New Zealanders) ; and stated, that he was
born and reared in an inland district; and
the only food they then had, consisted of
fern roots and kumera; fish they never saw ;
and the only flesh he then partook of was
human. But I will no longer dwell on this
humiliating subject. Most white men who
have visited the island have been sceptical on
this point; I myself was, before I had “ ocular
proof.” Consequently, I availed myself
of the first opportunity to convince myself of
the fact. I have reflected upon the subject,
and am thoroughly satisfied that nothing will
cure the natives of this dreadful propensity
but the introduction of many varieties of animals,
both wild and tame, and all would be
sure to thrive in so mild and fine a climate.
The scene I have just described brings into
consideration the subject of slavery, as it now
exists in New Zealand. That slavery should
be the custom of savage nations and cannibals,
is not a cause of wonder: they are the
only class of human beings it ought to remain
with. Here slavery assumes its most hideous
shape i Every one they can effect a seizure
of in an enemy’s country becomes the slave
of the captors. Chiefs are never made prisoners
; they either fight to the last, or are
killed on the spot, and their heads are preserved
(by a peculiar method) as trophies.
Children are greatly prized : these they bring
to their dwellings, and they remain slaves for
life. Upon the number of slaves a chief can
muster he takes his rank as a man of wealth
and consequence in society; and the only
chance these wretched beings have of being
released from their miseries, is their master
getting into a rage, and murdering them without
further ceremony.
On entering a village, a stranger instantly
discovers which portion of its inhabitants are
the slaves, though both the complexion and
the dresses of all are alike. The free Zealander
is a joyous, good-humoured looking
man, full of laughter and vivacity, and is
chattering incessantly; but the slaves have
invariably a squalid dejected look; they are
never seen to smile, and appear literally half
starved. The beauties characteristic of a New
Zealander are his teeth and hair : the latter,