CHAP. X.

Arrival of more of the natives to trade with the ship-Their shrewdness in making bargains-Curious distinction of rank-The areekees, or superior chiefs-The power of the chiefs generally absolute-Their pride and vanity— Their marriage alliances confined to their own rankVisit of Duaterra with provisions-His account of a meeting between himself and a hostile chief—Barbarous cruelty of Pomaree-Malignity of the chiefs towards each other-Tarra's slander of Tippahee, and its dreadful effects-Arrival of new visitors, and a description of their canoe Traffic recommenced-An excursion on shore by the Author and his friend-Maternal affection-Prudence of the New Zealanders in laying up provisions-Reflections on it-Artifice of Pomaree-His proficiency in a barbarous art-Mr. Marsden's caution against exhibiting it on board.

As soon as the morning of the 4th appeared, we had several more spars along-side, together with an increase of new visitors, who were generally very noisy merchants, and as keen in enhancing their commodities as the most crafty Jews on the Royal Exchange. I have been much surprised to see with what address and calculating circumspection, they concluded their bargains; and it appeared to me extraordinary, how persons in their state could have acquired such

a proficiency in all the subtleties of traffic. But however well experienced they were in consulting their own interest, and estimating the value of what they were to give and receive, we had no reason to complain of our bargains; an axe, worth only ten shillings, purchasing three spars, that would sell at Port Jackson for eight pounds. But if articles are to be estimated in proportion to their scarcity as well as their obvious utility, eight pounds worth of timber was of infinitely less value to them than an axe; so they were gainers by the exchange, while to us it was highly advantageous.

Tarra and Pomaree breakfasted with us in the cabin. The former observed a peculiarity in his manner of eating, which in this respect distinguished him from the other; his rice he took out of the plate with a spoon, and putting it out of the spoon into his hand, conveyed it to his mouth: and in drinking his tea, he put his hand before his lips, pouring the tea into the palm of it, and scrupulously abstaining from touching with his lips the vessels out of which he ate and drank. I attempted to make him give up this absurd practice, and told him how much more suitable it would be, if he would

eat as we did; but he shook his head, and with an air of offended consequence, replied, that he was an areekee, and taboo taboo, but that Tupee and Pomaree, being only cookees, they might eat after our manner. This contemptuous designation was an insult to the consequence of Pomaree, who was handling his knife and fork with all the dexterity of an European; and willing to try his temper on the occasion, I laughed, and told him he was a cookee, at which his pride taking instant alarm, he ceased copying us, and began to imitate Tarra; but he was not invulnerable to the shafts of ridicule, and our jokes very soon made him desist from such foolery, and go on as before.

From the particular deference that was paid to Tarra, it would appear that he was exalted considerably above the other chiefs in this part of the Bay; but I could not exactly ascertain how far they acknowledged his authority. It appears to me, however, so far as my observations on the state of society among them, enable me to form an opinion upon the subject, that these people exist at present under a sort of feudal system, in some degree analogous to that which prevailed to a recent period in Scotland. The

areekees may command the services of the inferior chiefs in time of war; but whether the latter hold their lands on this condition, I have not been able to ascertain. The part of New Zealand of which I treat at present, that is, from the Cavalles to the river Thames, is under the controul of three areekees, or head chiefs; namely, Kangeroa, on the north-west side of the Bay of Islands; Tarra, on the south-east side, extending as far as Bream Bay; and all the rest of the country, lying between that place and the river Thames, is subject to an areekee named Shoupah, whose jurisdiction is very considerable. But I am inclined to think, that in many instances, the power of these areekees over the petty chieftains, is little more than nominal; for though it is formally acknowledged, still the different tribes make war upon each other without consulting their respective areekees, and act in several other respects entirely independent of their authority. From this it appears probable, that the chiefs do not hold their lands as fiefs from the areekees, but that they merely agree in a voluntary recognition of their power, without being restricted by it any more than suits their caprice or expediency.

The

authority of many of the chiefs themselves is very extensive, having a numerous train of dependants, who pay the most devoted regard to their interests, and are ready with their lives upon any urgent occasion, to prove their fidelity.

We were informed that it was not a practice with the areekees to engage personally in war themselves, but that each had his general, or fighting-man, as Duaterra expressed it, who was most commonly one of his nearest relations. This commander-inchief, according to the accounts we received, is a very important personage; he directs all warlike measures with unlimited controul, makes the necessary preparations for mustering the forces, and takes care to have them in a state of efficiency and readiness for any emergency. In battle he is always to be found at their head, where he directs their operations according to whatever system of discipline he chooses to adopt; and true to his post, he never once thinks of quitting it, but continues to display the most firm intrepidity, till either a total defeat or a complete victory decides the conflict. The areekees being thus by the prescriptive usage of the country, freed from any personal con

VOL. I.