cumstance was to notice the great delight of'
the natives, and the pleasure they seemed to
take in observing the progress of the various
works. All were officious to “ lend a hand,”
and each seemed eager to be employed. This
feeling corresponds with my idea of the best
method of civilising a savage. Nothing can
more completely show the importance of the
useful arts than a dockyard. In it are practised
nearly all the mechanical trades; and
these present to the busy enquiring mind of
a New Zealander a practical encyclopaedia of
knowledge. When he sees the combined
exertions of the smith and carpenter create so
huge a fabric as a ship, his mind is filled with
wonder and delight; and when he witnesses
the moulding of iron at the anvil, it excites
his astonishment and emulation.
The people of the dockyard informed me,
that although it was constantly crowded with
natives, scarcely any thing had ever been
stolen, and all the chiefs in the neighbourhood
took so great an interest in the work,
that any annoyance offered to those employed
would immediately be revenged as a personal
affront.
Here we left the brig to unload her cargo;
my friend Shand and myself having determined
to proceed over-land to the Bay of
Islands. An intelligent chiefs hearing of our
intention, offered to accompany us himself,
and lent us two of his kookies to carry our
baggage. We accepted the chieftain’s offer,
and several other natives joined the party to
bear us company.
November 7- — We all embarked in a canoe,
in order to reach the head of the river before
we began our pedestrian tour; and, after paddling
about eight or nine miles further up,
where the river became exceedingly narrow,
we came to another English settlement. This
consisted of a party of men who had come
out in the “ Rosanna,” the vessel employed
by the New Zealand Company. When all
ideas of settling were totally abandoned by
the officers sent out for that purpose, these
men chose rather to remain by themselves
than to return home; and we found them
busily employed in cutting timber, sawing
planks, and making oars for the Sydney market.
How far they may prove successful