the difficulties in order to increase his demand
for payment; for even the greatest chiefs
have here their price. He said (and I had
every reason to think he was correct) that I
ran no risk of being molested by any chiefs,
like himself, who would always protect rather
than molest every European ; but that
the country being in such a state of commotion,
in consequence of the late events, it was
full of runaway slaves, who always took advantage
of such times to make their escape ;
and if I chanced to fall in with any of them,
I should be exposed to great peril : “ However
(he added), keep up your spirits ; I have
two confidential slaves, who shall conduct you
over, and carry your luggage, if you will
make me a present of a stocking full of powder,
a bag of small shot, and a powder-horn.”
He also proposed, as he himself was going
to the Kiddy-Kiddy, and thence to a village
in the interior, to meet a large assemblage
of chiefs, in order to talk over the late
tragical events, that I should journey the first
part of my way with him, in his own canoe.
Accordingly, after having made preparations
for my departure, I took leave of all
my friends at the Bay of Islands, both civilised
and savage. I must say, I felt considerable'
regret when I found myself really going to
take a final leave of several native families,
with whom I had been on terms of intimacy
since my residence here, from whom I had
received many proofs of personal regard, and
whom, I felt convinced, I should never meet
or hear of more : none I regretted parting
with more than the family of poor Shulitea;
the mere sight of me seemed to rekindle all
their grief for the loss of their kinsman, and
to remind them more forcibly than ever of his
tragical fate. His mother, old Turero, in
point of grief, had rivalled Niobe; she had
never ceased weeping and lamenting from the
time she heard of her son’s death, and had
twice attempted to strangle herself. But even
in the midst of her passionate sorrow, I could
scarcely refrain from laughing, while observing
her care and anxiety to get all she could
from me. After deploring the sad fate of her
dear son, “ You know,” she continued, “ you
promised him that you would send him a