loss of the land. In this particular instance there were three tribes
whose chiefs claimed to have been in possession at the time of the war,
and who desired to appear before the court. The procedure was as follows:
The court sat at Tauranga. The tribes declined to be represented by the
chiefs, even if accompanied by a few of their elder tribesmen; they
insisted upon attending the courts with the whole tribe, men, women and
children. Their average number was about 380. Provision had to be made
for suitable camps during the course of the trial. What a time for the
furniture dealers, storekeepers, butchers, bakers, and other tradesmen,
whose pleasant duty it became to make such provision! Remember that all
expenses which the tribes incurred were a charge on the capital value of
L6,500. The Maoris cared not. They did not realize that they were
actually paying for their own subsistence. The sole aim of each tribe was
to win its case. The local authorities fixed the localities for the camps
and made all arrangements for their comfort on a liberal scale. The first
tribe to arrive found their quarters ready for them, and it then became
their privilege to welcome the second tribe, which came from across the
water, a small arm of the sea to the south of the town. This tribe swam
across, men, women and children, to the head of the jetty to which the
local steamers made fast. The Maoris who lived in close proximity to the
sea were excellent swimmers.

The order of procedure was as follows: The tribe already in possession of
the camp piled up a couple of trucks with barrels of beer, bottles of
rum, gin, brandy and whisky. These trucks were run down the rails to the
end of the jetty and were left there to await the arrival of the swimming
tribe, while the others remained on the shore end to welcome them. The
new-comers, tired after their long swim, greatly appreciated the kind
thought of their hosts, and immediately set to work to consume as much of
the good gifts as the gods, or, rather, their legal opponents, offered
them. These, drawn up in battle array, impatiently awaited their arrival,
the braves all in front in such a position as they considered advisable,
from their military point of view, to impress their guests with a sense
of their prowess. Behind the fighting line the womenfolk were drawn up.
In their front line were their best-looking girls. They were specially
put there to catch the eye of the leading young men among the