THE FORTUNES OF THE WOODFORDS:

AN EMIGRANT STORY.

BY MRS GEORGE CUPPLES,

AUTHOR OF 'THE LITTLE CAPTAIN,' 'MISS MATTY,' ETC.

CHAPTER III.

HE Islay' now received the pilot on board, along with his four native boatmen, of the once-terrible race of savages-Maories, as they are now called. These men attracted general interest; they were decently dressed and remarkably intelligent looking, though one had variegated patterns of blue tattooing on every part of his dark skin that was visible, as if continued inside under his clothes; while another had only an imitation of a moustache drawn in the same way, and the rest had similar ornaments according to their fancy. All eyes were soon drawn, however, to the delight of their approach to land, with the novelties of the entrance to the new country, where most were to cast their future lot.

Outside the 'Heads' of Otago, as the entrance to the harbour is called, the aspect was somewhat barren and desolate, but when the ship had fairly got within the land-locked bay, the scene was changed. Few of the emigrants were not in raptures at its appearance, which had an especial charm for the many Scotch people on board-it reminded them so vividly of their own Highland lochs around the opening of the Clyde, only the mountains that rose to view on every side were even grander. The ship was too large, however, to go farther than Port Chalmers, the place of anchorage. Here they had now to wait while the Government officers came and

THE

FORTUNES OF THE WOODFORDS:
AN EMIGRANT STORY.

BY MRS GEORGE CUPPLES,
"THE LITTLE CAPTAIN,' MISS MATTY, ETC.

AUTHOR OF

CHAPTER III.

HE Islay' now received the pilot on board, along with his four native boatmen, of the once-terrible race of savages-Maories, as they are now called. These men attracted general interest; they were decently dressed and remarkably intelligent

looking, though one had variegated patterns of blue tattooing on every part of his dark skin that was visible, as if continued only an imitation of a moustache drawn in the inside under his clothes; while another had and the rest had similar ornaments according to their fancy. All eyes were soon drawn, however, to the delight of their approach to land, with the novelties of the entrance to the new country, where most were to cast their future lot.

same way,

Outside the Heads' of Otago, as the entrance to the harbour is called, the aspect was somewhat barren and desolate, but when the ship had fairly got within the land-locked bay, the scene was changed. Few of the emigrants were not in raptures at its appearance, which had an especial charm for the many Scotch people on board-it reminded them so vividly of their own Highland lochs around the opening of the Clyde, only the mountains that rose to view on every side were even grander. The ship was too large, however, to go farther than Port Chalmers, the place of anchorage. Here they had now to wait while the Government officers came and

inspected the vessel. Fortunately all sickness had disappeared so long beforehand, that they were not obliged to go into quarantine. Two small vessels had come down river from the town, to take the passengers and their luggage, in addition to which some of the ship's boats were placed at their service by the captain. One of the latter was preferred by Mr Woodford; a sailor was sent to steer the boat, and several young men from among the steerage-passengers volunteered to go at the same time so as to give them assistance. The boat was thus almost as full as it could well hold, but a further addition was yet made in the person of the boy Tim Napper, who had either been unable to get off before, or still clung on to the Woodfords, the only people who had shown him much kindness.

The distance was nine miles up to Dunedin, and the river by no means easy to navigate, partly from the sandbanks, and still more because the wind and tide are generally contrary to each other. The boat, at all events, soon proved to be the best mode of conveyance, for they soon passed both the schooners, which had successively stuck by the way; they themselves shortly after could not get on against the force of the wind, with the tide failing. Rain was also coming on, so that it was decided to fasten the boat, and shelter under the bank; when an incident took place that was almost as pleasant as it was unexpected.

"Look, papa!' cried Bernard. house up the side of that hill. smoke?'

'There must be a Don't you see the

'It's nothing but a feathery tree,' said George. Bernard's eyes are always sharper than every one else's.'

'But Bernard is right this time,' said Dick; 'for, see, there's a man coming down towards us. He can't be a savage, surely, though his dress is queer enough.'

'He's making signs to show us where to land,' said one of the men; and, guided by this friendly stranger, the boat was soon in a suitable cove, where Mrs Woodford