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/8

 4 : where there was a Village belonging to one of the Chiefs we had on board,—for we had Three Chiefs with us, who had come to Port Jackson in the Vessel with the Missionaries previously to our leaving Port Jackson. The Chiefs went on shore, and on their Return told us that the Tribe from Wangeroon which had cut off the Boyd, the Vessel before alluded to, were encamped near the Village. Mr. Marsden, upon hearing this, was exceedingly anxious to have Communication with the Chiefs of that Tribe, for the Purpose of explaining to them the Nature of the Mission, and to effect a Peace between the Tribes of Wangeroon and those in the Bay of Islands, Hostilities having taken place in consequence of the former having cut off the Boyd; Mr. Marsden and myself landed with the Missionaries and the Chiefs that we had on board, and we found about 150 Warriors encamped at a little Distance from the Village; one of their Chiefs, George, had been on board our Ships, and could speak a little English; we took with us, however, a New Zealand Sailor whom we had on board, and who spoke our Language very well. We were received with a good deal of Ceremony, the Details of which it is not necessary to enter into, but it ended in Mr. Marsden and myself remaining with them all Night. On its being explained by Mr. Marsden to George and the other Chiefs what was the Object of the Missionaries in coming to New Zealand, George expressed a strong Desire that Missionaries should be sent to Wangeroon; and he made a solemn Promise that he never would be again instrumental in cutting off another Vessel.

Did he give any Reason why he had done it before?
 * Yes, he did, and a very strong Reason. He said the Vessel would not have been cut off had it not been for the Ill-conduct of the Captain towards him that he had agreed to work his Passage from Port Jackson to New Zealand, where the Captain was going to take in a Cargo of Timber; that during Part of the Voyage he was rendered unable to work by Illness, but the Captain insisting on his doing his Duty as usual, and on his declaring his Inability the Captain had him severely flogged; and when he came into the Harbour of Wangeroon he took his Clothing from him, and turned him almost naked on shore.

He was a Chief of some Consequence?
 * He was; and on his mentioning to his Relatives the Ill-conduct of the Captain they insisted upon his being revenged. He said he was averse to this; but they insisted upon it, and overruled him. A Plan was then laid to take the Ship; and all the Crew and Passengers, consisting of nearly 70 People, were massacred, with the Exception of Four.

What was the Vessel?
 * She was a Ship chartered by Government to take out Convicts; she was a Vessel of about 500 Tons; her Charter having ceased, the Captain was returning home from New South Wales with Passengers on board, and went to New Zealand for the Purpose of taking in a Cargo of Timber to bring to this Country.

Had you further Intercourse with the Natives?
 * Very considerable Intercourse after we arrived in the Bay of Islands with the Chiefs belonging to that Part of New Zealand; as also with those from the Interior, all of whom expressed themselves anxious to have White People settled among them, when the Objects of the Mission were explained to them, and that the Arts of Civilization would be introduced among them, and their Condition bettered by being taught the Culture of Wheat and other Grain.

Did you see much Cultivation going on?
 * A good deal. They are very industrious Cultivators for Savages. I should say they are an industrious People. Their Plantations of the common Potato and the Sweet Potato are cultivated with very great Care; indeed there is not a Weed to be seen in them. I have seen between Twenty and Thirty Acres in one Place enclosed and cultivated; their principal Food, however, is the Fern Root.

That grows to a great Height?
 * In good Ground it grows to Six and Seven Feet high; there are between Fifty and Sixty Species of that Plant. Rh