Are the Natives disposed to ardent Spirits?
- Not much; some of them are, and that generally kills them, for they are not strong Men in Constitution; they suffer very much from scrofulous Diseases.
What should you think would be the Feeling of the Chiefs if, on any Plan of Occupation and Colonization, they were to be invited to give up all their territorial and sovereign Rights?
- I think they would be very glad of it.
And to live under a System that was established by a Foreign Government?
- Not all Foreign Governments, but the British Government; that they would be very happy to give up what little Authority they possess, for they possess very little; they would be very glad to give it up to the British Government. They would not know what they were doing, but they would take for granted that they were safe in trusting to honourable People. They know the higher Classes of English People, and they take the Character of the English from them more than they would from the Convicts who go there.
When they do sell a Portion of Land they part with the sovereign Title over it; do they understand that?
- Yes; but I do not think, according to their own native Laws, they have a Right to do that; for instance, suppose a Man sold his Land, and after his Death his Son was strong enough, he would go and take that Land again; that is their Law. A very little Title would do for them, if they are strong enough.
Are they ever in the habit of parting with their Land to one another?
- I do not know that they allow one another to sit down upon a Piece of Land, but I do not think they can part with it. Shungi's Wars were occasioned by that Principle. He went to Hokianga, to get Possession of Land which belonged to him by Inheritance, possessed by another Tribe, and he told a great many Persons he had a Title to Wangaroa, and when he was strong enough he went and took Possession of it.
If any other Chief had sold that Land to a European, Shungi would have considered himself entitled to the Property which belonged to him?
- Yes.
Therefore without his Consent it would not have been a good Transaction?
- Just so. I know that they have great Difficulties in getting all the Persons who have a Claim to act together.
They are very tenacious of their territorial Rights?
- I should think they are.
They would go to war to maintain them?
- Yes; but if you wish to settle among them they would give you a Piece of Land, and would be happy that you should remain there, and would respect your Property, and not go across it.
That would not be like parting with the Sovereignty?
- No. Some of the Europeans there pretend to say they have got Sections on Sections; Miles square; all the Cowrie Forests, in fact.
The Cowrie is the Pine?
- Yes; a very superior Sort of Wood; it grows to a great Length.
In the Case of the Land you spoke of, which had been in Possession of a European, did he cultivate it after it was sold?
- It was in a Township; it was a Town Allotment.
You are not aware of any Collision between the Missionaries and the European Population; the runaway Convicts?
- No, I am not; they generally keep in the Background.
Supposing there was such a Quarrel, do you think the Natives would be more likely to side with the Missionaries, or with them?
- Certainly. They are not wanting in Sensibility; they are sensible Fellows. They do not respect those People at all; they call them by Terms of Reproach, meaning a foreign Native.
