wakeful interest which a few months ago rested on the assemblies has, to a great degree, passed away."*

The preacher, whose candour and good sense appear to great advantage, states some reasons for ministerial vigilance during such seasons of awakening. 1. The natives are very excitable on any subject; and in the present state of society, especially so on the subject of religion. 2. In a number of instances the fairest appearances are found connected with the indulgence of secret iniquity. This is not uncommon among the natives. 3. The history of excitements in these islands is calculated to produce caution. If they are real converts, they will not be likely to fall away by being looked at a few months, especially if they enjoy constant instruction.

To the actual condition of things we shall afterward refer in general terms, regretting that our limits are inconsistent with minute details, for which we direct the attention of the reader to the original authorities. Meantime we may remark, that the Sandwich Islands are not the only scene of those occasional excitements called "revivals," which, while they shake the faith of the unlearned, threaten to undermine the principles of morals, order, decency, and decorum. Even in those countries where the fundamental tenets of Christian belief have been long established, and the usages of Divine worship have ingrafted themselves on the habits of the people at large, it is not uncommon to witness a considerable ebb and flow in the popular mind in regard as well to doctrine as to ceremonies. Such persons as have carefully marked the events of the last twenty years in Great Britain and America, will have no difficulty in recollecting movements in the religious world not less remarkable than those of Owhyhee and Woahoo. In all ages, the theological thermometer has indicated such variations in the temperature of the great mass of society; but it is pleasant to add that the result, in most cases, has had a beneficial tendency. The "lump" cannot be fully leavened without a considerable degree of fermentation; a process, however, which, if not watched with a vigilant eye, is very apt to exceed the proper limits, and to terminate in a repulsive acidity. Still, there is no reason to dread the issue of that working of hope and fear which has recently manifested itself in the hearts of the rude islanders, provided the teachers pursue a steady course, and direct the attention of their converts to that faith which is necessarily followed by virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

* Missionary Register, vol. xxi., p. 75.

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CHAPTER X.

New Zealand.

New Zealand discovered by Tasman.-Description of its Inhabitants.→→ Cook examines the Coast.-Makes a Passage through the Straits which bear his Name. - Ungenerous Conduct of Surville. - Expedition and Death of M. Marion.-Loss sustained by Captain Furneaux.-Intercourse between New Zealand and Australia. - Tippahee. - Moyhanger visits England -Murder of the Crew of the Boyd.-Missionaries land at Rangihoua-Two Chiefs appear in London Are introduced to the Prince Regent. Missionaries increase their Stations.-Favour manifested by the Chiefs.-Measures proposed for forming a regular Church in New Zealand.-Number of Stations.-Desire of Improvement among Natives. -Original State of European Population.-Associations formed for Colonization-New Zealand Company's Establishment at Port Nicholson.— Great Immigration.-Obstacles opposed by Government.-Sovereignty of the Queen proclaimed.-Charter granted to the Company-New Set tlement called Nelson.-Town of Auckland.-Reflections on the actual State of the Colony and its Prospects.

THE group which passes under the name of New Zealand was discovered by Abel Jansen Tasman, in September, 1642. At that period, Anthony Van Diemen was governor of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, who, being desirous to add to the knowledge of maritime geography, more especially towards the unexplored regions of the South Pole, despatched this celebrated captain in charge of two small vessels, with instructions to ascertain the boundaries of the continent which was supposed to occupy all the antaretic parallels of the Pacific Ocean. The first reward of Tasman's exertions was the discovery of an island, which he named, in honour of his patron, Van Diemen's Land.

After examining the coasts with some attention, he proceeded towards the east, and when in latitude 38° 10′ S., and longitude 167°21′ E., he again saw land about a degree to the south-southeast. It was not, however, till he had attained the northern extremity of it that any inhabitants appeared, who, sounding a trumpet, probably composed of a shell, attracted his attention to an address, which, being uttered in a strange dialect, he could not understand. He describes them as being of common stature and strong boned, their colour between brown and yellow, and their hair black, which they wore tied up on the crown of the head, like the Japanese, each having a large white feather stuck upright in it. Their vessels were double canoes fastened together by cross planks, on which

they sat. It is remarked that their language bore no resem blance to that used in the Solomon Islands, with a vocabulary of which Tasman had been furnished at Batavia. Notwithstanding his earnest desire to secure their good opinion, he could not prevent an attack upon a boat's crew, which occasioned to him the loss of several lives.

Having no hope of being able to establish a friendly intercourse, he left the "Bay of Murderers," and proceeded towards the north; and finding the coast still stretching to a great extent in an eastern direction, he imagined that he had at length discovered the great southern continent-the Terra Incognita Australis-which he at first called Staten Land, and afterward New Zealand. Of this important country no farther account was taken till the year 1769, when, in the month of October, it was seen by Captain Cook, while engaged in his first circumnavigation of the globe. There is reason to believe, however, from certain communications made by the natives to this distinguished seaman, that some European ship had touched on the coast a short time before his arrival; and as this visit was never reported in England, there is but too much reason to apprehend that the crew were massacred by the barbarous inhabitants.*

As Cook approached New Zealand from the east, he landed on the side opposite to that which had been surveyed by Tasman. At first he had to encounter the usual difficulties; nor was it until the fierce people had failed in an attack upon him and his two friends, Solander and Banks, and had experienced the fatal effects of fire-arms, that he succeeded in establishing a temporary intercourse with them. While emploved in search of fresh water, in the interior of the bay, he met one of their fishing canoes returning from the sea, having on board four men and three boys. As soon as they perceived the English boats, they plied their paddles with so much activity, that they would have effected their escape, had not the captain ordered a musket to be fired over their heads, in the hope that this display of power would induce them to surrender. But in this expectation he was, unfortunately, disappointed; for although, on the discharge of the piece, they laid aside their paddles and began to strip, it was only that they might be prepared to meet their assailants and give them battle. Accordingly, as soon as they reached their enemies,

In Cruise's Journal, p. 86, it is mentioned that he was told by one of the natives, an old man, of a ship that had been lost on the west coast, at a comparatively recent period. A bout's crew having gone on shore to trade for provisions, were, he said, cut off by the savages. See also Th New Zealanders (12mo, Lond., 1830), p. 27.

they commenced the attack with their simple weapons; and so obstinate was the resistance made by them, that the encounter did not terminate until the four men were killed. On witnessing this catastrophe, the boys leaped into the water, whence, after considerable opposition, they were taken up and placed in the boat. At first they seemed to have no expectation but of instant death at the hands of their captors. Upon being kindly treated, however, and furnished with clothes, they soon laid aside their apprehensions, and even seemed to forget the fate of their countrymen who perished in the conflict. When dinner was set before them on board the Endeavour, they ate voraciously; and being encouraged by Tupia, a native of Otaheite, they even consented to entertain their captors with a song. Indeed, they would willingly have continued with their new friends, being afraid that, if put ashore by the English, their enemies "would kill and eat them." But the commander, resolved to afford no ground for suspicion that he meant to kidnap the inhabitants, gave strict orders that the youths should be landed on the nearest point of the coast. He afterward learned that no injury befell them, though committed to the keeping of a hostile tribe.

No one could regret more than Cook the melancholy result of the fortuitous meeting with the canoe, as just described. "I am conscious," says he, "that the feeling of every reader of humanity will censure me for having fired upon these unhappy people; and it is impossible that, upon a calm review, I should approve it myself. They certainly did not deserve death for not choosing to confide in my promises, or not consenting to come on board my boat, even if they had apprehended no danger; but the nature of my service required me to obtain a knowledge of their country, which I could not otherwise effect than by forcing my way into it in a hostile manner, or gaining admission through the confidence and good-will of the people. I had already tried the power of presents without effect; and I was now prompted, by my desire to avoid farther hostilities, to get some of them on board, as the only method of convincing them that we intended them no harm, and had it in our power to contribute to their gratification and convenience. Thus far my intentions certainly were not criminal; and though in the contest, which I had not the least reason to expect, our victory might have been complete without so great an expense of life, yet in such situations, when the command to fire has been given, no man can restrain its excess or prescribe its effect."*

* Hawkesworth's Account of the Voyages of Byron, Wallis, Carteret,

-Cook did not discontinue his researches until he had ascertained that the country is divided into two principal isl ands by the strait which still bears his name. The northern one is called by the natives Eaheinamauwee, the southern, Tavai Poenamoo; contiguous to which last there is a small er body of land which has not yet risen into any conse quence. The whole are situated between latitude 34 and 47° S., and longitude 166° and 180° E. The appearance of the coast is bold and rocky; in some parts the general aspect of the land is rather rugged, and several of the mountains in Poenamoo are covered with perennial snow. In the other island, where the Europeans have established their principal settlements, the soil is in many parts extremely fertile, and capable of a very high degree of cultivation; suited, it is supposed, not only to the growth of wheat and other grain, but also to the more delicate fruits and varied productions of the most genial portions of the temperate zones. The potato has been cultivated with great facility and advantage. Though but lately introduced by foreigners, it furnishes a valuable addition to the means of subsistence enjoyed by the natives, and also an article of sea-store to the numerous ships by which New Zealand is annually visited. Cattle, sheep, and poultry are also reared in abundance, proving at once a source of wealth to the poorer settlers, and an agreeable variety to the tables of the more wealthy. Moreover, the coasts are well stocked with several species of fish, which European skill has taught the inhabitants both to catch more plentifully and to cure with greater success. The climate is described as being both pleasant and salubrious. In Eaheinamauwee, the thermometer ranges from 40° to 80°, being a pleasant medium between the heat of the tropical regions and the sudden colds which affect the more variable sky of the temperate latitudes.*

While Cook was on the coast of New Zealand, a French ship, commanded by M. de Surville, was struggling with the high seas and boisterous weather, which the English navigaand Cook, vol. ii., p. 290. A motive of humanity induced Captain Cook to leave that part of the coast. "As soon as we were drawn up on the other side, the Indians came down, not in a body, as we expected, but by two or three at a time, all armed, and in a short time their number increased to about two hundred. As we now despaired of making peace with them, seeing that the dread of our small arms did not keep them at a distance, and that the ship was too far off to reach the place with a shot, we resolv ed to re-embark, lest our stay should embroil us in another quarrel, and cost more of the Indians their lives."-P. 293.

In an "Account of the Settlements of the New-Zealand Company," by the Hon. H. W. Petre (Lond.. 1841), the islands are named, beginning at the north, New Ulster, New Munster, and New Leinster.