Page:Some Account of New Zealand.pdf/109

90 come within their power. Thus, in many instances, the cruelty and perfidy experienced by Europeans, in various parts of the uncivilized world, should not be wholly attributed to natural propensities, but in part to the gratification of revenge for former injuries.

And is this conduct such as to excite our surprize? Let us, for a moment, consider its application to New Zealand; a race of people hitherto enjoying a constitution of body remarkably sound and healthy. In a few generations, in all probability, how great will be the change—children of diseased parents, they will grow up a puny race; and, in many instances, both miserable and disgusting; in no respect resembling the hardy inhabitants of the island, previously to their unhappy communications with civilized man. They will bear about them the traces of the injuries we have inflicted, and can it appear extraordinary that they should, at some future time, demand vengeance for their suffer-