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/24

 20 : improve them, and merely act with the Natives. They have given up arguing with the Masters of Vessels, finding it entirely fruitless.

In what Language is the Communication carried on between the Missionaries and the Natives?
 * In the New Zealand Language.

The Missionaries have made themselves Masters of the Language?
 * Yes. I think that they are very capable now of communicating Information in that Language; but every Pains is taken by these Men to calumniate the Missionaries, and to get them into Disrepute among the Natives; but the Natives turn against them and contrast their Characters, when they hear any Endeavour of that Kind, and perhaps sometimes they will turn them even out of their Houses when they do it. I have known One Instance of that happening. Pomore turned an Englishman out of his House in consequence of his telling various Falsehoods of the Missionaries, and trying to prejudice the Chief against them. One Englishman there, who is a very intellectual Man, but of the lowest Character, goes into the Interior of the Country, buys Pigs for little or nothing, and brings them down to the Bay to sell again; and I have seen him several Times taking Women on board with the Pigs. But the Chiefs themselves sometimes take their Women and barter with the Captains. The Chief's Relation is generally given to the Master of the Vessel, as being the greatest Compliment. Scrofula is very prevalent among them, but I think it is very much in consequence of having no Medical Treatment; it appears that the swelling of the Glands comes on, and is allowed to proceed without Medical Interference till it becomes a very formidable Disease. I have seen the Effect of Medicines arresting the swelling in several Instances when I was there. I have had a great many come to me to ask my Assistance as a Surgeon.

Are the Small Pox and the Measles known there?
 * I have not met with an Instance.

Do you understand that the Natives in New Zealand had ever had an Operation performed on one of them till you performed one on a Woman?
 * I have not known an Instance of it, but I have not the slightest Doubt that some have had small Operations performed.

Had you great Difficulty in persuading that Woman to undergo it?
 * No; she was very anxious for it.

Spirituous Liquors are now very generally introduced in New Zealand, are they not?
 * They are.

Are the Natives often seen in a State of Intoxication?
 * The Chiefs are frequently seen in a State of Intoxication, but the others are not able to purchase Spirits sufficiently; they are anxious to get something of more Value

Have not those Persons who have gone over from this Country to reside there been productive of very serious Evil to the Natives?
 * Yes, I think they have been productive of very serious Evil indeed.

They sell them as many Muskets and Powder as the Natives can afford to buy?
 * Yes.

Was the Use of that Powder in hunting?
 * There are no Animals of any Class to hunt; perhaps there is occasionally a Pig running wild, but I should fancy that is very rare, except in the Southern Parts. Where I have been I have never seen one.

Do you think the State of the Morals at the Bay of Islands is a great deal worse than at some of our Sea-port Towns in this Country?
 * I do not know; I do not think it can be worse.

Is it worse than in the Ports of New South Wales?
 * No; not so bad. I have not known any Case of Sodomy discovered in New Zealand; in Australia that is deemed to be prevalent. Rh