Standing on the spot from which I have
described the above prospect, I felt fully convinced
of the frugality and industry of these
savages. The regularity of their plantations,
and the order with which they carry on their
various works, differ greatly from most of
their brethren in the South Seas, as here
the chiefs and their families set the example
of labour; and when that is the case, none can
refuse to toil. Round the village of Par Ku-
neigh, at one glance is to be seen above 200
acres of cultivated land, and that not slightly
turned up, but well worked and cleared ; and
when the badness of their tools is considered,
together with their limited knowledge of
agriculture, their persevering industry I look
upon as truly astonishing.
The New Zealanders have established here
a wise custom, which prevents a great deal of
waste and confusion, and generally preserves
to the planter a good crop, in return for the
trouble of sowing; namely, as soon as the
ground is finished, and the seed sown, it is
tabooed, that is, rendered sacred, by men appointed
for that service, and it is death to
trample over or disturb any part of this consecrated
ground. The wisdom and utility of
this regulation must be obvious to every one.
But however useful this taboo system is to
the natives, it is a great inconvenience to
a stranger who is rambling over the country ;
for if he does not use the greatest caution, and
procure a guide, he may get himself into a
serious dilemma before his rambles be over,
which had nearly been the case with our
party this day. We were ascending a hill, for
the purpose of inspecting a New Zealand
fortification on the summit, when a little boy
joined our party, either out of curiosity, or in
hopes of getting a fish-hook from us,—a thing
the natives are continually asking for; but
as Ave had a man with us who spoke the
language fluently, we did not much regard
the boy’s guidance, though to us it speedily
became of great importance. We were taking
a short cut, to make a quick ascent to the top
of the hill, when the little fellow uttered a
cry of horror. Our interpreter asked him
what he meant, when he pointed his finger
forward, and told him to look, for the ground
c 2