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Introduction ix

Preface to the Original Edition xxiii

Chapter I.

Introductory — First View of New Zealand — First Sight of the Natives, and First Sensations experienced by a mere Pakeha — A Maori Chief's notions of trading in the Old Times — A dissertation on "Courage" — A few words on Dress — The Chief's Soliloquy — The Maori Cry of Welcome 1

Chapter II.

The Market Price of a Pakeha — The value of a Pakeha "as such" — Maori Hospitality in the Good Old Times — A Respectable Friend — Maori Mermaids — My Notions of the value of Gold — How I got on Shore 14

Chapter III.

A Wrestling Match — Beef against Melons — The Victor gains a loss — "Our Chief" — His Speech — His status in the Tribe — Death of "Melons" — Rumours of Peace and War — Getting the Pa in fighting order — My Friend the "Relation Eater" — Expectation and Preparation — Arrival of Doubtful Friends — Sham Fight — The "Taki" — The War Dance — Another Example of Maori Hospitality — Crocodile's Tears — Loose Notions about Heads — Tears of Blood — Brotherly Love — Capital Felony — Peace 24

Chapter IV.

A Little affair of "Flotsam and Jetsam" — Rebellion Crushed in the Bud — A Pakeha's House Sacked — Maori Law — A Maori Lawsuit — Affairs thrown into Chancery 52

Chapter V.

Every Englishman's House is his Castle — My Estate and Castle — How I purchased my Estate — Native Titles to Land, of what Nature — Value of Land in New Zealand — Land Commissioners — The Triumphs of Eloquence — Magna Charta 60

Chapter VI.

How I kept House — Maori Freebooters — An Ugly Customer — The "Suaviter in Modo" — A single Combat to amuse the Ladies — The true Maori Gentleman — Character of the Maori People 67

Chapter VII.

Excitement caused by first Contact with Europeans — The Two Great Institutions of Maori Land — The Muru — The Tapu — Instances of Legal Robbery — Descriptions and Examples of the Muru — Profit and Loss — Explanation of some of the Workings of the Law of Muru 81

Chapter VIII.

The Muru falling into Disuse — Why — Examples of the Tapu — The Personal Tapu — Evading the Tapu — The Undertaker's Tapu — How I got Tabooed — Frightful Difficulties — How I got out of them — The War Tapu — Maori War Customs 92

Chapter IX.

The Tapu Tohunga — The Maori Oracle — Responses of the Oracle — Priestcraft 116

Chapter X.

The Priest evokes a Spirit — The Consequences — A Maori Tragedy — The "Tohunga" again 122

Chapter XI.

The Local Tapu — The Taniwha — The Battle on Motiti — Death of Tiki Whenua — Reflections — Brutus, Marcus Antonius, and Tiki Whenua — Suicide 129

Chapter XII.

The Tapa — Instances of — The Storming of Mokoia — Pomare — Hongi Ika — Tareha — Honour amongst Thieves 137

Chapter XIII.

"My Rangatira" — The respective Duties of the Pakeha and his Rangatira — Public Opinion — A "Pakeha Kino" — Description of my Rangatira — His Exploits and Misadventures — His Moral Principles — Decline in the numbers of the Natives — Proofs of former Large Population — Ancient Forts — Causes of Decrease 140

Chapter XIV.

Trading in the Old Times — The Native Difficulty — Virtue its own Reward — Rule Britannia — Death of my Chief — His Dying Speech — Rescue — How the World goes Round 165

Chapter XV.

Mana — Young New Zealand — The Law of England — "Pop goes the weasel" — Right if we have Might — God save the Queen — Good Advice 174

History of the War in the North of New Zealand against the Chief Heke 181