Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/53

Rh expansive Pacific Ocean, has many good harbours and safe beaches, while the former, facing the narrow Tasman Sea, is storm lashed, huge breakers rolling home with irresistible force, making its bar-bound harbours extremely dangerous—and beach travelling at times impossible. As aptly illustrating this great difference the Maoris in their expressive way describe the Pacific Ocean as Tai-Tamahine, the Sea of the Girls, and the Tasman Sea as Tai-Tamatane, the Man Like Ocean. Yet there later came to this wild uncharted shore, hundreds of vessels of every size, sort and description, carrying thousands upon thousands of gold-crazed men, who were prepared to lose their all in attempting to reach the new El Dorado and the gold they knew was there. In this way many vessels and many valuable lives were lost. And still they came in their thousands, and attempted to work those perilous bar harbours, even though broken and battered ships strewed the shore, starkly proclaiming that they who would wrest wealth from Westland must be prepared to face danger and death.