Page:Some Account of New Zealand.pdf/61

42 ing that no separation might take place between friends that were so much attached to each other; but I found that it was a matter of course, whenever a native quits his parents, and that I should offend all parties by retracting my permission for Moyhanger to accompany me.

I wished to make a parting present to the venerable father, and I thought that some poultry might be acceptable: the old man declined every thing I could offer—however he had no objection to my making presents to any other part of his family; and we accordingly very soon got the better of this difficulty.

When the canoe left the ship, the father and mother kept spreading their arms, and looking toward heaven, as if supplicating the protection of a superior power in behalf of their son, during the whole time they remained within sight.

The meeting of friends after a separation is also remarkable. If the absence has been short, the ceremony consists in embracing,