Captain Cook's visit to New Zealand.

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

Captain Cook's visit to New Zealand.

The day after the boys had been returned on shore, Captain Cook set sail from that place, to which he gave the name of Poverty Bay, and which by the natives is called Te Oneroa, because he could not get n single thing that he wanted there.

As the vessel lay becalmed several canoes came oil" to within n short distance of the ship, but would not listen ti Tupia shouting to them to come On board, although lie assured them that no harm would be done to them. Another cauoe now came from Poverty li'iy, with only four people on board, and w.iluui taki.ig any notice of the others, came directly along side of the vessel, and when ask id to come on board, immediately did so. The other canoes seeing this also came along side, and before long there were seven canoes and fifty men about the ship. Tlio white people made them all presents, but these did 11 <>t satisfy their desire of their commodities, so that they sdd their clothes, their paddle's, and whatever they had in their canoes. They perceived two green stone meris in these canoes.

After a while they enquired of them, as to what had become of the boys. The mail who first came on board answered that they woio at home 011 shore, adding, that they had been induced to come on board from tile descrip'imi they had. given them of the liberality of the white people, and of the many wonders 011 board. They also invited tliem to go back to their old anchorage, or else to a bay 011 this side of it, which they pointed mil, but Captain Cook was not agreeabli',as licwus au.sious to see o:her places, and he Imped to find a good harbour. Shortly bcfoi'3 sunset the cinoes went back to tlioro. but tlnee of ilicir people were left behind. When the white people perceived this they cilled to the canoes to return to fetch them, but liny paid 110 attention. This surprised tliem ; but they werj much more surp.is.d at the conduit of the persons w/10 were left behind ; they had no fear, but danced and finy, and when they hid partaken of some I'uud slept <j lietly. A light breeze sprung up during the night, and tliu ship got under we : g!i, sailing along the shore, and at a short diirancc from it, until midnight, when tiny brought to again. I'lii! pi ice where the canoes had come on board was now a long way off; and when llio natives perceived this at day break, tliey \v«rc much alHir'.cd, and lamented loudly, at the same time shedding tears. Tupia consoled tliem ; and n breeze springing up, 1110 ship again stood to llu southwar I. Fortiinatf ly two canoes cnmc off about this lime, and made towards the ship, but stopped at n short distance. This grieved the inaories on board the vessel, who called out to tliem to conic along side, telling I hem not to bo nfraid, as the ptoplc oil board did not eai men. This was interpreted by Tupia, and the white people b gan to believe thai these natives were really cannibals. At length one of iho canoes came alongside, and an old 111111 caine on board, whom they to ik to b." a chief, on account of the fineness of his garment and the superiority of his weapon, which was a meri made of whales bone, lie staid but n short lim", and when lie wont away lie took with liim the 11 itives who had been left 011 board. This occuired n little to the southward of Portland Island, which lies olf To Alaiiia, Great numbers of people were s en sitting 011 this island, looking at the sliip. When the vessel got into shallow water, they perhaps perceived some confusion amongst the people 011 binitl, which mistaking lor Icai, they put I oil" in five canoes lull of men, and well armed, j Tltcy pulled close up to the ship, nil / ih?n ! showed a hostile disposition, by brandishing • their weapons with threatening gestures. The white people b.'gan to lie afraid for the safely of their small boat, which was employed in taking soundings. A musket was therefore j fired over them, of which I hey took 110 notice, 1 but slill persist! d. Upon this a great gun, loaded with grape, w.is liccd wide of th.'iii, which had a bet er effect, lor oil the report tliey nil rose up arid shouted, and shortly after collected their canoes together, and a ter a short consultation went quietly away. After having minded Portland Island the wind (lied 11 way, and they consequently dropped anchor there. While laying there, two canoes came off from the shore, one nrmcd, the oilier a fulling ciuiie, with four people 011 bo, r 1 of her. Tliey cnmc quite close to the vesstl, and entered into conversation with Tupia, but he could not persuade them to coma 011 board the vessel. Some presents wcie then thrown to tliem from the ship, with which they seemed much pleased, and went quietly away. On the following morning they again set 1 sail, and in the evening saw an opening, which 1 tliey stood 111 for. Tlity were pursued by a large ctuioc, with twenty people 011 board, I which, although tliey could not catch the ; vessel, brandished their wrapous with insult- I ing gestures. 1

lii llio niorni' g tlia bonis were going 01 shore to S'aic'i (or wilier, when-many cimocs full if men were sern coming IV >m the -hop l ,

ml the bonis were consequently delni.ied. alter live ol" the canoes drew r 10 I'ave a cnn-uUati'in, and then made towards 'lie ship, having about eighty men on board ( nnd were followed by four more. When near tlit vessel tlie leading canons snn? their war songs, at tin; same time brandishing their weapons, Tupia was directed to inform them that they had weapons oil board of the vessel, which, like thunder, ci.uld destroy them all. And in order (oconvinre tlieni of their power, 0110 of thein should he fired wide of ihi-rn, but if they persisted in their hostile attempt, they would be used against them. A great eun was accordingly lired wide of then; ; upon hearing the repoit of which, and stc:ng the flash, and the shot strike the water, they became afraid, and pulled away with all their might. Tupia, however, calling sifter them, mid assuiing them, that if they came unarmed tl .-y would be kindly received, the people in oiu; of the canoes put their arms in another, ami pulled under the stern of the vessel. The white prople made them presents, and they would have come onboard, if the other canoes bad not come back, and resumed their violence and threatening gestures. The people 1 on board of the canoe which had come un- I armed, were much displeased at this, and soon after they all went away.