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/49

 Rh Did you ever explain to the People, that quite as efficient a Way of destroying them was their being addicted to the Habits of Debauchery and Intemperance?
 * I never stated that as a Reason of their being destroyed.

If they go on in the Bay of Islands as they do now, will not that cause the Extermination of the Natives before long?
 * Yes; including their Wars. I believe some of their Wars have originated with spirituous Liquors in the Bay of Islands. When they set about revenging an Injury there is no knowing where they will stop.

Do you think they would like any Laws that would prevent their getting intoxicated?
 * The Natives are not inclined, generally, to get intoxicated, except those employed in supplying the Ships with Articles, and those Females who have been degraded by this Intercourse. I am told by the Natives, they, the Females, are as apt to get tipsy as the Men on board.

Do they continue the Practice of eating any of their Prisoners?
 * Yes.

Do they carry off many Women and Children, and make Slaves of them?
 * Yes; at Makatu they took all the young Men, Women, and Children as Slaves. The head Chiefs were all killed; they are immediately killed.

The Country then becomes the Property of the Chief which is so taken?
 * Not immediately. It remains to be proved which is the strongest Party; if he can exterminate the whole Party it becomes his; but while there is any of the Party remaining they may probably encourage others to fight with them, and meet the other on fair Grounds; so that they do not take Posesssion [sic] of it till that is seen.

You were speaking of Fortresses; of what Sort are they?
 * Fortifications roughly constructed of Planks of Wood or small Trees sawn off and driven into the Ground, and single Bars of Wood from Post to Post.

Are they permanent or Field Fortifications?
 * They are made permanent, but not kept in repair unless in War-time.

They appear to have a good deal of Military Knowledge, considering their Circumstances?
 * Yes; they are very anxious to hear about Military Affairs. Waharoa is considered to be the best Military Chief in the Waikata District by the Natives; he is considered so courageous.

Do the great Majority of those Persons fight with Muskets?
 * Yes, with Muskets, with the Axes at their Side. If there is an Occasion for it they throw down the Musket and fight with the Axe.

When they came to you did they suppose that you had been concerned with the Persons who had injured them?
 * No. When they came up they asked whether I was Tapstall, their European in the Tent. I answered in the Negative; and they began to strip me immediately. I conversed with them. They asked whether I was not of Matamata. I said I was. They asked me whether it was not straight, as our Party had stripped their European, that they should strip me; and I said it was according to their Custom.

You did not resist?
 * No.

Is that an ordinary Expression, ‟Whether it is straight”?
 * Yes. There is only One Word for taking of Property away in Native, which means stripping.

Can you account for their not taking your Horse?
 * No. I think they had never seen a Horse before. Some of them I am sure had not, from their Remarks.

Had you the Means, in connexion with the Settlement, of seeing the Chiefs, and ascertaining their Ideas with respect to Religion?
 * Some of them I had. (123.1.)