apology for his behaviour, painting in strong
colours how deeply our feelings had been
wounded, and how much this indignity had
lowered us in the esteem of all our acquaintances.
After some consultation among their leading
men upon the subject of our message,
King George presented himself at the door of
our hut, and, in the most humble manner, surrendered
his musket; and shortly after his
brother Kiney Kiney did the same. Thus
we gained our point, and received both payment
and apologies for their violent behaviour.
Friendship being thus restored, we soon gave
them back their muskets, to their infinite surprise
and satisfaction.
On reflection, I felt quite convinced that
the natives liked us the better for what we
had done : it afforded them also a lesson of
humanity ; for they all well knew we had no
other object in view when we stood forward
to defend the poor fellow, who had relied
upon our promise of protecting him; several
chiefs told us that they greatly admired our
principles, and should always feel themselves
quite safe with men like us, who would risk
their own lives rather than break their word,
or desert a friend in the hour of danger.
At the close of this eventful day we received
another token of peace, which was in its manner
simple and affecting, and not such as could
have been expected from a nation of savages.
A procession of young girls approached our
door, each bearing a basket; some were filled
with nicely cooked potatoes, others with various
fruits and flowers, which they set down
before us, chanting, in a low voice, a song in
praise of our recent exploit; a man bearing
a very large fish closed the procession ; he repeated
the song also. We were informed, that
these presents had been sent by George as a
ratification of friendship; for the New Zealanders
never think a reconciliation perfected till
you have again eaten and drank with them.
Two important conclusions may be drawn
from the termination of this affair : first, that
if a spirited interference takes place on the
part of the Europeans, murder may be at
times prevented, as we actually rescued a
mortal foe from the vengeance of an exaspero