every individual on board the vessel; but, at
the time this occurred, it was only made the
subject of complaint, and finally became a
cause of just remonstrance with the commander
of the whaler. The natives themselves
(and I have heard the opinions of various
tribes) have invariably told me that these
things occurred from our want of knowledge
of their laws and customs, which compelled
them to seek revenge. “ It was,” they said,
“ no act of treachery on our part: we did not
invite you to our shores for the purpose of
plunder and murder; but you came, and ill
used us : you broke into our tabooed grounds.
And did not Atua give those bad white men
into the hands of our fathers ? ”
I am confident that a body of Europeans
may now reside in perfect security in any part
of these islands. The late plundering of the
missionaries, at Wango Roar was a peculiar
circumstance, which might have happened
even in civilised Europe, had the seat of war
approached so near their place of residence.
I f their houses and chapel had been on the
plains of Waterloo during the June of 1815,
they would not have experienced a better
fate.
This recent tumult has brought a circumstance
into notice highly interesting to all
who may hereafter wish to settle here. It
has hitherto been their custom, when an
accident occurs, such as the sudden death of
a chiefi to make a general plunder of every
thing belonging to the family of the deceased,
and all under their protection. A knowledge
of this horrible custom has deterred many
from settling in New Zealand j and even those
who have resolved to run so great a risk, have
lived in a continued state of alarm, lest the
death of their protecting chief should leave
them at the mercy of a savage enemy.
The deaths of Shunghie and Shulitea placed
the missionaries and all the settlers on Ko-ro-
ra-di-ka Beach in considerable jeopardy : but
it appeared as if reason had begun to dawn on
the minds of these benighted savages; for this
unjust and cruel custom was now for the first
time discontinued. I was on the beach at the
time when an immense party, well armed,
came for the express purpose of satiating their
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