Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/88

70 own countrymen; and as from his isolated position it would be his policy to be on good terms with the Europeans, he has more probably acted with our forces against the rebellious Heki.

Pomare, another chief, and one who has taken a very questionable, if not a traitorous part in these transactions, also visited our ships, to obtain his customary present of gunpowder and fire-arms, and especially rum, to which he had lately become so addicted as seldom to be seen sober. He had, however, been on all former occasions very friendly to Europeans, and was of material assistance to Governor Hobson, on his first arrival in the colony, for the purpose of taking formal possession of it, in the name of Queen Victoria, and was not only amongst the first to sign the treaty of Waitangi, but was mainly instrumental in inducing many other chiefs, of far greater importance than himself, to do so. He was, therefore, entitled to more than ordinary consideration, and was received on board our ships, when he paid his first visit of ceremony, in all due formality. He did not appear in his usual state, the war-canoe and war-dance were laid aside on this occasion, and he had evidently drunk more rum than was quite consistent with his assumed gravity and dignity. His favourite wife also seemed to have shared his libations, and was therefore equally unfit to sustain the queenly part she endeavoured to perform. In one of her unguarded moments, whilst giving way to her extreme delight on looking over some