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/88

 84 In point of fact, do you not know that some of the Missionaries have more Influence in New Zealand than any other Persons in the Country?
 * They have; but the native Dealings with the Missionaries are with the whole Body; as such the Missionaries cannot know the Character of the Native, and they do not know the Character of the People among whom they are; it is only the Traders, like myself and others, who can know them.

Are not the Missionaries in the habit of going among the People?
 * If a Native insults One Missionary he insults the whole Body. A Man comes down with Hogs and Potatoes; he comes to me; I say, “What do you want for them? I will not give it you; I will give you so much.” He does not sell them to me; but, perhaps, he abuses me; but if a Missionary chooses to say, “I will give you only so much for your Hogs and Potatoes,” he will say, “Well, if you do not like to give it me, good Morning to you.” He does not show his whole Character to them, but a Character of Duplicity towards the Missionary.

The Effect of that Duplicity is to make them control their bad Feelings, is it not?
 * I should say not.

If a Man will insult you, a Trader, and will not insult a Missionary, is not that controlling their bad Feeling?
 * That is Matter of Opinion. If he insult me he can go to the next Trader and sell his Provisions.

You have some Servants and Persons employed upon the Land; were they Slaves?
 * Chiefs even, as well as Slaves.

How did you agree for Slaves; did you make an Agreement with the Man, or with the Chief?
 * Often, when I wanted a Boy for a Boat, if I could not get a Boy I would go to a Man, saying, “I wish you would let me have your Boy.” “No; he is going to dig.” Then such a one. “No; he is going to fish. But if you will give me so much, then he may go.” But perhaps he would not go. Sometimes I might make an Agreement with the Man or Boy himself. Sometimes I have had a Chief and a Slave working together in the same Boat, laughing and talking altogether alike.

Do you mean to say that the Slave would refuse the Command of the Chief?
 * Yes, in the Bay of Islands; because they know they are under the Protection of the Europeans; that they cannot kill them; they know that the Europeans will not trade with them if they do.

Are you not aware that there has been most atrocious Conduct in the Seas adjoining New Zealand by British Vessels?
 * Horrible; dreadful to relate.

Do you think that those Persons who committed those Crimes will not debase and corrupt the People?
 * I was speaking of the Traders who were settled among them. The Crimes which have been committed have been horrible.

Has the native Population decreased?
 * It has.

Do you account for that chiefly by War?
 * No; I think the principal Cause is Infanticide. I have seen many Women who have destroyed their Children, either by Abortion, or, after their Birth, putting them into a Basket and throwing them into the Sea, after pressing the Frontal Bones of their Heads.

Why have they done that?
 * I have had Conversation with them upon it. I saw a Girl one Day, and knowing she was pregnant, I said “Where is the Child?” The Answer was, “Gone.” “Gone where? where is it gone to?” “I killed it,” was the Answer, with the greatest Apathy. I felt rather curious at the Moment, and