with which he acted on this melancholy occasion
greatly increased the feelings of security
possessed by those Englishmen settled on the
banks of the river j as it proved to them that
he was both able and willing to protect them,
and though the dead could not be restored,
yet he had inflicted an awful punishment on
their murderers.
On the 21st, a fair wind and smooth sea
favoured our departure. Early in the morning,
the natives who were on board assured
us every thing would facilitate our passing
over the bar with safety; and they prepared
to leave the ship. When the moment of separation
came, it caused a great deal of emotion
on both sides. I must confess I felt much
affected when I came to rub noses, shake
hands, and say “ Farewell ” to these kind-
hearted people. I saw them go over the ship’s
side, and reflected that I should never behold
them more. There is always something repugnant
to our feelings in the idea of separating
from any being for ever; and as, in this
instance, I felt assured that this was our last
time of meeting, it cast a gloom over the
pleasure the fair wind and smooth sea would
otherwise have afforded me. As we fell down
towards the river’s mouth, and, indeed, as long
as their canoes were to be seen, they kept
waving their hands towards us.
Thus terminated my visit to the islands of
New Zealand. I had arrived with feelings of
fear and disgust; and was merely induced to
take up a temporary residence amongst the
natives, in hopes of finding something new for
my pencil in their peculiar and picturesque
style of life. I left them with opinions, in
many respects, very favourable towards them.
It is true, they are cunning and over-reaching
in trade, and filthy in their persons. In regard
to the former, we Europeans, I fear, set them
a bad example ; of the latter, they will gradually
amend. Our short visit to Ko-ro-ra-di-ka
greatly improved them in that particular. All
took great pains to come as clean as possible,
when they attended our “ evening tea-parties.”
In my opinion, their sprightly, free, and independent
deportment, together with their kindness
and attention to strangers, compensate
for many defects.