State Library of NSW
[Page 215]
211. Some account of New Zealand
in the neighbouring creeks & coves employd either in taking fish or collecting Fern roots &c, a large quantity of which they bring back with them a reserve I suppose for times when the neighbourhood of an enemy or other circumstances make the procuring of fresh provision dificult or dangerous
Of these Forts or towns we saw many indeed the inhabitants constantly livd in such from the Westermost part of the Bay of Plenty to Queen Charlots Sound: but about Hawk's bay, Poverty Bay, Tegadu & Tolaga there were none; & the houses were scatterd about; there were indeed upon the sides of hills stages built sometimes of a great lengh which might serve as a retreat to save their lives at the last extremity & nothing else, these were mostly in ruins Throughout all this district the people seemd free from apprehension & as in a state of Profound peace Their cultivations were far more numerous & larger than we saw them any where else & they had a far greater quantity of Fine boats, Fine cloaths, Fine carvd work; in short the people were far more numerous & livd in much greater affluence, than any others we saw. This seemd to be owing to their being joind together under one cheif or king so at least
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