must no longer weaken yourselves by sending away boats for spars, but must keep all your men on board, and quit New Zealand as soon as possible‍;— and, besides, while it may be necessary to remain here, you ought to receive on board all my friends and dependants to assist in defending you. Tarra, on being further questioned, informed us that the vessel carried 20 great guns, and 40 men; which, together with their former anxiety to get rid of us, rendered the story hardly credible. Upon the whole, however, I determined neither to slight Tarra's advice, nor to allow my object to be defeated by vamped up stories. I discouraged the report among the sailors, lest they should get disheartened, and proceeded in my undertaking with increased activity, but with greater caution and vigilance. For some time, the report hardly gained credit even among the natives; and, on mentioning the affair to Tupee some days after, while he was superintending the wood-cutters, he merely observed that he had heard such a report, but that it had gone in at the one ear, and out at the other. In a short time, however, it received such confirmation as to compel belief; the circumstances related being not only so consistent with one another, but of such a nature as evidently to exceed the powers of invention possessed by the natives. I therefore thought it indispensable to arrange a party for the purpose of ascertaining the fact, and liberating some captives who were said to have escaped the general carnage. Having advanced thus far, I am unwilling to repeat what I have said in another place, and shall, therefore, only state some circumstances illustrative of the character of the natives.

They, to a man, inveighed against the danger and folly of such an attempt, and made use of every argument to dissuade me from undertaking it. No argument could induce any of them to accompany me. They observed, that, after the fidelity with which they had so long served us, it was ungenerous to ask them, as such a thing would infallibly embroil them with the natives of Wangerooa, who, in whatever way the undertaking ended, would certainly take revenge upon them after the departure of our ship, and that they had now great advan

tage from the possession of so many European arms. They, however, gave me abundant directions how to guard against being surprised. I, however, prevailed upon a young Zealander, * who had been along with us on our former voyage, and who had engaged to go to Europe in the vessel, to accompany us, it being essential to have a New Zealander along with us, in order to bring about an interview with his countrymen at Wangerooa. As we had only 24 musquets on board, and the party to Wangerooa consisted of 22, including the New Zealander and myself, it became necessary to borrow from Tupee and Tarra all the fire-arms in their possession for the defence of the ship in my absence. These arms were up the country, and a delay of some days took place before their arrival. As the time was pressing, I could not wait for them; but, trusting entirely to their fidelity, I left the ship guarded merely by her two six-pounders, and two or three defective pieces. I went out, however, in the night, that my expedition might not be generally known among the natives. On returning again to the ship next night, being driven back by a gale of wind, I found that the musquets had arrived, and that the cabin was filled with Tupee, Tarra, and many of their friends, who had come on board for the safety of the ship. A few days previous to this undertaking, a young native of Otaheite, known by the name of Tom, absconded from the ship with a young female to whom he was attached. This young man, although not particularly serviceable as a sailor, was, notwithstanding, a great favourite on board, and on many occasions rendered considerable service from speaking English and the New Zealand language, which is a dialect of his own, with equal facility; the loss of him, therefore, was considerably felt.

While preparing the boats for the second attempt to go to Wangerooa, one of the mates said that he had been informed that Tom had gone away with a man that was under the autho

* This deserving young man was called Towaaki by his countrymen, and Johnny by the sailors. He perished in April 1812, when the Edinburgh foundered in the Atlantic Ocean, to the S. W. of the Western Islands.

rity of Metenangha, a chief consider ably attached to us, and who was then on board. I immediately informed him of what I had heard, and desired that he would take measures for the recovery of the man. His answer was, that he had no control over the man who had taken away Tom, and, therefore, could do nothing for his recovery. Convinced of the contrary from what I had just heard, I observed with some warmth, that it was a pity to see a man of his rank disgrace himself by decoying away our sailors, after all the attentions we had shewn him, and, at the same time, turned from him with a degree of contempt, and walked towards the cabin. Metenangha was strongly moved by such unusual treatment, and called me back several times by name in a manner that shewed his agitation. As I did not attend to him, he ran towards me, and seized my arm, declaring, with great emotion, that he had been my friend from our first arrival in the country, and had rendered us every service in his power; that he was perfectly innocent of the crime alleged against him; that he could not bear to be treated in such an unworthy manner; that he would, therefore, leave the ship immediately, and I should never see him more. Unwilling to bring matters to this extremity, I immediately offered him my hand, observing that I would say no more on the subject, if he would accompany me to Wangerooa. Yes, he replied, taking my hand, I will go with you; my presence will insure you every thing you require at that place; you shall see what a great man I am; the men of Wangerooa are a small people, and must do what I order. Thus a most trifling circumstance, at first not of the most auspicious kind, produced in a moment what all my persuasion, promises, and bribes, were unable to effect. Let it not be supposed that Metenangha was or could be at all accessory to the catastrophe of the Boyd, because he claimed, whether true or not, an authority over the people of Wangerooa; for at the time that unhappy occurrence took place, he was employed in procuring spars for our ship. From the confidence I reposed in Metenangha, every thing, on our reaching Wangerooa, was left to his management. He landed ashore by himself,

66

and directed the boats to a more convenient landing-place, where he quickly joined us with two of the principal chiefs and several of their friends, who had been engaged in the massacre of the Boyd. Those gentlemen, dressed in canvas, the spoil of the ship, approached us with the greatest confidence, held out their hands, and addressed me by name in the style and manner of old acquaintances. The conversation soon turned upon the capture of the ship, which, far from avoiding, they delighted to dwell upon, evidently regarding it as a most heroic exploit, in the same way as a party of British tars look back with pleasure to some successful attempt against an enemy's ship of superior force. They readily mentioned the name of the ship and captain, the number of men and guns. I then asked the reason of the attack, Because," they replied, "the captain was a bad man.' On inquiring what he had done, they answered, that some of their chiefs having secreted the carpenter's axe beneath his clothes, the theft was detected before he left the ship, in consequence of which, the captain tied him to the capstan, where he kept him for several hours, and threatened to flog him. On my remarking that the conduct of the chief merited the treatment he received, they replied, that any indignity offered to a chief was never forgiven. I then inquired if there were any survivors, to which they readily replied in the affirmative, mentioning their names with great familiarity, and even with an appearance of kindness and sympathy. They were then informed that we had come to Wangerooa for the purpose of delivering the captives. I then pointed to my men and their musquets on the one hand, and to the heaps of axes on the other, bidding them take their choice, and either deliver the captives peaceably, when they should be paid for their ransom, or I would otherwise attack them. The chief, after a moment's hesitation, replied with great quickness, that trading was better than fighting, then give us axes and you shall have your prisoners. He now pointed the way to his settlement, and desired us to go with our boats, and that he himself would go round by land; I, however, compelled him to get into the boat, and go along with

us. He was for a few moments a good deal daunted on finding himself entirely in our power, but soon recovered from his alarm, and talked on every subject with the greatest coolness and composure. A winding tide river, so narrow as hardly to leave room for a boat to turn, with low banks covered with mangroves, conducted us to their settlement. On our passage up, the natives, concealed among the mangroves, saluted us with their musquets, whether with a view to honour our arrival and celebrate their reconciliation with the white men, or to convince us that they were as well armed as ourselves, I did not learn. On reaching the settlement we found a great crowd collected, of whom several of the females were decently dressed as Europeans; we were told that the prisoners were then up the country, that they would immediately send for them, and that they would be delivered up the next morning. The chiefs then pressed us to sleep amongst them all night, promising to provide plenty of fish and potatoes for our supper. Metenangha and our young friend Towaaki seconded their request with great earnestness. Towaaki, seeing me bent against it, went so far as to ask if I felt afraid to sleep among so many natives; observing that Metenangha was our assured friend, all present were Metenangha's friends, and, therefore, they must be mine; that the captain and my people had frequently slept with every security in the midst of his friends on former occasions, and might now do so with equal safety. I could only reply to this reasoning, that, although perfectly assured of my own safety, and the firm friendship of Metenangha and his friends, still that I thought it preferable to sleep with our men on a small island near the remains of the Boyd, but recommended him and Metenanglia to sleep with his countrymen. The natives again promised to bring clown the prisoners next morning as soon as the tide flowed enough to allow their canoes to leave the river. I now observed from the tide ebbing that our boats would soon be agrour id, and was, therefore, obliged to has ten our departure, not without observing some slight attempts to detain us by compulsion, by the same chief whom I had just compelled to accompany us round in the boats;

and, although no doubt from equally harmless motives, still the attempt rendered our departure for the moment more urgent, lest it might have been necessary to repel violence by violence, which might have entirely defeated our object. I thought it quite unnecessary to keep the chiefs in my possession, being fully convinced, that, as they had acquired confidence by once putting themselves in our power without danger, they would do the same a second time without scruple. It is singular that, although they said that the prisoners were at a distance up the country, the female survivor afterwards related that she was kept seated among the natives in the bushes so near as to overhear the whole conversation between them and myself.

I had so much confidence in Metenangha and Towaaki, that I believed we might have accepted their invitation to sleep in the midst of the natives with safety, but as there was nothing to gain by such a step, I thought it unwise to incur any risk. On the other hand, we had just examined the miserable remains of the Boyd ;-we had seen the mangled fragments and fresh bones of our countrymen, with the marks even of the teeth remaining upon them; and it certainly could not be agreeable_to pass the night by the side of their devourers. The island where we took up our abode for the night was a small perpendicular rock, where we could have defended ourselves against any number of New Zealanders. Here we made a fire, cooked some victuals, and passed the night in safety. About one in the morning we received a visit from our friend Towaaki, who came to assure us that the chiefs would keep their word; adding, that he had seen the lady, to whom one of the chiefs being attached was the cause of her being detained here for a night longer. Next morning the natives, agreeable to promise, brought to our quarters a young woman and her sucking child, and a boy belonging to the vessel about fifteen years old. On inquiring at the female whether there were any other survivors, she mentioned the infant daughter of Mr Commissary Broughton, with whose family I was intimately acquainted, I thereon applied to the chief, demanding its restitution, ob

serving, that it was of more importance than all the others, who were strangers to me, but that Mr Broughton was my brother, employing the word in the emphatic sense used by the natives, who often employ it to signify that relation which subsists between friends or equals. He replied, that it was in the possession of the chief of the island, at the entrance of the harbour; that this island being under his authority, he would send one of his people to order its being given up to me. I then told him he must go himself, as perhaps the chief of the island might not obey the orders of his servants. Make yourself easy, (he replied,) you shall have the child, but I will not go with you as the sea is very rough outside. His refusal was peremptory, and there was no time to parley: I, therefore, to the no small consternation of their attendants, compelled the two principal chiefs and several of their followers to go into the boats. On reaching the island I sent ashore one of the followers, who received orders from the chief to demand the delivery of the child. A long conversation took place between him and his countrymen, and no child appearing for upwards of an hour, I began to be greatly alarmed for its safety. This delay, I afterwards had reason to believe, proceed ed from the endeavours of the natives to deliver it up in as decent a manner as possible. It was tolerably clean, with its hair dressed and ornamented with white feathers in the fashion of New Zealand. Its only clothing, however, consisted of a linen shirt, which, from the marks upon it, had belonged to the captain. The poor child was greatly emaciated, and its skin was excoriated all over. When brought to the boat it cried out in a feeble and complaining tone, "Mamma, my mamma.'

وو

Having now accomplished my object, the chiefs demanded their release. I was about to give them their liberty, but a moment's reflection convinced me that something more might be accomplished by keeping them in our possession. I had already obtained from the natives some papers belonging to the vessel, and hoped by their means to recover some others of importance. I therefore dispatched ashore the other followers of our chiefs, to inform their country

VOL. IV.

men, that their two chiefs were carried prisoners to the Bay of Islands, and that our ships would sail to Europe in three days, and that we would certainly carry them along with us to answer for their crimes, unless they sent to us all the papers in their possession belonging to the Boyd, when they should be set at liberty. The chiefs were affected with the deepest sorrow at this determination, and made use of tears, entreaties, and persuasions of every kind, to induce me to forego it. The only answer to all this was, that their safety depended on their countrymen complying with my. demand, and, therefore, their only remedy was to give their proper orders. Metenangha was highly offended at.this determination, and remonstrated against it with the greatest warmth. He observed, that he had pledged his word for the safety of the chiefs, on which they had without reserve put themselves in my power, therefore, he would not only be disgraced, but liable to the hostile attacks of their friends, if they were not allowed to return in safety. The answer was, that he, Metenangha, was not to blame, as he was unable to control any act of mine, and that I had given no promises. It is true, he observed, you have given no direct promise, but when I agreed to do my utmost to forward your wishes in the recovery of the prisoners, you promised to be guided by my directions; your object is now accomplished, and, therefore, you ought to comply with my desire and liberate the chiefs. There is no doubt but Metenangha had the best of the argument, for the retention of the chiefs was an act on my part more of policy than justice. I could only reply, that it was necessary to take them along with me, and that, as soon as my desires were complied with, they should be set at liberty. I did every thing in my power to reconcile him. We had formerly exchanged names, and I again renewed this act of friendship; but I found that nothing could induce him really to forgive what he considered an act of treachery, although he pretended outwardly to be satisfied. His conduct, indeed, during the whole time the chiefs were in custody, was so suspicious, that it was necessary to be watchful of him. Such was the anxie ty of Metenangha to forward the li

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The chiefs, on coming on board, were necessarily put in irons for security. They were received by Tupee, Tarra, and the other chiefs, with that courtesy which was due to their rank. Tarra, however, was delighted with the circumstance, as his only son, the boast of his father and the glory of his country, had formerly been treacherously murdered at Wangerooa. A long and bloody war had been the consequence, in which the strength of both nations had been wasted, without any important result or advantage being derived by either side. A peace was then the necessary consequence, but the wound was still festering in the breast of Tarra, and he secretly advised that the chiefs might be put to death. In due time Towaaki returned with the necessary ransom, consisting of a few books, a box full of letters containing the government dispatches, and directed to Cox and Greenwood, and a variety of detached letters. Among the detached letters, I was surprised to find a packet in my own handwriting, containing bills and documents to a great amount, addressed to my agent in London, and which I had left at Port Jackson to be forwarded. As my object was now obtained, the two chiefs were set at liberty. They were accompanied to the shore by all the New Zealanders on board, and immediately on landing the whole party joined in their congratulations after the fashion of their country, which consists in abundant tears and a hearty crying. I should have observed that I made a great merit to Metenangha of liberating the chiefs, declaring that I only did it out of friendship for him, and on condition of their being degraded from their rank, and received among the number of his slaves, which proposal, although I was satisfied it was never intended to be complied with, was eagerly adopted by all parties. They remained in the Bay of Islands until we quitted the harbour, and although I never saw them any more, I received a message from them, thanking me for granting them their liberty, and that in future they would

in consequence do all the good in their power to white men; at the same time observing, that what I had done was only good policy, for that if they had received any injury, it would have been retaliated by their friends upon my countrymen.

I recollect, on landing one day, I came unexpectedly upon the spot where Metenangha, a few of his friends, and the two chiefs, were seated round a fire. As soon as I was discovered, the two Wangerooans skulked into the bush. I expressed a wish to Metenangha to see them. He told me to recollect that they were now his servants, and that they had only gone to bring wood for his fire. He repeatedly called them to return with an affected air of authority, but they did not think proper to show themselves.

We had repeatedly promised our chiefs that we would leave amongst them, on our departure, the European boats we then employed to procure our cargo; they now observed, that they would only accept of our offered presents, provided each boat was accompanied with a written document to prove their property, otherwise, they observed, they might be suspected of having been actors in the tragedy of the Boyd, and that such boats had formerly belonged to her; at all events, they might be accused of having stolen them from some other vessel, and on either supposition, liable to unmerited hostility. Their wish was, of course, complied with; and the circumstance is mentioned to show their good sense and foresight. The fact will also be invaluable to the future antiquarians and historians of New Zealand, by showing the antiquity of naval registers in that country. (To be continued.)