Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/90

72 of his own property. Those also who had sold much of their land, years ago, for a comparatively trifling consideration, bitterly repented their having done so now, when they perceived how greatly it had increased in value; and although fully acknowledging the just right of the present possessors, yet they would, no doubt, be glad of any pretext to join any party they thought strong enough to drive the Europeans out of the land; and thus regain possession of it by right of conquest.

The introduction of custom-house and other dues, which had been the means of preventing the southern whalers from refitting in the Bay of Islands, and trading with the natives, was considered by those living in the neighbourhood of the bay a great grievance, as it deprived them of their best customers. The whale-ships that were accustomed to get all their supplies in the harbours of New Zealand, so much more convenient to them from being so near to their principal fishing places, are now obliged to seek refreshments, and supply all their wants, at some of the islands of the Polynesian group.

These were the chief causes of complaint that I heard at the time of our visit; and it was evident that, in consequence of the measures which had so immediately followed the signing of the treaty of Waitangi, it began to be regarded with very different feelings, not only by the generality of the natives, but also by some of the most powerful of their chiefs, who gradually became more and more