commanders into a fatal security,
then to rush upon them, seize their vessel, and murder all the crew! Too
often had they succeeded, and as often have they paid most dearly for
their treachery and cruelty. In the case of the ship Boyd, though they
attained their object, they were as completely punished for their
perfidy. From their ignorance of the nature of powder, and the use of a
magazine, they blew up the ship, and vast numbers of the natives were
destroyed. Besides this calamity, they brought down upon themselves the
vengeance of every vessel that visited these shores for a long period
afterwards. As the circumstances may not be generally known, Mr. Berry's
letter, relating the particulars of that melancholy, yet interesting
event, is here inserted:--

"Ship, City of Edinburgh,
"Lima, Oct. 20, 1810.
Sir,--

I am very sorry to have the painful task of introducing myself to
you, with an account of the loss of your ship Boyd, Captain
Thompson.

Towards the end of last year I was employed in the Bay of
Islands, New Zealand, in procuring a cargo of spars for the Cape
of Good Hope. About the middle of December the natives brought me
an account of a ship's being taken at Whangaroa, a harbour about
fifty miles to the N.W. At first we were disposed to doubt the
truth of this report, but it every day became more probable, from
the variety of circumstances they informed us of; and which were
so connected as appeared impossible for them to invent.
Accordingly, about the end of the month, when we had finished our
cargo, although it was a business of some danger, I determined to
go round.

"I set out with three armed boats: we experienced very bad
weather, and after a narrow escape were glad to return to the
ship. As we arrived in a most miserable condition, I had then
relinquished all idea of the enterprise; but having recruited my
strength and spirits, I was shocked at the idea of leaving any of
my countrymen in the hands of savages, and determined to make a
second attempt. We had this time better weather, and reached the
harbour without any difficulty. Whangaroa is formed as
follows:--First, a large outer bay, with an island at its
entrance; in the bottom of this bay is seen a narrow opening,
which appears terminated at