Page:Some Account of New Zealand.pdf/117

98 danced and sung, and exclaimed, piannahmiti, very good, very fine, repeatedly; and when I informed him that the island produced abundance of excellent potatoes, I believe his native country was almost forgotten.

During the interval between our coming to an anchor, and my taking him on shore, a salute was fired from the battery on Ladder-hill; his fear and astonishment were now excessive; he lay down on the deck, stopped his ears, and I believe thought that his final dissolution was at hand; however, as the firing continued, and he still remained unhurt, he gradually acquired courage and confidence: but upon all similar occasions he expressed some uneasiness, andconstantly stopped his ears, saying, matta matta teringa, it gives pain to my ears.

We now went on shore, and nothing escaped Moyhanger's observation. The quantity of large anchors, ordnance, and other articles formed of iron, astonished him; he seemed to have hitherto entertain-