Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/10

 6 What is the Extent?
 * The Three Islands, the Northern and Southern, and the small Island called Stewart's Island, are not less in Length than from 800 to 900 Miles; the Northern Island having a medium Breadth perhaps of Sixty Miles, and the Southern about 180. In one Part of the Northern Island it is very narrow, being not more than Five Miles across.

Did you go at all into any detailed Discussion with the Chiefs with reference to the Missionaries coming there, or the Mode in which they should live, or what Means they would have of living, or how they would be treated?
 * Yes; we had considerable Discussions with the Chiefs in the Bay of Islands, whom we found exceedingly desirous that Missionaries should be established among them, each Chief being desirous of having a Missionary to reside with him. A small Purchase of Land was made for the Missionaries before we left the Island.

In what Way was that set about and conducted?
 * Before we left Port Jackson there was a Parchment Deed drawn up, with Blanks to be filled up. In this Deed Boundaries of the purchased Land were described, and a Chief drew upon it the Mark of the Tatooing of the Countenance of the Chief to whom the Land belonged, to which the Vendor set his Mark in ratification of the Deed. The Deed is, I believe, now in the Church Missionary House.

Do you think that the Chief understood that he was parting with his Land?
 * Perfectly. As a Proof that he understood it, he put the Land under what is called the Taboo, which is a superstitious Mode they have of transferring their Property, making it what they call sacred. This was made sacred to the Missionaries, and as such considered their Property.

It was dedicated to the Missionaries to prevent any Person interfering with them?
 * Yes.

Did he perform that Ceremony on the Land?
 * We did not see the Ceremony; but he gave the People about him to under stand that the Land was tabooed, that it belonged to the Missionaries, and that they had a full and perfect Right in it, and were not to be disturbed in their Possession of it.

Did you collect that he had ever seen a Parchment Deed or Instrument of any Sort before?
 * No; I suppose never. The Natives are very much altered in Character since we were there; wherever the Missionaries have Influence they have undergone a total Change of Character. On our Visit to the Island they

were in a very rude and savage State.

Were you at that Time satisfied in your own Mind that he understood the Substance of what he was doing; that he was parting with his Land to Persons who were to come and live there?
 * Perfectly. The New Zealander can reason with as much good Sense respecting his own Interest as Persons in civilized Life; they are People of very shrewd Understanding, and when well treated, I think perfect Confidence may be placed in them.

What Sort of Consideration was given him for his Land?
 * Twelve Axes.

What was the Quantity of Land?
 * About Two hundred Acres.

Did you observe, so far as you had Intercourse with them, that they can discriminate between mere Baubles and Articles of Utility, such as Axes?
 * Decidedly. They always gave a Preference to Axes and Spades, and Implements of Agriculture, over Dress and Finery; they would very gladly have purchased Muskets and Powder, but of course we did not barter these Articles with them. Rh