proceeded with confidence. We were ushered
into a house, all cleanliness and comfort, all
order, silence, and unsociability. After presenting
my letter to a grave-looking personage,
it had to undergo a private inspection in an
adjoining room, and the result was, an invitation
“ to stay and take a cup of tea!”
All that an abundant farm, and excellent
grocer in England could supply, were soon
before us. Each person of the mission, as he
appeared during our repast, was called aside,
and I could hear my own letter read and discussed
by them. I could not help thinking
(within myself) whether this was a way to receive
a countryman at the Antipodes! No
smile beamed upon their countenance; there
were no enquiries after news; in short, there
was no touch of human sympathy, such as we
“ of the world ” feel at receiving an Englishman
under our roof in such a savage country
as this!
The chubby children who peeped at us from
all corners, and the very hearty appearance of
their parents, plainly evidenced that theirs
was an excellent and thriving trade. We had
a cold- invitation to stay all night| but this
the number of our party entirely precluded;
so they lent us their boat to convey us to
the Bay of Islands, a distance of about twenty-
five miles.
As the night proved dark and stormy, and
as our boat was crowded with natives, our passage
down the Kiddy-Kiddy river became both
disagreeable and dangerous. The river being
filled with rocks, some under, and others just
above the water, we were obliged to keep
a good look out. After experiencing many
alarms, we arrived safely at Koraradika beach
about midnight, where an Englishman of the
name of Johnstone gave us a shelter in his
hut.
In the morning we beheld two vessels at
anchor in the harbour. The “ Indian ” whaler
of London, and the East India Company’s
ship “ Research; ” which latter ship had been
cruizing in search of the wreck of the vessels
under the command of La Perouse, and had
completely elucidated the circumstances relating
to that event. The Bay of Islands is
surrounded by lofty and picturesque hills, and