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/26

 22 : formerly consider it as supernatural, but they consider it now to be in consequence of Education, and they consider themselves fully equal to it if put into the Way of it.

Do the Missionaries know any thing of Surgery?
 * Mr. William Williams was brought up a Surgeon.

Does he reside in the same Settlement as his Brother?
 * Yes; they have both a great Influence, but Mr. Henry Williams takes the lead in almost all Cases ; he is a very intelligent Man; he has been a Lieutenant in the English Navy, and perhaps that has given him a more determined Character in the Eyes of the Natives.

From your Communication with the Chiefs, do you think that when they sold their Land they had any Idea of parting with the Sovereignty over that Land?
 * That is a Question I do not exactly understand. I do not think they understand any thing with regard to the Sovereignty of the Land; but they never thought of possessing it again themselves.

Would they be willing to allow any Persons to make Laws which should coerce them?
 * I think they would.

Do you think they would be willing to allow Persons to make Laws which should prevent their going to Battle?
 * I have not the slightest Doubt of that.

Do you think they would be willing to allow Persons to make Laws preventing their taking Women on board those Ships, and getting a Profit from those Women?
 * That perhaps they would not, in consequence of the Emolument being taken away. They would view it in that Light. If they were to have a Compensation for it they would immediately refrain from sending their Women there for the sake of Emolument.

Those Women are Slaves?
 * Chiefly; but they take their own Daughters, even the Chief's Daughters and their own Wives, except their principal Wife.

Do not they now when they go to War take Prisoners who are afterwards made Slaves?
 * Yes; and sometimes they eat them as well.

Do they eat them now as much as they used to do?
 * No, not so much as they used to do, in consequence of the Instructions of the Missionaries.

When they go to War they consider that they are going on a profitable Speculation to get more Slaves?
 * It is chiefly to revenge some Injury; if they receive an Injury, however humble the Individual, the whole Tribe must revenge it.

Do the Tribes mix much together?
 * Yes; they pass from one to another. They entertain each other very hospitably.

Do you know the Amount of Land in that Country now the Property of Europeans?
 * I do not know; I understand that there have been great Purchases made since I left.

In your Opinion of the Land you know, which had been sold there at the Time and before you were there, was a fair and a proper Price given for it?
 * I have no Doubt that the Natives considered it so; they are perfectly satisfied with the Price.

Can you say the Price a native Chief thinks he ought to get; how many Muskets or Axes he ought to get for 100 Acres of good Land near the Sea?
 * Perhaps on one of his best Spots he would get Three or Four Muskets and Three or Four Axes, and a Barrel of Powder. Mr. Trapp's Spot contains 80 or 100 Acres, and he gave but a Trifle for it; it is not one of the best Spots;