Page:Some Account of New Zealand.pdf/55

36 lives, for they certainly give that root a decided preference to human flesh, under every circumstance except that before stated.

The manners of these people are particularly kind and affectionate upon all occasions; one or two instances, of a very striking nature, I observed during my stay here.

We had constantly a number of natives on board the ship; many remained two or three days without visiting the shore, and others visited it daily. One day, it blowing very strong, a canoe, in which were women and children only, attempting to approach the ship, upset; the lamentations of those on board the ship were expressed in a most affecting manner; but we were too much engaged in lowering down a boat to save the lives of the poor creatures, to attend to those who were expressing so much apprehension for their safety. Happily the boat saved every life: the women clung to the canoe with one hand, and in almost every instance supported a child with the other, their own safety appearing