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/13

 Rh Had they any Form of Worship at all?
 * None whatever. They have various Superstitions; they believe in a Plurality of Gods; but they have no Form of Worship.

Did you see any other Land tabooed except this which was bought by the Missionaries?
 * All their cultivated Land is under the Taboo, and carefully enclosed . They do not allow any Person to go into those Lands except themselves or their Slaves.

Slaves.

Do you know what Punishment they have for any Person who does go into them?
 * I do not; but I should think it is severe. When we were walking through the Country we came occasionally on those Lands, and I once or twice got into them; they told me I should not do it; they considered it however no very great Offence in me; but they do not allow any except those to whom the Land belongs to enter upon them,

Have the Chiefs many Slaves?
 * I can hardly answer that Question. The lower Orders of People are called “Cookees.” Some are Slaves and some are not.

Are they Natives?
 * They are. The Tribes are in constant War with each other, and those of their Prisoners whom they do not devour they make Slaves of.

They do not make Slaves of any Men of their own Tribes, only those they take in War?
 * Only those they take in War; and whom I believe they not unfrequently dispose of as Slaves in Barter with each other.

You have stated that they were a very healthy People. Is it a Fact that a great Depopulation has been going on of late Years?
 * I understand very much so.

Has that been to a great Extent?
 * I only know that from reading Publications.


 * Did you see any Cases of Small Pox?
 * No.

When the Missionaries purchased this Land were there any particular Means taken to ascertain the precise Boundaries of that they purchased?
 * I think the Boundaries were explained and described in the Deed.

Were any Marks inserted to show what was purchased, and what was not, to prevent mutual Disputes?
 * I think the Ground was walked round. I do not know whether any Metes or Bounds were put down; I do not apprehend there were any. I forget exactly how it was done.

Did the Chief of whom this Land was purchased appear to be the Proprietor of the adjoining Village?
 * I think he had Land adjoining.

Was there any Village of considerable Size in the Bay of Islands at that Time?
 * The largest Village in the Bay of Islands was close to where the Missionaries purchased this Land, and which I think contained a Population perhaps of about 200 People.

You have spoken of the Areekee, the principal Chief; do you know what the Amount of the Tribe under that Areekee was, in the Neighbourhood of the Bay of Islands?
 * I think it was said that Shunghi, the Areekee with whom we came much into contact, could muster a Thousand Warriors. We went to visit his Fortress in the Interior, a large fortified Place; but that did not contain, I should think, more than from Three to four hundred People; but a Number of Villages and a very large Extent of Country belonged to him. (123.1.)