An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand
Feast at Horeke, Captain McDonell's Station
Feast at Horeke, Captain McDonell's Station.
At 10 o'clock on the 13th I went by appointment to the Hauraki, and there a thousand as fine warriors as were ever seen were collected in their best costume. The Native war-dance, accompanied by those terrific yells which are so well qualified to exhibit the natural ferocity of the New Zealand character, was exhibited for my amusement; the guns from a small European battery were fired; and the Natives discharged their muskets and dispersed, under three hearty cheers from my party. The feast which I had ordered to be prepared, consisting of pigs, potatoes, rice, and sugar, with a small portion of tobacco to every man, was partaken of by all in perfect harmony. It was estimated that, of' men, women, and children, there were three thousand persons present.