Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0209
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[Page 209]
205.
Some account of New Zealand
to attack us carried in their hands a kind of ensign of distinction in the same manner as ours & spontoons they were either the rib of a Whale as white as snow & carvd very much & ornamented with dogs hair & feathers or a stick about 6 feet long carvd & ornamented in the same manner & generaly inlayd with shell like mother of Pearl. of these cheifs there were in their War Canoes one two or 3 according to the size of them when within about a Cables lengh of the ship these generaly rose up dressd themselves in a distinguishing dress often of Dogs skin & holding in their hands either one of their Spontoons or a Weapon, directed the rest of the people how to proceed they were always old or at least past the middle age & had about upon them a larger quantity than common of the black stains that they call amoco these Canoes commonly paddled with great vigour till they came within about a stones throw of the ship (having no Idea that any missive weapon could reach them farther) & then began to threaten us which this indeed the smaller canoes did as soon as they were in hearing their words were almost universaly the same, "haromai haromai harre uta a patoo patoo 'oge" come to us come to us come but ashore with us & we will kill