Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/351

 OF KIN& r296 little knowledge they poSBeB£sed. It was soon discovered^ '^'^ however^ that their refusal was not due to ill-will^ but to <the apprehension that if they disclosed their knowledge of the subject they would be compelled to work at the unwuiing to flax-making. When it had been es^lained to them^ how- ever^ that labour would not be exacted &om them^ and that if they would teach what they knew they should be sent back to their homes at the earliest opportunity^ they rreadily complied^ and became more reconciled to their situa- tion. One of them, however, was a priest, and the other a a pHort and chief, and it was soon found that they possessed only a general knowledge of flax-manu&cture, and not the skill of experts, the thing that was particularly required. Accord- ing to King, all the information they possessed was extracted from them in an hour.* King treated them with great kindness, lodging them in his own house, and having them at his own table, and they becaane much attached to him. Kindly ^, „ . , . treated by But they were naturally anxious to return to their country King, and their friends, and having performed their part of the compact, they implored Eling to carry out his promise and send them back to New Zealand. They had been twice disappointed, when favourable opportunities for their return had occurred. Early in November, 1793, the storeship Britannia arrived at Norfolk Island on her way to Calcutta, whither she had .been despatched for supplies. The wind being unfavour- able for continuing the voyage, and likely to remain so for some time. King resolved to employ her in returning the King visits New Zealanders to their country, and to go with them in the himself. Grose could not see why the Lieutenant-Governor of the settlement should leave his post to escort two savages to their homes; but King had substantial reasons. The New 2iealanders were influential men in their own coun- try, and had been trepanned under circumstances which must have produced a very strong feeling of anger among • Sing to XhmdaHi^ 19tli NoTembex, 1708.