had
been staying, to stir up the teachers to get the things over more
quickly; Mrs. Chalmers remaining at the new house to look after the
things there, as, without doors or flooring, everything was exposed. I
went to the seaside to call to the captain of the _Mayri_ to send us the
boat ashore, when, on looking towards my left, I saw twenty armed natives
hurrying along. Though painted, I recognized some of them as those who
were very friendly on board the _Bertha_, and spoke to them; but they
hurried past, frowning and saying something I did not understand. They
went straight on to the chief's house, and surrounded our party. I
passed through, and stood in front of them. One very ugly-looking
customer was brandishing his spear close by me. It was an anxious
moment, and one in which I am sure many would have used firearms. I
called out to the teachers, "Remain quiet." Our chief sprung out on to
the platform in front of the house and harangued. He was very excited.
Shortly he called to the teachers, in signs and words, to bring out their
guns and fire. They refused. He then rushed into the house and seized a
gun, and was making off with it, when one of the teachers caught hold of
him. I, seeing the teacher with the chief, thought something was wrong,
and went to them. We quieted him, and did our best to explain to him
that we were no fighters, but men of peace. The babel all round us was
terrible. By-and-by a request was made to me to give the chief from the
other side a present, and get him away. I said, "No; had he come in
peace, and as a chief, I would have given him a present, but I will not
do so now." They retired to deliberate, and sent another request for a
present. "No; no presents to men in arms. If the chief returns
to-morrow unarmed, he will get a present." It seems they are vexed with
our living here instead of with them, because they find those here are
getting what they consider very rich by our living with them. When quiet
was restored, we returned to the carrying of our things. When we came to
the last few things, our chief objected to their removal until he got a
farewell present. He had been paid for the use of the house before any
of us entered it; but we gave him another present, and so finished the
business.

Our large cross-cut saw was stolen during the hubbub. It belonged to the
teachers of East Cape. It had only been lent to us, so we had to get it
back. The next morning