Vancouver, called at New Zealand to obtain the desii'ed Maori matnictors. Instead of obtaining their consent, which had never been difficult, be kidnapped two voung chiefs who visited the Ikedftlus, Grose sent them on to Norfolk Island immediately, in the Shttk Flontmscav, hoping they mipibt be of use, antl ordering that they sbonld be
- victualled and clothed/' He wrote to the Secretary of
State, *^ Captain Vancouver has sent here two natives of New Zealand for the purpose of showing us their manner of manufacturing the flax plant/' King wrote that *' they often in an affecting manner lament their separation from their friends, which they express by mournful Bongs/' They declared that they were not labourers, and were unskilled in manufacture. Tbey would give no inforncia- tion, and were resolute against the indignity of being made to work. King strove to soothe their feelings^ and enter- tained them at his own table. By degrees, having promised to return them to their homes, he overcame their disgust, and they communicated all they knew. The stone axes which tiie English had dug up at Norfolk Island they recognized as of cognate manufacture to those used in New Zealand. King kept his promise, and to enaurti its due fulfilment went with them to New Zealand in Nov. 1793, in the Bntaunia, a vessel detained for the purpose. He was absent from Norfolk Island only ten days while restoring his friends to their families amid the general joy of the tribe. He gave them seed potatoes and other vege- tables. One of them on returning adopted the name of Governor King (Kawana Kingi).^^ King wrote an interest- ing accomit of his success to Grose as well as to Mr, Dundas, hoping that it might conduce to friendly feelings amongst the Maoris. A narrative by King on the same subject is included in Collins' work (1798). However interesting to others, the transaction displeased Grose, who upltraided King, arrested his movements in agriculture soon afterwards, ant! unpardonahly interfered with the admuiistration of justice at Norfolk Island. ^ Many yeara afterwards (at the re^qiieat of King's widow), Samuel Mavsden, in one of liis missionary visits to New Zeabnd, discovered the chief and persuaded liim to embrace Christianity, in which faith he die<l at An &dv&nced ago.
