charcoal. All, as their custom was, carried some weapon, as though prompted by instinct, and in view of the possible contingency of danger. Perfect silence reigned throughout the multitude while speeches were made, and every word must have been heard by every member of the assembly. I began by asking the chiefs if they had finally made up their minds to complete the sale. Five or six of them immediately answered. that they had had many moons (months) to do that in, and that all they wanted was a sight of the papers, that they might sign them, and the goods, that they might carry them away. Several chiefs then rose in succession, and fully described the country sold, tracing all the rivers up to Mount Tongariro, and adding after each place as they name it, "The place is thine." Though I had not shown the natives the goods intended as payment, I had repeatedly read to them the list; and on this occasion the chiefs, when asked whether they were satisfied with the quantity, shortly answered, “E-Kuru has seen them; it is good." It was then agreed that the chiefs should come on board the schooner and sign the deed, and that several large canoes should also be brought alongside, under the direction of E-Kuru, to receive the goods, and land them at the spot where the conference had taken place. Twenty-seven head chiefs signed the deed on the deck of the schooner, after it had been read and interpreted, with full explanations, to them and to a large audience which surrounded us, either floating about in numerous canoes, or clustered upon the bank. The goods were then handed into the canoes by men appointed by E-Kuru. No attempt at pilfering took place, and all the things were carried quietly and in order to the shore. The spec tators proceeded gradually to the scene of distribution; and when I landed, some time after the last canoe had gone away, with all the white men, except one to keep the vessel, the distribution was going on. On an extensive level at the back of the little village, a piece of land, a hundred yards long and twenty broad, had been cleared of the fern. About twenty-four heaps of goods were ranged along this space, while E-Kuru and his elder brother, a chief of no great note, were adding gradually to each heap, and explaining the proceedings in a loud voice. We took our seats on the roof of a hut, from whence we could survey the whole proceeding. The different tribes were gathered in groups at short distances from the row of heaps, each under its respective leader, and watched the process with the most eager interest. Now and then a little knot might be seen encroaching on the space, and creeping, without rising, nearer to some tempting heap. Then a chief of another tribe would rise, and although scarcely able to restrain his own followers, or perhaps himself, from imitating their example, would rebuke them for their dishonest intentions. Then E-Kuru would flourish his bright tomahawk high in the air, and fly along each side of the line of goods, anger and menace in every gesture, and determination in his features; and the boldest retired to his former station. But while he was busy unpacking a bale, or making his calculations as to the fairest way of distributing the contents, the almost invisible encroachments and the loud rebukes became more frequent and daring; the offenders became less willing to hear reason, and the others more prone to share in the offence. At length, neither E-Kuru's eloquent appeals to the dignity of the chiefs, nor his terrific threats against the multitude, could produce their intended effect: little children were first sent to pilfer, a pipe, say, or a lookingglass, and though they were seen, no one would touch them; then the parents, watching, rebuking, envying, and seeking to overreach each other, were closing in on all sides. A crisis was evidently at hand. E-Kuru threw down what he had in his hand, and walked slowly and moodily to a seat by my side. This proceeding seemed to create a pause for a few minutes, as though the covetous crowds were uncertain of his intentions. "Go on board ship," said he to me, with all your white men. I cannot get them to do it quietly; we shall have to come to a fight. You might get hurt if you remained; and, moreover, I am ashamed that you should see us fight madly for these things, especially after engaging to do my best to count them out quietly; but such is their custom, and they will have a scramble. Go!" I immediately acceded to his request. We had hardly got on board ship before we saw and heard a truly wild scene. We were about a quarter of a mile from the spot, and on the opposite side of the river. Seven hundred naked savages were twisted and entangled in one mass, like a swarm of bees, over the line of goods; and their cries of encouragement, anger, disappointment, vengeance, pain, or triumph, were blended in one ferocious growl. With a telescope we could distinguish brandished. weapons, clenched fists, torn blankets, uplifted boxes, and occasionally a man's body, as he leaped or was borne against his will over the heads of the throng; and the faint breath of the sea-breeze, as it died away with the setting sun, brought an occasional shrill yell, or the scream of a woman, in louder tones than the general buzz. I much feared that some loss of life would ensue. Two or three canoes now put off from the shore; and the owners, who had succeeded in securing a share of the goods, increased our fears by their contradictory rumours, as they paddled hastily up the river. After the riot had subsided, E-Kuru himself came on board. He was very excited and angry, but made great efforts to conceal the fact. He said that the natives, many of them, were maddened by the struggle, though no lives had been lost, and that until they should calm down we might be in some danger. In the morning things were much more quiet. Many of the wildest natives had departed with what they had been able to secure, and E-Kuru distributed some more of the things. Last of all, he opened the only case containing fire-arms. The avidity of the surrounding chiefs could now no longer be restrained; and in the course of a scramble which ensued among the aristocracy, E-Kuru was thrown down and hurt a good deal against the nails of the case, and his European clothes, which he constantly delighted to wear, were nearly torn off his back. He came on board in high dudgeon, and at first threatened to leave his people and his place, and return with me to Port Nicholson. I talked with him mildly, and at some length; and he ended by confessing that a wiser course would be for him to remain and prepare them gradually, by his own example as well as by precept, for more gentle conduct when the white settlers should arrive. Having bidden farewell to E-Kuru and the other natives, promising to return soon and trade with them, and begging them to build houses about this part of the river, for which the white people would be glad to pay them, we weighed anchor and got safely out of the harbour, and on the 2d of June got back to Port Nicholson. ASCENT OF THE VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN TONGARIRO BY MR BIDWILL. A.D. 1839. ONE great peak of Tongariro slopes up from the lake; but while I was there I could never see the top of it, in consequence of the quantity of vapour always rolling up the side of the mountain, from a great many hot springs which are visible on its sides. From one of these a con siderable stream of water runs into the lake, but is cold by the time it reaches it. The side appeared quite barren, small belt of wood about two with the exception of a Several of my natives being unwell, I left them behind till my return, and started, March 2, 1839, for Tongariro, with only two of the lads I brought from Tauranga, and some of the people from Rotuaire. The road led over a tolerably level country, covered with grass of many different kinds; the most common was large, and of a wiry texture, which I should not think good for cattle. As we skirted the base of the mountain, in order to get at the best place for the ascent, we found the ground in general marshy, and crossed a great many small streams, and nearly dry watercourses filled with large stones. We were on Tongariro all day, but the peak was still invisible, in consequence of the mist which continued to cover the upper regions. I several times accused the natives of leading me astray, as I could not make out the direction in which we were going, relatively to the peak, as I had observed it from Taupo. About four o'clock we arrived at the junction of two considerable water-courses, where my guides said we |