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/35

 Rh They have no Remedy at all?
 * None that I have seen.

Then when it is once contracted it goes on?
 * Yes, to Destruction; unless they are fortunate enough to meet with an English Surgeon, who enables them to get rid of it.

The Venereal Disease, with a Person inclined to Scrofula, is much worse?
 * Yes; a slight Disease, such as Gonorrhæa, will, perhaps, run its Course; but when it comes to Syphilis it will not run its Course without Injury to the Constitution.

Have you seen many old People there?
 * I have seen some.

Did they appear a long-lived Race?
 * Their Hair was White, and they appeared to be aged.

The Venereal Disease would have a great Effect upon the People?
 * It must have a very great Effect; it has more Effect in destroying the Constitution of the Natives than perhaps any other Disease to which they are subject.

How do you account for there not being the Small Pox among them?
 * I do not know; except from the Length of Time that the People have been on their Voyage from Europe; but I am not quite clear upon that Subject.

Did you see any who had lost their Hands or Legs by Operations or Wounds?
 * I have not seen one; I should think if that was the Case in their Wars they would die.

They do not know even the Rudiments of Surgery?
 * No. They are very subject to Abscesses in consequence of their Tendency to Scrofula, and I have never seen them attempt to open them.

Did you see any Attempt to administer the Aid of Medicine in any Way from Herbs?
 * They have some Herbs; I have seen them use some Herbs for Coughs and Affections of the Lungs, and any Ailment of that Kind, where they think a Person is very ill; I have seen a low Fever bordering on the mild Typhus Kind, and I have seen them administer Medicines; and I have seen a Boil on the Face, merely a small Inflammation, I have seen them apply a Species of Herbs to that; that is the only Use I have seen made of any Medicine.

You have stated that in some of the Negotiations for the Sale of Land, Parts of the Price were distributed; could you make out what it was that gave any Individual a Right to have a Portion of the Price?
 * They considered that they had a Right to have a Portion of the Purchase Money.

Who particularly was considered as entitled, and what gave him that Sort of Title?
 * I could not make that out.

Was it in consequence of any previous Arrangement of the Parties?
 * Sometimes it was in consequence of Marriage.

Is it in this Way : that there is a Chief with a considerable Number of Chieftains, who are bound to go to War when the Chief calls upon them?
 * Yes, exactly so; they are obliged to go in case of their being called.

A great deal of the Land belongs to the Chieftains?
 * Yes.

The Chieftain has no Power over it, however?
 * The Chieftain has, perhaps, no Power over it; but he signs the Title.

Have any Persons, who are neither Principal Chiefs nor Sub-Chiefs, the Power of acquiring Land?
 * There are no Persons in Possession of Land there, I believe, who are not Chiefs. (123.1.)