This _tapu_ is a bore, even to write about, and I fear the reader is beginning to think it a bore to read about. It began long before the time of Moses, and I think that steam navigation will be the death of it; but lest it should kill my reader I will have done with it for the present, and "try back," for I have left my story behind completely.
"My Rangatira."--The respective Duties of the Pakeha and his Rangatira.--Public Opinion.--A "Pakeha Kino."--Description of my Rangatira.--His Exploits and Misadventures.--His Moral Principles.--Decline in the Number of the Natives.--Proofs of former large Population.--Ancient Forts.--Causes of Decrease.
When I purchased my land, the payment was made on the ground, and immediately divided and subdivided amongst the different sellers. Some of them who, according to their own representations formerly made to me, were the sole and only owners of the land, received for their share about the value of one shilling, and moreover, as I also observed, did not appear at all disappointed.
One old _rangatira_, before whom a considerable portion of the payment had been laid as his share of the spoil, gave it a slight shove with his foot, expressive of refusal, and said, "I will not accept any of the payment; I will have the pakeha." I saw some of the magnates present seemed greatly disappointed at this, for I dare say they had expected to have the pakeha _as well_ as the payment. But the old gentleman had regularly check-mated them by refusing to accept any payment; and being also a person of great respectability, _i.e._, a good fighting man, with twenty more at his back, he was allowed to have his way: thereby, in the opinion of all the natives present, making a far better thing of the land sale than any of them, though he had received no part of the payment.
I consequently was therefore a part, and by no means an inconsiderable one, of the payment for my own land; but though now part and parcel of the property of the old _rangatira_ aforementioned, a good deal of liberty was allowed me. The fact of my having become his pakeha made our respective relations and duties to each other about as follows--
Firstly.--At all times, places, and companies, my owner had the right to call me "his pakeha."