ead about the natives of different parts of the world, but
you may not know that the Maori race was, without exception, one of the
best indigenous types in our Empire.

Well, the scene was set and the war-dance started. Victors and losers
joined, in complete accord with their own customs, and I doubt if a more
inspiring sight, taking in view their numbers, has been seen. As their
enthusiasm increased the greater became their rhythmical movements. As
their vigour increased the more weird became the scene. They were
fighting, in their minds, their old battles against their old
foe--battles which they had fought with their native weapons against
weapons of civilization. Their old war-cries leapt forth from their
hearts and mouths as they had done when they fell before their enemy.
They looked bewitched, and stayed not nor stopped in their wild orgy
until physical distress forced them.

Next day they departed to their own settlement, and peace and quiet
reigned in Tauranga, whose residents were more than grateful to Exeter
Hall for the result of the great interest which the promoters of the
meetings for the welfare of the poor Maori had aroused. Tauranga's civil
population revelled in profit. When the tribes left the whole of the camp
equipments were left behind. The Government did not want them, and the
whole concern was put up to auction. Who was going to bid? Only the local
suppliers. There was no opposition, and the whole equipment was sold to
the only bidders. _Verbum sap._

CHAPTER XIII

AN OFFER FROM THE GOVERNOR OF TASMANIA

My life in Tauranga was becoming every day more interesting. Fishing,
both fresh water in the Wairoa, and deep sea, was excellent. Any amount
of shooting could be got within easy driving distance from the
township--red-legged partridges, rabbits, and any number of pheasants; as
a matter of fact, these were looked upon by the farmers as vermin, they
were so plentiful, and they did much damage to their grain crops. Some
eighteen miles away one reached the border of the King Country, the large
tract of land then in the hands of the Maoris. At this border the natural
bush commenced. Wonderful timber, among which semi-tropical creeping
plants revelled in forming almost impassable barriers, so luxurious were
their growth. Wild boar hunting was most exciting as well as dangerous.
Supple-jack was one of the most treacherous parasites of the giant forest
trunks, for, notwithstanding hand axe