Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/120

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116
Minutes of Evidence Before Select Committee on
Nayti.

If a New Zealand Man gets over the Fence, what happens to him?

He knows the Mark which is taboo'd; they say, “You see the Place which is taboo'd; why do you go to a place which is taboo'd?”

What do the New Zealand People do to him?

They take all his Things away. If a New Zealander gets into a taboo'd Ground, the Man whom that taboo'd Ground belongs to goes and takes his Pig, and every thing belonging to him.

Do they ever kill him?

No.

If one New Zealander steals from another New Zealander, how do they punish him?

He would say, “You Thief, you Rogue, why do you steal?” but they do nothing; there is no Police.

Suppose you found him?

Suppose I found him, I say, “You thieve my Things;” he says, “No.” I say, “Oh, I saw you.” He brings them back again then when he finds I know it.

Do you beat him?

No.

Do you speak to the Thief?

No. He takes them back again; he is ashamed.

Are there as many Wars as there were many Years ago?

No. They do not fight so much as they did; they used to fight every Moon.

Why do not they fight so much now?

It is in consequence of the English People persuading them not to fight.

Do the New Zealand People drink much Grog?

Some do, and some not; those accustomed to drink Spirits will drink some, but those that are not used to them will spit them out again.

Do you remember an English Ship of War called the Alligator having a Fight with a Tribe?

Yes.

What did they fight for?

There was a Ship whaling in Cloudy Bay; in the Dark it went ashore, and was wrecked; the Natives came and burnt the Ship, and took away the Captain's Wife and his Child. The Captain went back to Sydney, and brought the Alligator, and the People of the Alligator killed several New Zealand People, and got back the Wife and Child.

The Chief took great Care of the Wife, did he not?

The Gentlemen took care of them.

They do not burn Ships now?

No. At that Time they did not know what it was; when this happened a Ship had never been there before; Ships did not go there, for Want of Water.

Are there any White Missionary Men in Cloudy Bay?

No.

Do you think that the White Men behaved ill in that Affair, or the New Zealanders?

I think the New Zealand Men did bad, because the New Zealand Men came and set fire to the Ship.

Were there not English Soldiers came ashore in the Country at that Time from the Alligator?

Yes.

Was the Captain of the Soldiers who commanded those Troops a good Man or bad Man?

I think he was a very good Man.

How many Wives and Children have most of the New Zealand Chiefs?

Some have Two, Three, and Four Wives. I do not know,— I cannot tell how many Children they have.

Have any of them as many as Ten Children?

Yes, some of them.

How many Children will a New Zealand Woman have before she kills any?

Some Seven, and some Eight; then they begin.


The Witness is directed to withdraw.