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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 1, 4 January 1849, Page 3

Friends, Maories, perhaps you occasionally reflect on the many things the white people introduced amongst you, and upon their many works by which mankind is elevated. The white people discovered you sitting in darkness, —you ate men, —you were continually fighting, and did everything else that an evil disposition prompted. He sent some of his people amongst you, and you were taught the ways of eternal life ; and the good intentions of God were explained to you ; and you then discerned that your old customs were very bad ones. With regard also to the things that sustain this life, you were found living on the plants of the earth, —for instance : fern root, lawa herries, the root of the convolvoltts, hinau berries, the tree fern, grubs, the root of the raupo, and the various other kinds of weeds that the earth produced ; —you were like animals ; you liad no clothes, but went about naked •• such clothes as you had, were the the coarsest kinds of mats. When children were born, they were covered with a garment made of the leaves of the patale tree ; but, 011 the arrival of the while man you became acquainted with good food. He gave you potatoes, indian corn, pumpkins, wheat, pigs, and all the other kinds of food that you now use. Ai:d with regard to clothes —he gave you blankets, calico, flannel, and the many other things with which you now cover your bodies. The arrival of Tasman and Captain Cook, of the persons who first discovered these islands and made the white people acquainted with yourexistence, is written below, in order that you may know what they say concerning the state they found you in at that time:—

Tasman i« Ihe name of the first person who discovered theso islands. He had two vcsji )*. On the 13th day of December, 1642, he saw mountainous land a-fiead of his ships. On .this lie directed his course to the northward,

andnnclioreil in Massacre ll.iy. ■ Tlio people of that place came off in their canoes, which were double 'At first they wore careful ; and although beckoned and c.illed to come on board the ships, they would not do so. Afterwards, when they ware more numerous, they attacked a boat of one of the vessels which was pulling to the other, and killed three nf the white people. Tasniati did not endeivour to reveng« the death of hU people, but, when a lair wind sprung up, he set sail Irom that place. Twenty-two canoes pursued him, and he then fired at them with the great guns, and killed ao.ne of the people on board. On this they dupet-sed, and returned on shore. He give the nnme of Murdererj' Day to this place. Sailing from there lie anchored in Blind Biy, and front thence he directed his course to the northward, and saw Manawatawi, which he called the Three Kings. These islands were inhabited, but he did not go 011 shove, on account of the sea that was running. I'Voai hence he sai'el away. No person c.ime to these islands after hicn, until the arrival of Captain Cook. On the 15th day of Angust, 1769, he s.iilcd from Tahiti, and on the Otli day of Octob.-r he stw this islan I, and on the following day anchored in Poverty Bay. Hi', Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, and some of his piople went on alio re. Their boat

landed on one side of a fresh water river. Seeing some natives on llie oilier side of the river, tliey went across in one of the boats ; the other was left at the moulh of the river. When they got uear these natives they all ran away. The white people disembarked, and went to some houses that were standing on one side. Four la l's were left in the boat to take care of it. They had gone a short, distance from the boat, when four men came' out of the forest armed with spears, and ran forward to attack the boat in which tlio lads were. Tlmt boat would have been taken■ if they had not been called to by the boat outside, to let th<!ir boat drop down with the stream. These men pursued it, when a gun was fired o. ir tliem from the boat outside, in order to intimidate them. At this they stopped and locked about, but before long renewed the pursuit, b'andishiug their weapons. A no her gun was firrdover ihein, of which they took no notice; but one lifted up his arm to throw his spear at the boa'; at this a shot was fired at him, and killed him When he fell his companions stuod motion-, legs, but shortly went away, dragging the daad body. JJut they had not drained it fir when rhey abandoned it, in order that they rcight fly the quicker. At the first shot Cap'a ; n Cook, ail I the people with him, came bavk from where tliey were walking. They saw the dead body lying on the ground ; I hey examined it, and saw that he was struck in the heart. One side of his face was tattooed ; the hair was done up in a topknot, but the'e were no feathers stuck in it. They for the first time saw the sort of mat which that mm had on, a'though the manner of wearing it was exactly as described by Tjsmmi. Tliey returned to the vessel; when they got there tliey heard t'le people on shore making spcrcht-s. ami talking. On the following morning tliey saw the uathci sitting in the same place where they were the night before. Captain Cook being anxious to become acquainted with them, pulled on shore in three boats, with Air. Banks, Dr. Solander, ionic other gentlemen, and Tupia, who was a native of Tahiti: The natives, about lifty in number, wtra sitting on the other side of the river. Captain Cook, Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, and Tup;<t, were the first to go on shore, and advanced in tire direction of the natives. They had not mono far when the Maoris jumped up with their arms, which consisted of tpears and grejn stone nieris. Tupia called out to tliem in t'le language of Tahiti, but tliey only flourish.-J ; th ir weapon', and beckoned the while people to return. A nuiskttuas fired wide of iliiin, and when they saw the ball strike the water they ceased their threats towards the white people. The white pe>ple waited till the marines arrived} when tliey arrived tliey wero drawn up on top of a small hillock by 1 the side of the river, and then Captain C'ook, 1 Mr. Hanks, Dr. Solander, Tupia, and two < officers, advanced towards the natives. Tupia 1 was directed to s;ieak io them, and they understood his Innguagc. Us said t'» them, ' «• We want provisions and fresh water for the vessels, and we will pay for it in iron;" and ] he explained to them the uses of that article. ! They were willing t.i trade, and call.'cl out to the wliite people to go over to them. Upon which they told them to put away their arms, but they would not consent to this. _ ! Tupia told the white people to be on their guard against the natives, Tliey then called 1 to them to come over. One pul ed off his clothes, and swam across to them, 1.-aving his arms behind. Shortly afterwards two more : swam over ; and soon after moat of the re t, | in number about twenty or thirty, hut these i brought their arms with them. The white 1 people gave them all iron and b?ads, but they i did not seem to considei thoin valuable, as the ' only thing given in return was some rcathers, l but they wanted to exchange their arms for i

the white peoples. When this was not consented to, they trietl to take litem from llie hands of the white prople. Tupi.i to!<l llieni to give over (heir violence, lest they should be killed. When one of the officers turned his head anolher way, his sword \*as snatched from liim. The person who took it went nway a short distance, and waved it over his head, at the same time i-alling out wiili joy. His companions aguin became insolent ; and seeing some others coming over from the other side, the white people in consequence thought that it wns necessary to repress their insolence, and accordingly Mr. Banks fired at the person, who had taken the sworil, with shot. "When lie was struck lie ceased calling out; however, he did not return the sword, hut continued waving it, at the same time gradually going away. SVhen one of the officers saw tlii*, he fired at him, and he immediately fell. Two persons who stooil near the person who was killed ran up to him; one took his green stono meri, and the other tried to take the sword, but this was brought away by ono of the officers. Upon this the body of the people, who had retired to a rock in the middle of the river, got up to swim ncross. Three guns were fired at them with shot, upon which they retreated to the shore. When they got there it was seen that some of them liad been struck.] They then went quietly inland, and the white people returned to their boats; | The white people seeing that their wish to become acquainted with these people could not he accomplished, pulled to oilier parts of the bay to look for fresh water, and Captain Cook designed to surprise some natives to take them on board the ship, and there treat them well, and make them presents of things, and when their suspicions were removed, to get them to take them on shore, and introduce them to their people. They could find no place to land, on account of the surf, but they saw two canoes coming from seaward —one was sailing, and the other paddling. The three boats were placed so as to intercept them from the shore. The canoe which was paddling perceiving them quickly, paddled 03 h:ird as they could, and reached some land that was near them ; but the one that was sailing came right into the midst of tlio white people. It then lowered its sail, and taking to their paddles, shot ahead of the boats. Tupia called out to them to come to them, and that no harm would be done to them ; but they paid no attention to what lie said, but continued paddling. Captain Cook then directed a musket to be fired over them. On the report they ceased paddling, and, seven in number, they stripped off their clothes. The white people thought they were taking them off to jump into the water; but otherwise, for wheu the boat came up to (hem they attacked the people on board her with their paddles, and threw stones and other things that were on hoard their ennoe; their attack was so vigorous, that they were fired on, and four of them killed. The three lads that escaped jumped

inlo ilie water, and were token out of it into t'le boats. When they were taken on boavil the bonis tlicy thought they were going to be killed ; liut the white people consoled them, ami gave them clothes, and in consequence, before they reached ,the vessel they recovered their spirits, and had laid aside their suspicions and fears. They were treated well on board the vessel, and gavo their names as Tahourang', Ikernngi, and Marukowete. On the following day they were dressed up in European clothes, nnd wore told that they were going to be put on shore. At this they were glad ; but seeing the boat go in the direction where ii landed before, they became sorrowful, nnd hegged that they might not be put on shore then", as those people were their enemies, and ■would kill and cat them. The white peoplo told them, that if they did not wish to be left there, in the evening they should bo pulled to their own place, which they pointed out. "When they reached the shore tlicy did not •wish to go away j but tlicy shortly changed their minds, and went away. Ca| tain Cook and some others went to skoot ducks, but they had not gone far from the boat, when tlu-y were called bark, as the natives were coming. On their way back the ibree lads ran out Irom some bushes, ih.it they might linve the protection of the white people. 'lheynll went to the sea side, and drew up there. Two hundred natives came to the other side of (ho riv*'r. The whites seeing that they did not seem peaceably inclined, determined to return to the ship, lest another quarrel should atise, and more na'ives lose their lives. They were going towards the boat, when one of the lads called out that his uncle was amongst the natives, and detained the while people to talk. Tupin spoke to lhem, and the boys showed the things which had been given to them j but none of them could swim across, nor would the b?ys swim across to them. The body of the man that had been shot was still lyi"" on the beach j the boys seeing it. went up To it, nnd covered it with some of the clothes which had been given to them. Slioitly afterwards a single nun, the uncle of iUiiraUowi-10, swam across, with a branch of a tr.'i! in his hand, which ho gave lo Tnpia.

II« was given a great many things by the while people, ami asked to go on board the shiti, but refused ; the white people, therefore, departed to their boats. On their departure, they thought the lads would have gone with tlie man, but, on the contrary, they followed them, and returned to the vessel. After dinner the lads were asked, whether ihey were still unwilling to go 011 shore, at the place where they landed in the morning. Tlicy immediately consented; and when the boat reached the land, they went on shore, hut the boat had not come far on its way back when they waded into the water, and begged to bo again taken 011 board the ship, but Captain Cook having given the people of the boat orders to leave them 011 shore, the boat did not go back to fetch them* After* wards they were fetched and taken across to where the natives were sitting, and s.\t down amongst them. They afterwards came to the heat hj, itiid beckoned to the ships with their hands, and then departed in the direction which 1 hey had pointed out as their home, dressed in the clothes which had been given by the white people.