Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/196

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MAORIS AT NORFOLK ISLAND, 1793.

Vancouver, called at New Zealand to obtain the desired Maori instructors. Instead of obtaining their consent, which had never been difficult, he kidnapped two young chiefs who visited the Dædalus. Grose sent them on to Norfolk Island immediately, in the Shah Hormuscar, hoping they might be of use, and ordering that they should be "victualled and clothed." He wrote to the Secretary of State, "Captain Vancouver has sent here two natives of New Zealand for the purpose of showing us their manner of manufacturing the flax plant." King wrote that "they often in an affecting manner lament their separation from their friends, which they express by mournful songs."

They declared that they were not labourers, and were unskilled in manufacture. They would give no information, and were resolute against the indignity of being made to work. King strove to soothe their feelings, and entertained them at his own table. By degrees, having promised to return them to their homes, he overcame their disgust, and they communicated all they knew. The stone axes which the English had dug up at Norfolk Island they recognized as of cognate manufacture to those used in New Zealand. King kept his promise, and to ensure its due fulfilment went with them to New Zealand in Nov. 1793, in the Britannia, a vessel detained for the purpose. He was absent from Norfolk Island only ten days while restoring his friends to their families amid the general joy of the tribe. He gave them seed potatoes and other vegetables. One of them on returning adopted the name of Governor King (Kawana Kingi).[1] King wrote an interesting account of his success to Grose as well as to Mr. Dundas, hoping that it might conduce to friendly feelings amongst the Maoris. A narrative by King on the same subject is included in Collins' work (1798). However interesting to others, the transaction displeased Grose, who upbraided King, arrested his movements in agriculture soon afterwards, and unpardonably interfered with the administration of justice at Norfolk Island.

  1. ↑ Many years afterwards (at the request of King's widow), Samuel Marsden, in one of his missionary visits to New Zealand, discovered the chief and persuaded him to embrace Christianity, in which faith he died at an advanced age.
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