ors and slaves, whom we took with us, amounted in all to about
five hundred; but the slaves, as they got rid of the provisions they
carried, were sent home again, as we had no further use for them. While
on our journey, if we came to a friendly village at night, we slept
there; but, if not, we encamped in the woods. When the provisions we had
brought with us were all consumed, we were compelled to plunder wherever
we could find anything. Our journey, being made during the rainy season,
was more than usually fatiguing. We were five weeks in reaching Kipara,
where we found about eleven hundred more natives encamped by the side of
a river. On our arrival, huts were immediately constructed for our
party, and one was allotted to me and my wife. We had also two female
slaves allowed us for the purpose of digging fern-root, gathering
cockles, and catching fish, which articles were our only provisions
while we remained here; unless now and then, when I went to the woods,
and shot a few wood-pigeons or a wild pig."

A party of New Zealanders thus wandering through their country, with all
the inconveniences attending the movement of large bodies of men, but
without the combinations of foresight which are necessary for the safety
of an army, or the management of supplies, must be occasionally exposed
to great privations.

Their island, however, it would seem from Rutherford's narrative,
abundantly supplied them with provisions, and their slaves were at hand
to perform the office of cooks. Their method of procuring fire for
culinary purposes and warmth is curious; and we may as well mention it
somewhat fully here, before we proceed to the more busy parts of
Rutherford's narrative.

When Nicholas was in New Zealand, he had an opportunity of seeing the
process usually resorted to. "The place where we landed," says he,
speaking of an excursion which he made with Marsden, and some of the
chiefs, to a place a short distance from the Missionary Settlement, "was
a small plantation of potatoes belonging to Shungie, and here our party
intended to prepare their refreshments, seating themselves, along the
ground for the purpose. Fire, however, was wanting; and to procure it,
Shungie took my fowling-piece, and, stopping up the touch-hole, he put a
small piece of linen into the pan, and endeavoured to excite a spark.
But this expedient proved unsuccessful, as the lock had got rusted and
would not go off; he then got some dry grass and a piece