captain ; but, receiving no other covering in
return for his gift, he went on shore naked !
The officers of the vessel behaved differently :
they conducted us all down into the gun-room,
where they treated us most kindly, and paid
every attention to our friend George, whose
dignity was deeply wounded by the cool and
contemptuous behaviour of the captain.
How greatly is it to be regretted that some
arrangements are not made by our government
at home, and that there are not orders
given to commanders of ships of war touching
here, to pay attention to the chiefs, and to
make some trifling presents amongst them ;
for there never were a people more anxious
to cultivate a friendly intercourse with British
subjects than the inhabitants of New Zealand :
and yet there is scarcely a government vessel
that puts into port here but the natives receive
some insult, though they are sent for
the express purpose of supporting the dignity
of the English nation, and to cultivate the
amicable feelings of the chiefs.
When a “ King’s ship” comes to anchor, the
chiefs (with all the glee of children going to
a fair) collect together their wives, children,
and friends, and pay a visit to the “ fighting
ships,” to see King George’s warriors (as they
call them): when they come alongside, they
are kept off by an armed sentry *, and, after a
long parley, they are informed the chief may
come, but his family and friends must not.
In this case, the natives generally spit at the
vessel, and, uttering execrations on their inhospitality,
return on shore.
One of the savage chieftains who accompanied
us to the vessel in question, on our
way back remarked, “ that the white warriors
were afraid of admitting them, though they
were unarmed and but a few; while the warriors
in the ships were many and armed with
their great guns.”
Living entirely amongst these people so
long as I had done, I felt the absurdity of
such conduct, and the folly of treating them
so harshly. I f ever individuals are so situated
as to need either the esteem or the confidence
of savages, they must bear with their prying
and childish curiosity, and not be afraid of
treating them too kindly ; by this means they
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