method of executing justice. A chief, residing
in the village, had proof of the infidelity
of one of his wives ; and being perfectly sure
of her guilt, he took his patoo-patoo (or stone
hatchet), and proceeded to his hut, where
this wretched woman was employed in household
affairs. Without mentioning the cause
of his suspicion, or once upbraiding her, he
deliberately aimed a blow at her head, which
killed her on the spot; and as she was a
slave, he dragged the body to the outside of
the village, and there left it to be devoured
by the dogs. The account of this transaction
was soon brought to us, and we proceeded to
the place to request permission to bury the
body of the murdered woman, which was immediately
granted. Accordingly, we procured
a couple of slaves, who assisted us to
carry the corpse down to the beach, where
we interred it in the most decent manner we
could.
This was the second murder I was very
nearly a witness to since my arrival; and the
indifference with which each had been spoken
of, induced me to believe that such barbarities
were events of frequent occurrence; yet the
manners of all seemed kind and gentle towards
each other: but infidelity in a wife is never
forgiven here j and, in general, if the lover
can be taken, he also is sacrificed along with
the adulteress. Truth obliges me to confess
that, notwithstanding these horrors staring
them in the face, they will, if opportunity
offers, indulge in an intrigue.
As there were two roads across to the Bay
of Islands, and I was anxious to see as much
of the country as possible, I determined that
my second journey should be by the longest
route. I set off, accompanied only by a
native boy to carry a small portmanteau, and
to serve me as a guide. As, on my former
journey, we travelled many miles through
thick tangled forests, fatiguing beyond description.
In the midst of our toilsome progress,
night frequently overtook us ; then, by
means of my fowling-piece, I procured a light;
the boy made a fire ; and we passed the night
in this vast wilderness, far from the habitation
of any human being! At daybreak we resumed
our journey; and at length (about ten
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