MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY.—Gardening, etc., etc.

THURSDAY, JULY 12th.—This morning we heard of Mr. Kendall's arrival at Ranghu Hoo in the ship “Westmorland;” also of Shunghee, Wyekatoo, all in good health. Mr. F. Hall, myself and Samuel Butler, and Mr. Kemp, set off immediately to see Mr. K., and to welcome his return. It must fill his heart with joy and gratitude to that gracious God who has watched over and protected his family during his absence, and Who has permitted them all to meet together again in health and comfort, and also to see his brethren enjoying the same inestimable blessing in a barbarous and savage land. We spent the evening together in conversation, prayer and praise. The next day we were all busily employed among the stores. Early in the morning my son and Mr. Kendall set off for Kiddee Kiddee to bring down the punt to take our stores to Kiddee Kiddee; we were all at work till twelve at night in loading our stores, etc. etc. We sent away the punt with a crew of natives and two Europeans, to take care of the property. We then retired to rest for a few hours, and after being refreshed, we arose and made all speed for Kiddee Kiddee, and arrived about two p.m., and got them all safely housed in the afternoon.

SUNDAY, JULY 15th, 1821.—Divine Service, morning and evening.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY.—Busy unpacking stores, etc., etc.

This morning, between eight and nine,—(the convict sent down by Mr. Marsden, who has been at my place since his arrival, because no one else would take charge of him), fell into a most violent rage, cursing and swearing, and would have if he had not been prevented, cruelly beaten a native lad, a servant of mine. Mrs. Butler sprang between them in order to save the lad from such wanton cruelty, and believe she would have been knocked down had it not been for James Boyle, the saltman, who had just arrived with some salt for the settlement. He had been out drinking rum with some sailors belonging to the “Sarah,” who were at the settlement at this time.

At this time I was reaching down some hymn books and the Bible for evening worship; the circumstance struck me with horror; I went to speak to him, and he caught hold of my jacket, and I thought he would have struck me. I there- foretherefore made off to ask Mr. Kemp and Mr. F. Hall to come in, and if possible to quiet him. When I got into Mr. Kemp's house, I was so much overcome that I sat down and cried. Mr. Hall and Mr. Kemp went in, and, with the assistance of my son, restored peace, and the wretch decamped to my barn to sleep. We retired to rest, but I scarce had any sleep. In the morning, as soon as daylight appeared, Mrs. B. arose, and——came into the yard, vociferating and swearing as in over night. I ordered him to quit my place instantly; this command he reluctantly complied with, after giving me a little more of his foul mouth. The whole of this uproar arose from my lad telling him he was houranghee (drunk), which, alas! was too true! ! The day before he had two gallons of rum served him from the store, out of some spirits sent down by Mr. Marsden to be divided among the settlers.

To be coupled with such men on missionary labours, how shocking! ! ! Thieves, drunkards, swearers, blasphemers, fornicators, etc., are, and have been employed in the Society's service ever since there has been a settlement in New Zealand! ! If such characters are to be allowed to remain or are at all employed in this Mission, I hope to have an order to return with my family to England by the first ship.

WEDNESDAY.—Gardening in the morning; in the afternoon, writing.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.—Gardening. In the afternoon of Friday I sowed two acres of land with the grass seed sent out by the Society with Mr. Kendall. They had all been opened at Port Jackson and part of each taken out; this I do not like.

SATURDAY MORNING.—Making a raspberry bed. Afternoon, study.

SUNDAY, the 22nd.—A very stormy day. Divine Service, morning and evening.

MONDAY, 23rd.—I planted some trees, various; sowed some ash seeds, acorns, hawthorn berries, hazelnuts, walnuts, trefoil, taru, beans, various cherry stones, plum stones, etc., etc.

In the evening Mr. Kendall visited us, and supped and slept at our place.

TUESDAY MORNING.—After breakfast and prayers, took a walk round the farm; returned and had some conver- sationconversation with the brethren about forwarding the objects of the Mission, and by what means, etc., etc. After dinner Mr. Kendall and Mr. Wm. Hall returned to Rangehoo.

WEDNESDAY, the 25th.—Garden in the morning; afternoon, writing.

THURSDAY.—Gardening in the morning; afternoon, writing.

FRIDAY.—Planting potatoes in the morning; afternoon, writing. This afternoon my native foreman, named Twywangeh, was most grossly insulted, and wantonly speared through the elbow, and also thro' the thigh. He was at work in my garden, and I had just left him to get my dinner. It took place within the enclosure where my house is now building. I had not left the place many minutes, and was then getting my dinner. As soon as the news was brought to me, I repaired to the spot; when I arrived the fray was just over, and I saw my man ready to faint for loss of blood. The man who had committed this rash act marched off, but he had not gone far ere he met a lad belonging to me with a basket of potatoes on his back; he seized the potatoes instantly, and walked off. On seeing this, my son and two natives ran after him and took it from him. Mr. F. Hall, myself, Samuel Butler, and some of my other natives then ascended the hill behind the settlement, and found two other baskets which he and his friends had taken from my people as they were bringing them home. We succeeded in getting away one basket, but not without some resistance; we were then obliged to go on the road to prevent others from sharing the same fate. I do not like contending with them, even to save my own property, but we are obliged to be very firm, for if these natives find that you are in any measure afraid of them, or will suffer your property to be taken away with impunity, they will take everything from you, and will actually tread you under foot. It requires great wisdom to know how to act or deal with them. I endeavour to join fortiter in modo with suaviter in re. Little men and cowards they greatly dislike, and such a one, while they continue in their present state, can possess but very little influence, and his usefulness also must necessarily be much hindered thereby; very little men and cripples also are held in the greatest contempt by these natives. After we had secured as many of the potatoes as possible, we went to the river side at a short distance and found some natives washing the blood from the wounded man.

At this moment I turned my head and saw two native women endeavouring to get away part of the potatoes out of the passage from Mrs. Butler, who was standing sentinel over them. Mrs. Butler did what she could to save them. I saw one of them strike Mrs. Butler twice; I ran as fast as possible to her assistance, and pushed them away, and enquired why they did thus. One woman replied, “Sir, I did not touch the potatoes, nor Mrs. Butler, and I begged this woman to let them alone. I am one who is employed by the native you sent to purchase potatoes, to bring them to your house; but there is one basket which we brought for food by the way, and I wished them to remain until you had brought in poor Tywongah, and then you would pay me, and I should take away the basket at the same time.” I then asked her where was the remainder of my potatoes, and she answered: “They were stolen from us by the way.” I then asked what the other woman had to do with them. She replied, “Nothing at all; she is not engaged to bring potatoes, and she is a very bad woman for striking mother, or even touching the potatoes, but she wished to be doing something.” (“Mother” is Mrs. Butler's general name among the natives of our district.) I spoke to the other woman, who all the time was making a terrible noise, and found she would be too much for me to cope with; I therefore made off into the house. These are trying scenes. No one can tell what it is to dwell among unrestrained savages but those who live with them.

We then proceeded to dress the wounded man, and offered him every comfort in our power. On examining his wounds, I began to fear they would prove mortal, as they were made with a bayonet fastened to the end of a spear.

After this business was completed, I began to enquire of him the cause of so desperate an act. He said “Somebody who owes me a grudge has spread a false report of me, saying that I defiled the man's wife, which thing is most untrue.” I have since found the above statement to be correct. As far as I can trace the subject, it came to pass under the following circumstances:—About a week ago I pressed upon my foreman to get forward with all speed with potato ground which was preparing for seed, and in my absence Tywongah had called this man a lazy fellow, for not going on with his work as he ought, and this he considered as a great hardship. I said to him: “What Tywongah has said of you is true; you have not wrought the last fortnight to please me.” On hearing this, nothing would serve him but that he must be paid immediately. I told him I did not wish to part with him; but, seeing him determined to go, I paid him, and he started.

Not being able to be revenged on Tywongah in any other way, he spread a false report of him, and brought this man down upon Tywongah; and he certainly would have killed him if Tywongah had not been a man of superior activity. I have since seen the woman and spoken to her upon the subject; she declared the report to be false. (I would remark it is common in New Zealand for women to confess, and even relate such things, altho' done by mutual consent.)

This man, named Tywongah, is now, and has been ever since our arrival in New Zealand, the most active and zealous among all the New Zealanders in assisting and working for the Europeans. He has stood by us back and edge, by night and day. If any New Zealander ever deserved a present from the Society, he is certainly the man. I engaged him soon after our arrival, and he has never left us, but has been continually with us; and he has faithfully laboured and endeavoured to forward our objects to the best of his power. He is much respected by all the Europeans on account of his good temper and general attachment. He is a man of quick discernment, and learns everything very fast. Agriculture, such as breaking up land, burning off, laying it out, trenching, etc., etc., he is particularly fond of, and possesses great knowledge for the time he has been in practice of farming in general. He can reap, mow, and thresh, etc. I began to learn him to sow, dibble, and drill grain this seed time, and ere these lines reach you, D.V., I have no doubt but that he will be a complete farmer. He possesses also a tolerable knowledge of gardening, such as forming beds, sowing small seeds, setting out plants, drilling peas, beans, planting potatoes, dressing strawberry beds, etc., etc. Indeed, he has been my right hand man both in the field and in the garden; he has not only wrought himself, but has been the means of bringing his friends and acquaintances into the field to labour.

All the Europeans that have visited the settlement have expressed their surprise at seeing so much farming, gardening, and fencing, which have been done in so short a time and under such peculiar circumstances; but this man has acted like a flywheel in the machine, which puts every other cog in motion. Likewise in the falling of timber, or in towing the same to the settlement for the building department, he stands the very first.

I pay him an axe a month for his labour, besides which I furnish him with European garments, but he has no hat; many of our natives wish to have hats, as well as every other sort of European clothing. Happy day, when all the natives shall be clothed in European garments, and act towards each other upon the principles of the Gospel.

SATURDAY, 28th JULY.—Gardening in the morning; afternoon, study. I am very thankful to state that Tywongah's wounds this morning look remarkably healthy; he has very little fever upon him, and I hope and trust he will do well.

SUNDAY, 29th, 1821. — Divine Service, morning and evening.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY.—Gardening, planting potatoes.

WEDNESDAY.—Dressing a bed of hops. I have fourteen hills which look exceedingly fine, as the plants are very strong. I brought a single root from Port Jackson, and planted the whole fourteen hills from it last spring; and I gathered a small sprinkling of fine hops from them in the season. I hope this year they will produce a good full crop.

THURSDAY.—Writing, etc., etc.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.—Reading and writing.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8th, 1821.—Divine Service, morning and evening, and administered the Holy Sacrament.

MONDAY.—Held a committee on general business.

TUESDAY. — Gardening in the morning; afternoon, writing.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. — Gardening and writing.

On Wednesday morning, my son, Samuel Butler, and Mr. Shepherd set off for Wyekaddee to purchase timber for the purposes of carrying on the building of my house, outhouses, etc. Wyekaddee is about twenty-five miles from Kiddee Kiddee. They arrived in the evening, and purchased nine logs of a chief named Tahee Tabba, for which they paid two axes, one adze, one hatchet, two hoes, three plane irons. After this business was completed, they proceeded to another place a little further on, taking the chief with them, to look at some more timber.

At this place they purchased four logs for two hatchets, one axe, and one plane iron. It was now about seven o'clock in the evening. They got them into the water, and fastened them together by moonlight, and proceeded to a small village belonging to the chief, and reached there about eleven o'clock, and intended to stop until the return of the tide. They got some refreshment and lay down to rest; but they had not lain down more than half an hour ere two women came in a canoe to fetch away the chief, saying Mr. Hall had arrived at his other place and was taking away the timber belonging to Mr. Butler and Mr. Shepherd. Tahee Tabba on hearing this, set off with the natives in the canoe. Mr. Butler and Mr. Shepherd remained some time longer in order to get a little rest.

About two in the morning they arose, and proceeded with the four logs to the other place, in order to raft the timber together and to start with the tide. When they came they found all the timber in the water and nearly rafted by the natives belonging to Mr. Hall.

On seeing Mr. Hall they informed him that the logs which he had taken belonged to them. (This he well knew, as he used every base and unfair means of inducing the chief to sell it over again.) Mr. Shepherd said, “Sir, you are doing very wrong.” Mr. Samuel Butler said, “Sir, I think it a great and scandalous shame that you should take away the timber which we have paid for, knowing it to be ours.” He answered, “I have bought it also, and shall take it.”

They then asked him if he would be answerable for the trade which they had paid. Mr. Samuel Butler said, “Sir, I have paid for that timber, and shall expect to have it.” Mr. Wm. Hall answered, “I will give all the axes out of the Society's store, rather than you shall have it.” Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Butler then said, “Sir, we could not have supposed that you would have been guilty of so base an act as this, in taking away the timber which we had paid for, for the ship ‘Westmorland,’ unless we had this proof, and at a time when the settlement is distressed for timber! ! !”

The natives said to Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Butler, in the presence of Mr. Hall, that Mr. Hall, on his arrival, asked to see the trade which they had received for payment, and on being shown the articles, he threw them about the beach and said they were no good, and further, that he would give them much better and more in number for the timber than Mr. Butler and Mr. Shepherd had done. However, the chief, an ignorant heathen, was sensible enough to know the injustice and iniquity of the thing, and declared that Mr. W. Hall should not take the timber away at last, only that Mr. Hall had a musket of his at his house to repair; on that account he could say nothing about it. Mr. Hall took the timber away to Ranghee Hoo accordingly; and Mr. Butler and Mr. Shepherd were obliged to return with four logs instead of thirteen. Wonderful pretty, indeed! ! ! The above is a copy from the mouths of Mr. Butler and Mr. Shepherd—verbatim.

Is this the Mr. Hall, the carpenter appointed by the Society to carry on the Society's work in the building department, and who is required not only to give his advice, but to labour with his own hand in order to forward the buildings wanted?

Yes! this is the man and the Christian.

Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Butler said that Mr. Hall endeavoured to justify his conduct by saying he had spoken for it some time ago, and that he had marked it. Both these assertions proved to be false, as no mark was to be found on the timber, and the people denied it to his face. I would grant very gladly, if possible, that Mr. Hall was incapable of uttering such falsehoods, and that he had spoken for the timber. But for whom did he bespeak it? I should think for the Society certainly, for the purpose of carrying on the building. Was it for the “Westmorland?” She had not arrived. Here I would observe that Mr. Hall says he has an order from Mr. Marsden to purchase timber for the “Westmorland,” the ship which brought down Mr. Kendall, and which is chartered by Mr. Marsden to go to Tahiti for pork, etc., etc., and which ship is to call for the timber at the Bay of Islands on her return. But I am persuaded that Mr. Marsden does not mean that Mr. Hall should purchase timber for the “Westmorland,” to be sent to Port Jackson market, to the detriment of an infant settlement, and the distress of any of the Society's servants while being out of doors.

It certainly was Mr. Hall's duty, and an imperative one, as carpenter and builder, to have forwarded their objects by assisting them in the purchase of timber; as they might well be said to be doing that work and service which should more especially devolve upon him. If he had exerted himself to supply the settlement with timber, according to the means he possessed, it would have precluded the necessity of their going after it, which in the clearest manner proves his guilt. Mr. Hall has never exerted himself to procure timber for the settlement, but has left me with all that work and service. He scarcely ever comes to Kiddee Kiddee except on committee days. He has never laid a line upon a single log of timber, or taken the least trouble about the sawyers, or exerted himself in any other way. Such work and labour is entered under his name at our committees for the sake of order, and not for the sake of his having performed any part of the work. Here I quit this disagreeable subject, and hope it will be buried in oblivion, because the Lord liveth, and blessed be my strong helper, and glory be to God of my salvation.

Mr. Shepherd arrived about eight p.m. on Thursday evening, bringing the news of their success, and that my son was then about two miles down the river, and could get no further on account of wind and tide being against them. I immediately manned two canoes and went down to his assistance, and we reached home about twelve or rather later, with the four logs from Wyecaddee, and two others which they picked up by the way in the harbour, which had floated down from the wood in the flood, and belonging to Kiddee Kiddee.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.—Reading and writing, etc., etc. The natives are very quiet and friendly to us, upon the whole, and I believe our footing among them is firm and sure, as any little disturbance that takes place with a single native or so is not to be carried beyond the thing itself. Our crops, our cattle, our gardens look exceedingly well, and are in a thriving state. This desert begins to bud, and ere long we have reason to hope it will “rejoice and blossom as the rose.”

My native farmers are still going on exceeding well.

SUNDAY.—Divine Service, morning and evening.

MONDAY, AUGUST 13th, 1821.—This morning I set off for the timber ground, accompanied by Mr. F. Hall, my son, Mr. S. Butler, John Lee, and four natives. We arrived at Tohee Tabba's place about two o'clock, but he was not at home. Here we stopped and got our dinner, but in a little time Tohee Tabba's son, a fine lad, and a friend of his came to us and asked if we wanted timber; we told them we did. My son went with them across the small bay we were in, and purchased three logs. They then returned and informed me they had more timber at another place about six miles off; we immediately set off, and purchased twelve more. While the natives were rafting these, there came to us a chief, saying he had some timber to dispose of at his place a little distance off. We therefore agreed with the natives to take the timber we had now bought to Tohee Tabba's place, as we intended to collect all we could, and start from thence with our general raft for home, it being the nearest and best place for that purpose. We then set off with the chief who came to us, and when we reached his place it was about eight o'clock in the evening. The moon shone bright, and we saw the timber lying on the bank, and examined it as far as we could. We told the chief we were hungry, and wanted to cook some supper; and in the morning we would purchase the timber.

We then made a hut, and fire, and boiled water for tea. After supper and prayer, we lay down by the fire side to rest. We rose up at four in the morning, and prepared our breakfast, after which, and prayer, daylight came on, and we proceeded to the purchase of timber. We bought twelve logs at this place, and got them into the water as fast as possible, in order to go down with the tide; one of our logs sank, and we were obliged to leave it behind. We started about seven, and got down to Tohee Tabba's place about eleven; we found our other timber which we had purchased on the preceding evening, and brought down by the natives all safe. We fastened our timber, and satisfied the natives for bringing down the other raft, and then set off for the upper part of Wyecaddee.

We now had a fair wind, and in order to save time, we got some refreshment as we sailed along.

We visited several settlements, at one of which we saw Tehiterro in his native garb. When we arrived, he was working some potato ground on the hill behind the village. We did not see him at work on account of a small wood being situate between the village and his cultivation. We shook hands with him, had some little conversation with him, gave him some fish-hooks, and departed.

We then went to a village about two miles farther on, and here we purchased eight logs, and by the time we got them all rafted it was night. We then set off across the country into a wood, to cook our supper, etc., etc. This we did in order to be as much by ourselves as possible, for one or other are seen to be teasing you all night.

We struck a light with a fowling piece, made our hut as usual with the boat sail, dressed our food, etc., etc., and although the ground was very wet, on account of the rain that fell in heavy showers during the day, yet we made out pretty well, as we kept a good fire all night. In the morning we arose, got breakfast very early, and set off to the village, and took away our timber. As we passed down the river we called on Tieterree, and saw his wife and child. Tieterree looks in a most pitiable condition; I can truly say I felt for him from my heart, both in a temporal and spiritual sense.

We left them, and passed on down the river about four miles to another settlement. Here we wanted to go on shore after some more timber, and as the tide was running down, we thought it best to let go the raft which we had, and go on with the tide. We went on shore and bought seven logs, but as the tide had been going down some time, we had a hard job to get them into the water, and by the time we had done this business it was low water mark. While we were rafting the timber, a very heavy squall of wind and rain set in up the river, and took our other floating raft to the other side; and, as the river is two miles wide at this place, we had some difficulty in finding it. However, after rowing about more than two hours, we found it all safe on the other beach, but the towing rope was gone from the raft; we enquired after it of the natives, but one and all denied any knowledge of it. I offered several rewards but to no purpose. I at last offered a hoe for it. As soon as they heard that, one of them ran after it, and in about ten minutes returned, bringing the rope with him. I paid him the hoe, and endeavoured to express my abhorrence of their telling so many lies about the rope, and we departed.

It was now eventide, and we had to row against the tide. We got away about a mile into a little cove to get some refreshment. We soon made a good fire and dressed some pork and potatoes, and with some tea likewise, we made a hearty dinner. We rested ourselves until about nine o'clock, when John Lee and the natives went on the other side of the river and brought the small raft from thence, and we joined the two together, and set off for Tohee Tabba's to the remainder of our timber.

We arrived about one in the morning, and, after fastening our timber, we proceeded to make a fire as usual and get some refreshment and rest. In the morning we arose, got our breakfast, and prepared to raft the whole of our timber together, and, if possible, to take it all with us. We completed this business ready to start with the tide. We set out with upwards of forty logs after our own whale boat, and with very hard pulling we made as much progress as we could expect (say about a mile an hour), but, after we had got about three miles along the bay, we had to pass the mouth of the river Wyetanghee; here the tide set out against us, and with the utmost difficulty we passed it. We were upwards of four hours getting about a mile and a half, and it was not until after midnight that we reached a place of shelter.

We had only a small piece of raw bacon each on a bit of bread during the day, and a little water from the rock. About two in the morning we got into a little cove; we were all so completely tired and wet with the rain that we scarcely knew how to cook supper, but the natives behaved extremely well. I struck a light and we got a fire, and some bacon fried, and our clothes hung up to dry. My son lay down in his blanket and fell asleep, and his blue jacket fell off the stick into the fire and was burnt to ashes.

After refreshment, we lay down on the beach under a tree by the fireside to rest. We only stopped four hours on account of the tide, and when I got up I could scarcely stand for some time; my limbs seemed all to be numbed.

We made a start between five and six, but we were all like horses with sore shoulders until we got warm; we rowed until noon, when the tide turned. We then anchored our timber and went on shore to cook a few potatoes and three pigeons which we shot. This was all the food we had left. After this we lay down by the fireside until the return of the tide. We set off rather before the turn of the tide, as the wind set in in our favour for the first time with the timber. It continued to blow pretty strong with a heavy shower of rain for about an hour, when it gradually died away. We had not proceeded far ere we met a canoe with a supply of food sent by Mrs. Butler; we were all cheered at this, and after taking a little, we tugged hard for home, and reached Kiddee Kiddee about eleven o'clock on Friday night with the whole of our raft, thankful for all our mercies. We never, perhaps, stood more in need of refreshment and rest.

SATURDAY, 18th AUGUST, 1821.—In the morning took a walk round the farm to look at the wheat and other grain, and exercise my stiffened limbs. Afternoon, reading. About six o'clock in the evening, as Mr. Puckey was buying some sweet potatoes, the same infamous woman which struck Mrs. Butler, interfered with him and entered the yard, and would take them away by force and take them to Mr. Bean. I did not see the transaction, as I was on the loft reading, but I heard the noise, and my son, who saw the whole affair, said she behaved in a most shameful manner. She was going to fall upon his wife, and he pushed her away, and she up with a billet of wood and struck him twice, and threw mud in his face. She then went away and informed Shunghee (who is her relation) and all her friends, that during Shunghee's absence about six months ago, Mr. Puckey's daughter, a little girl of eleven years of age, said to his daughter, Tyeke, that when Shunghee came back she would cut his head off and put it in the iron pot. This hussy succeeded in stirring up the natives, who are glad of any pretence in order to seize on our property. I came down about ten o'clock, and my lad, Tyheehone, said to me, “Father, the natives are coming to steal all Mr. Puckey's things.” I told him to hold his tongue, for I did not believe him. He still persisted in the truth of what he said. I asked him why. He said for the bad langauge Mr. Puckey's daughter had used concerning Shunghee. I said, if she had said such things, she did not mean to, it was not possible; that she could not have any ill-will towards Mr. Shunghee; she was but a child, and had not seen Mr. Shunghee many times, and could not know what she was saying at the time; and Mr. Puckey, if he knew, would correct her very seriously for such things. Mr. Puckey came to me, to consult what he had best do. I told him I did not think they would do any such thing; however, he wished to put a few things up in the store loft, for fear such a thing should take place, to which I readily consented. I also enquired of him what his girl had done, and he related the case as follows: That about six months ago, his daughter and the daughter of Shunghee, who is a grown woman, and lives with Mrs. Kemp as servant, were at play on the timber about the sawpits. They sat down on the timber and began to talk about their parents, a thing very customary with children. Shunghee's daughter said that Puckey was nothing more than a slave, and Puckey's daughter said her father was as great a man as Shunghee; the other replied: “Shunghee on his return will kill your father and eat him;” and Puckey's girl said in return: “I will cut your father's head off, and cook it in the iron pot,” and so on. This certainly could amount to nothing more than a child's prate, who often talks without any reasoning. However, the consequences (through the aforesaid infamous woman) became very alarming. The natives, as I have observed, are glad of any pretext to seize on our property; they came in the middle of the night and took away out of Puckey's small yard nine store hogs, one male, one female goat, also one goat, one hog, and three fowls from Messrs. Bean and Fairburn.

On Sunday morning about five o'clock, Puckey called me, saying in a mournful tone: “The natives have broken into my kitchen.” I jumped out of bed, and ran out of doors almost naked, and I saw the natives in Mr. Puckey's yard, and many in the kitchen, using dreadful language, and taking everything they could lay their hands on. The settlement was thrown in the greatest consternation, and indeed we did not know to what length they would go. Mr. Puckey, his wife and children, were crying out for their hoes. My place being next to theirs, and only a small fence between, I expected them into my place every instant. However, Reewah, who is as great a chief as Shunghee, and who has always stood our friend, came running down from his place naked, with his gun in his hand, and in he rushed like a lion and bundled them out of the place in a few minutes; but they nevertheless got away many articles, as planes, files, saws, hammers, stock and kits, axes, hoes, razors, shoes, wearing apparel, lamps, tea pots, one iron pot, two blankets, one rug.

Puckey's son sleeps in the kitchen, as they have only one small room besides. When the natives broke in, one of them caught hold of him by the hair of his head, and said he would cut off his head if he spoke a word. As soon as he was loosed, in he ran to his father, trembling in every limb. At length peace was restored, and we thought all was over; but my mind was so much hurt that it was with the utmost difficulty, when the time came, that I performed Divine Service; and not my mind alone, but also everyone in the settlement. We began service as usual at eleven o'clock, and Mr. Puckey and his son attended. We had not begun many minutes ere Puckey was called out; the natives were taking away his chickens out of his yard. He went and begged of them not to take them, but they paid no attention; they took them all away.

Divine Service being ended about one o'clock, and the friends scarcely got indoors, when down comes another party, and over the fence into Puckey's yard. I knew several of them, and begged of them with all my might to desist; but all in a moment they broke open the door and into the house they went. Puckey's dinner was just set on the table, and they took all the food, broke all the plates and dishes, took away the knives and forks, spoons, a looking-glass, two bottles, and one canister of tea, table cloth, towel, three mats, then about one bag of flour, one of wheat; took away more tools, sundry curiosities, etc., etc.

Some of my natives went and acquainted Rewah, who came quite naked, and several others with him, as soon as possible; he was dreadfully angry, and I was afraid the natives would now fight among themselves, but they were soon cleared from Puckey's place by Rewah and his friends without blows. He said to them all that Shunghee ought to be ashamed; he had been to England and was loaded with kindness, and he had returned to fight and destroy the white people. One of the natives heard that Puckey was struck, and he ran and killed a hog of Shunghee's as a recompense; and as Kehee Kehee's (Kohi Kohi) party (Shunghee's relations) and friends were plundering Puckey's place, Rewah's brother went and took away Keehee Keehee's potatoes as an utoo (payment), My son's German flute was at Mr. Puckey's, and that went with the rest of the things. We all stood looking on, but durst not speak a word. I had hard work to keep Mrs. Butler from fainting away.

These are trying scenes indeed; this is something of a missionary's life among cannibals.

Rewah and his friends now determined to stop and guard the place; he therefore loaded his musket, and told them they might look out if they came any more. We now got a mouthful of dinner with fear and trembling, and I brought the distressed family into my place, and gave them some with us. Afterwards I sent for Shunghee, and advised Mr. Puckey to go and beg of him to come and let us know what all this cruel outrage meant. I walked backwards and forwards along by my garden fence until I saw Shunghee go into Mr. Puckey's place, and several other chiefs, and I followed them. I sat down among them, and began to enquire of Mr. Shunghee why they acted thus. He replied: “My people heard that Mr. Puckey's girl said very bad language concerning me, and they have taken the matter up, and acted thus without my consent.” I told him I was extremely sorry that they should be so cruel on account of the conversation of a child, who did not know the evil, and who did not, nor could she mean any evil to him. “Moreover,” I said, “if you wanted any satisfaction on that account, had you come and made it known, we would have made you any recompense in our power; you have looked very shy at us ever since you came from England. What is the reason? If you do not like us to live at your place, we will go away.”