obtain after much manoeuvring, and that was
spoken but a few minutes before he breathed
his last; which was, that “ Shulitea (viz. our
friend George) would not live one week
longer than him s e l f b u t , as our patron was
in perfect health at the time, and all seemed
peaceful around him, I only laughed at the
improbability of the prophecy being fulfilled.
The natives of New Zealand pay the greatest
respect to courage and warlike talents :
these were the only distinguishing characteristics
of Shunghie; yet, by possessing these,
he was more feared, and had a greater number
of followers, than any other chief in the
island. His hereditary possessions were but
small, and his name was little known; yet
his undaunted courage, his skill, and success
in many sanguinary battles, made him, at
length, a most powerful chief; and obtained
for him that which is considered wealth in
this country, namely, an immense number
of slaves. In his last moments he was attended
by more men of rank than had ever
before assembled to witness the dissolution of
a warrior, and this is considered the greatest
proof of attention and respect one chieftain
can show towards another.
Our brig now sailed for E O Ke Angha to
take in a cargo of planks; and my friend,
Mr. Shand, being tired of wandering, accompanied
her ; but I, being still anxious to procure
more sketches of this interesting country,
determined to remain as long as possible,
and to take one more walk across the island,
and join the brig by the time she was loaded.
I was preparing to start on my last pedestrian
tour, when a chain of events occurred which
threw all the tribes into confusion. Bloodshed
and devastation stared me in the face
from all quarters; and from the state of security
I had imagined myself to be in, I was
roused to behold myself beset with difficulties;
to crown which, our brig, which would have
been a place of safety and refuge, was now
on the opposite side of the island.
Arising from a trifling circumstance, which
was partly caused by us, though innocently,
Pomarree’s only son had lost his life; and, as