Considering Mr. Berry’s limited acquaintance
with these islanders, and the horror of
“ Towards the end of last year I was employed in the
Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in procuring a cargo of
spars for the Cape of Good Hope. About the middle of
December the natives brought me an account of a ship’s
being taken at Wang Airoar, a harbour about fifty miles
to the N. W. At first we were disposed to doubt thé
truth of this report, but it every day became more probable,
from the variety of circumstances they informed
us of; and which were so connected as appeared impossible
for them to invent. Accordingly, about the
end of the month, when we had finished our cargo,
although it was a business of some danger, I determined
to go round.
" I set out with three armed boats: we experienced
very bad weather; and after a narrow escape were glad
to return to the ship. As we arrived in a most miserable
condition, I had then relinquished all idea of the
enterprise; but having recruited my strength and spirits,
I was shocked at the idea of leaving any of my countrymen
in the hands of savages, and determined to make a
second attempt. We had this time better weather, and
reached the harbour without any difficulty. Wang Airoar
is formed as follows: — first, a large outer bay, with an
island at its entrance; in the bottom of this bay is seen
a narrow opening, which appears terminated at the distance
of a quarter of a mile; but upon entering it, it is
seen to expand into two large basins, at least as secure
as any of the docks on the banks of the Thames, and
the scene before him, his is a good and an
impartial account; but facts which have been
capable of containing (I think) the whole British navy.
We found the wreck of the Boyd in shoal water, at the
top of the harbour, a most melancholy picture of wanton
mischief. The natives had cut her cables, and towed
her up the harbour till she had grounded, and then set
her on fire, and burnt her to the water’s edge. In her
hold were seen the remains of her cargo,— coals, salted
seal skins, and planks. Her guns, iron, standards, &c.
were lying on the top, having fallen in when her decks
were consumed.
“ The cargo must have been very valuable; but it
appears that the Captain, anxious to make a better
voyage, had come to that port for the purpose of filling
up with spars for the Cape of Good Hope.
“ Not to tire you with the minutia of the business,
I recovered from the natives a woman, two children,
and a boy of the name of Davies, one of your apprentices,
who were the only survivors. I found also the
accompanying papers, which, I hope, may prove of
service to you. I did all this by gentle measures, and
you will admit that bloodshed and revenge would have
answered no good purpose. The ship was taken the
third morning after her arrival. The Captain had been
rather too hasty in resenting some slight theft. Early in
the morning the ship was surrounded by a great number
of canoes, and many natives gradually insinuated themselves
on board. Tippahee, a chief of the Bay of Islands,
and who had been twice at Port Jackson, also arrived:
A