the Missionaries at Waipa: that afterwards he should see another white man coming along, who would prove to be a Missionary from Waipa, going to Tauranga, or else to the Thames Station; and that when we passed by him, and saw that there was no Teacher living with him, we should be "bad, with exceeding shame." I feel that something must be done for this powerful and well-disposed Chief.
Mr. Morgan, who had been sent for to join Messrs. W. Williams and Brown in this undertaking, met with some troublesome circumstances on the way, both going and returning; his manner of dealing with which, as described in the following passages, shows the
Necessity of quiet Firmness with the Natives.
Thought it probable that we should find a party of Natives at the river, with their canoe, and be able to obtain a passage with them to Ngaruawahia, which would save us the trouble we had contemplated of making a "moki" (a kind of rush raft), to go down the stream. Divided our stock of potatoes into three lots. Found one lot, together with my tent, rather a heavy burden; but cheerfully put it on my back, hoping that I had not far to carry it. In about half an hour, we met the party. They informed me that they had come from Ngaruawahia, and had landed from their canoes, to procure potatoes. On inquiring about my Brethren, they told me that they had left that place for Onepaka, and would proceed on to Tauranga, by way of Maungatautari. As they were going to the latter place, I thought it would be better to accompany them; and wait there the arrival of my Brethren; and therefore made arrangements with them to that effect. After spending about half an hour in conversation with them, on looking around, I saw a Chief of the name of Kupa, who appeared to be the leading man of the party, examining a bundle which contained the blanket of one of my Natives. Said nothing to him at the time, but thought I would watch his motions a little longer. In a few minutes he gave a signal to strip me, by saying that I should be "dead for my things," and immediately took up a large corded bundle. I walked up to him, and, taking hold of the cord, took it out of his hand: he gave it up, without offering any resistance. On turning about, I saw two or three others decamping with some articles; but on my following them, they gave them up also.
I then collected my luggage together, and spoke to them about their evil intentions toward me as a Messenger of God; and asked them what evil I had done, as they sought to take the few things I had with me. They replied, that I came from the Thames (the enemy's country), and therefore to strip me would be "straight," as a payment for the stripping of their Chief, Kati, by the Wakatiwai Natives, a few weeks ago. I told them that they were acting wrong; but they replied: "It is quite straight, according to our native custom." I answered: "God says, 'Thou shalt not steal';" and requested them to listen to the Word of God, and not to Satan. From their conversation, they appeared to think that I had with me a number of blankets, and a quantity of tobacco; and, in the
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absence of the leading man of their tribe, sought thus unlawfully to enrich themselves. After some further conversation, they informed me, that the "Tinorangatira" (principal Chief) was with the canoes, at a short distance. I said: "If it will be well for me to accompany you peaceably to Maungatautari, I will go with you." - They replied: "It will be good for you to go peaceably." Engaged two of the party to assist in carrying my luggage, glad to be relieved of my own burden; having been obliged to carry, more or less, every day since I left the boat, as well as to lighten the burdens of my two lads. After a smart walk, reached the canoes. When Puke, and other of the leading men, heard of what their party had done, they were very angry, and said, "It is very bad." There were four or five canoes, and from seventy to eighty Natives, including the women and children, embarked. After contending for some time against a stream, running four miles an hour, we reached the place where they had determined to spend the night. They assisted me to pitch my tent, and spoke of starting in the morning. I told them that it would be the "ra tapu" (sacred day); that God commanded us not to work on His day, and therefore it would be better for us all to sit still. In the evening, assembled them for prayers, in the front of my tent. In the course of my address, I alluded to what they had done in the morning; and told them that I did not fear them; and that if they wished to strip me, to do so. I again said: "Although I have no means of defending myself, I do not fear your anger, because God is the guardian of His Messengers; and, should you kill the body of the believer in Jesus, his spirit would go to its rest in the kingdom of heaven." Kupa, the Chief who gave the signal in the morning, sat on my left hand: he appeared much ashamed, and hung down his head while I spoke.
Oct. 28, 1834 --Morning, prayers with the Natives. I read the Ten Commandments, and closed with the usual prayers. Returned to my tent, and we sat down to breakfast. Sent for Awarahi, and informed him about the tobacco. On my handing out the package from which it had been taken, a Native, who was sitting at the tent door, said: "That is my burden: nothing has been taken out of it." He denied any knowledge of the theft, but his countenance betrayed him. We were then informed that he had given away six figs yesterday. A small bundle was handed to me, containing a few pieces, with the confession that he had opened the bundle, and had taken out twelve figs. Awarahi said: "Who would steal a little?" Taua, on hearing his confession, pulled his garments from his back, threw them on the ground, kicked and struck him several times, and said: "Had you been one of our party, we would have killed you immediately." We now thought it time for us to interfere; and we told them that their talk was very bad. Mr. Stack, who was sitting near the door, went outside, and told them that they must not hurt him. For some time he continued to deny having taken more than the twelve figs; but at length it came out, that he had taken all, and left them behind at Matamata. It was then agreed, that one of our party and a Chief from that place should return for it, and follow us to Maungatautari. Awarahi behaved very well. We have every reason to believe that neither of our principal Chiefs was concerned in the theft. Struck the tents; and, at noon, reached Maungatautari. When Service was concluded, a man said: "I have listened to your talk, and you ought now to give me some tobacco for doing so." Dined; and proceeded on for about two miles. The Natives then sat down on the grass; and told us that we must pitch our tents, and wait the return of the two Natives from Matamata. Service in the evening. Awarahi requested Mr. Stack to talk about the Judgment; and said: "Since I have heard of the fire to which the souls of the wicked go after death, I have felt concerned for my child, because he died an unbeliever."
