March 17th, Friday. Fine weather, thermometer 69°.

18th, Saturday. Fine, thermometer 71°. The natives again made their appearance, and brought plenty of fish. In the afternoon. the gentlemen who had been at Shukehanga, returned. They were accompanied by some of the principal men of that district, whom they reported to have behaved with much civility and attention, giving them plenty of provisions, and affording to their persons and property every protection. They seemed to consider the tribe to which these men belonged superior to those we had met in the Bay of Islands; and from the little intercourse they had had with Europeans, much easier to deal with for the articles of barter that had been supplied to the Dromedary, than those amongst whom we now were, and who demanded muskets and powder for every thing. The river was found to be navigable for the ship for some miles, and its banks produced abundance of cowry of the largest

description. The entrance, however, was narrow, and across it there was a bar, which gave nineteen feet water at the lowest tide.

As it was possible that the ship might go thither, the chiefs of the district remained on board.

March 19th, Sunday. Fine, thermometer 71°. Immediately after divine service, an account was brought to Mr. Marsden, that a serious disturbance had taken place at KiddyKiddy, which originated in the misconduct of some of the natives towards the missionaries. He lost no time in repairing thither; and we were glad to find, the next evening, when he returned, that the affair had not been so bad as was at first reported.

One of the natives, who had forcibly entered Mr. Butler's premises, upon being told to go away, behaved with such violence, breaking one of the windows, and knocking every thing about which was near him, that his brother, who had always been particularly kind to Mr. Butler's family, opposed him, and

struck him. The consequence was, that the two brothers, in a state of passion amounting to frenzy, commenced a battle which must have been fatal to one or the other, had they not been separated by their mutual friends. The noise and confusion were excessive; and the first aggressor, in the height of his rage, declared his determination to bring another tribe to his assistance, who would carry away every thing that the missionaries possessed, while Mr. Butler's friends expressed their determination to prevent his doing so. Things remained in this disagreeable state, until the passion of the brother having abated, all disturbance ended in their reconciliation. Mr. Marsden brought back with him a chief, named Tarrea, who had distinguished himself by his steadfast support of the missionaries, not only on the last, but on former occasions. In size and strength he seemed to surpass all his countrymen, and in Shungie's tribe was much looked up to for his bravery and skill in leading the warriors to battle. He remained on board

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during the night, and was treated with every civility.

March 20th, Monday. Fine, thermometer 68°. The Prince Regent schooner sailed in the morning to examine the south-eastern coast, and the timber that grew upon it, as far as Bream Bay. In the afternoon the Cumberland whaler came into the harbour; and all the canoes, which had been pretty numerous about us for some days, went to her. The natives traded in the curiosities of their country, which they sold for axes, knives, &c.; but for the articles more essential to the health of the men, viz. hogs and potatoes, there was a determined struggle of obstinacy between them and us-they insisted upon muskets, while we as steadfastly refused them.

Long as the ship had been here, scarcely any refreshments had been obtained; and though, on the departure of the whalers, it was presumed that the want of another market would induce the natives to come into

our terms, the arrival of the Cumberland now precluded all hopes.

March 21st, Tuesday. Fine, thermometer 71°. 22d, Wednesday. Fine, thermometer 67°. 23d, Thursday. Fine, thermometer 65°. In the evening the Prince Regent schooner returned. She had examined a considerable part of the coast between the Bay of Islands and Bream Head; but wherever she had met with much timber, there was no safe anchorage, and where shelter for shipping had been found, there was no cowry. As this intelligence removed all hopes of getting a cargo in this part of the island, the necessary preparations were begun for sailing to Shukehanga. The determination was heard by the chiefs of that place with infinite satisfaction, and they immediately despatched a messenger over-land, to inform their countrymen of our approach.

24th, Friday. Fine, thermometer 68°. Every thing being ready for sea, Krokro, his