ended by their paying us a high compliment
for coming amongst them. The young and
active were busily employed in constructing
a strong stockade fort to annoy the enemy as
he approached; others were preparing their
weapons, or practising the use of arms.
The village itself was an object of extreme
interest; and, after contemplating the warlike
preparations of the chiefs, we turned with
pleasure to gaze on the beauty of the surrounding
country. In a plain, surrounded
by high hills, with a beautiful stream of water
meandering through it, was situated a group
of huts; and many acres of cultivated ground,
neatly fenced and cleared, encircled them.
Their harvest, consisting of Indian corn,
potatoes, and kumera, was now ready for
gathering, and all the women were busily
occupied. As I from an eminence looked
down upon their labours, I could almost fancy
I was in Italy, and beheld the peasantry at
work in their vineyards: but the adjacent
camp and naked warriors soon dissipated the
illusion !
On approaching the village we occasioned
quite a commotion : the girls brought forth
baskets filled with cooked kumeras and
peaches; while the men erected a tent to
screen us from the rays of the sun: indeed,
all seemed anxious to do something that should
prove acceptable to us. We had brought with
us sufficient provision for a good dinner, which
was soon cooked; and we invited them to
partake of our fare, and a very merry and
noisy group we formed. After our repast,
the chief warriors took us round their camp,
and exhibited to us all their means of defence,
and the different works they had thrown up.
Where the use of artillery is unknown, the
principles of fortification are simple, and the
New Zealanders seem to possess a clear notion
of the a rt: necessity being with them the
mother of invention.
In the direction where the approach of the
enemy was expected, they had erected a
strong square stockade, to molest the army;
while the women and children retired to the
principal fort, which was very strong, and
situated at the summit of the highest hill: it
had a breast-work all round it about five feet