the Kiddy Kiddy River; and it being Sunday,
the members of the mission met us on landing,
and used all their endeavours to prevent
our travelling on that day; but, independent
of the urgent necessity of our reaching
E. O. Ke Angha, the captain of our vessel,
who was with us, being particularly anxious
to return on board, we continued our journey,
and at night came to a bivouac in a dense
wood, so that we now had the luxury of
stretching our weary limbs on dry ground.
The next day, as we journeyed towards the
river, we fell in with all our old fiiends, who
enquired into the particulars of our adventures,
and seemed highly delighted at our
return.
We found “ all right” on board the brig;
but as she was chartered to go to Tongataboo,
I and my friend Shand determined to remain
at New Zealand till her return. Our principal
difficulty seemed to be, which side of
the island we should make choice of for a
dwelling place. When it became known to
the natives that we intended to remain with
them, several chiefs came and offered us their
protection; and each would have built us a
house, but we preferred making our sojourn
at the Bay of Islands. We were often at a
loss how to evade the kind importunities of
our savage hosts without giving them offence.
«< Is not our country as good as theirs?”—
“ Are you not as safe amongst us ? — “ Are
we not as willing and as capable of protecting
you as Shulitea?” These were the arguments
they used; and, finally, we were obliged to inform
them that we had a friend and countryman
(Captain Duke) settled on the other side,
who was preparing a house for our reception.
On being informed of this circumstance they
consented to part with us, though evidently
with great reluctance.
While we lay here, the ship “ Harmony,” of
London, Captain Middleton, arrived from
Sydney for a cargo of spars. So large a
vessel entering the port put the whole district
into commotion ; and when the chiefs understood
the nature of her wants, and had seen
the fine double-barrelled guns and store of
powder to be given as payment for the wished-
for freight, they hastened to the woods, and