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/70

 66 : the Chiefs on that particular Side appeared to collect together, and to form a Council as to what they were to do, and so on.

That is a Council composed of several Chiefs?
 * Yes.

Does there appear to be any general or supreme Authority in the Island–over all the Island?
 * No, none at all; I should think the Chiefs of one District hardly knew the Chiefs of another; they might by Name.

Have they any settled System of Law by which Offences are defined and punished?
 * No; they just beat the Slave as they think proper. I do not think they have any Laws whatever.

Are they a Population of Slaves, except the Chiefs?
 * I think they are. In fact if the Spaniards and Portuguese had known as much as I know they might have purchased any Quantity they pleased, and taken them to South America, for I know they will sell their Slaves.

Is there any Principle or System of Law by which a Dispute would be settled?
 * None whatever, except by Force between themselves, as far as I could learn. I endeavoured to go into the Character of the New Zealanders; but I know that they will sell their Slaves, because they entreated me to purchase, and offered a Slave for a Musket frequently.

Who are their Slaves; Men taken in War?
 * Yes.

Not Part of their own Clans?
 * Yes; Part of their own Clans sometimes.

What Part of their Clan are their Slaves?
 * I could get as far as that their Slaves have been generally Prisoners taken from different Tribes in their different Wars.

Are the Children of Slaves all Slaves also?
 * Yes.

Are they ever emancipated?
 * I do not think they ever are.

Does the Chief ever marry a Slave?
 * No; they uphold their Aristocracy.

They only marry among each other?
 * Yes. I am certain that if the Settlers in South America had known it, they might have got Cargoes of Slaves there, they are so fond of Trade, and so fond of arming themselves with Power to fight one against another, that they frequently would sell their Slaves for Muskets.

Is the Population sufficiently numerous to afford any permanent Supply of Slaves?
 * I should say that the Population is immense; they appeared very prolific.

Did you ever hear that any great Depopulation of the Natives had been going on during the last few Years?
 * I do not think there are many Diseases among them; it is only their Wars have depopulated them: it is a very beautiful Climate.

Did you never hear that the Population was very much affected by the Venereal Disease?
 * Never; I dare say they have had Europeans going down and giving it them. They have certain Customs among them in which some of the Traders assist them. If a Ship goes down there they take their Women Slaves on board; they, the Europeans, take them for the Advantage of the Ship; they are considered to protect the Ship; every Man down to the Captain has his One, Two, or Three Women. Rh