Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Historical Records of New Zealand South

Native Conspiracy

Native Conspiracy.

The late arrival of the Harriet from New Zealand presents us with a picture of the natives of that island, by no means flattering to the humane wish for their civilisation. While the Harriet lay there, which was eight weeks (the greater part of which was in the South-east River), Captain Jones received repeated informations of plots, formed among the chiefs, for the capture of the vessel; but being always on the alert, the conspirators never had the opportunity of making the actual attempt. These islanders were aware of the conditions of Captain Jones's crew, nine of whom had refused duty; and as there were but few other Europeans, exclusive of the officers, on board, she being partly manned with Lascars, they encouraged their treacherous design, until the last moment of the vessel's stay. She arrived at the bay from hence, the 23rd of June, and had been more or less agitated with the apprehension of assault until the middle of August, when the conspirators, becoming impatient for the perpetration of their design, and, finding that they could not by any stratagem prevail on the Captain or officers to visit their villages (though frequently invited thither), the treachery assumed a bolder character, and at a little after daylight on the morning of the 22nd a fleet of war canoes, 11 in number, had just cleared a point of land that before screened them, and stood directly towards the vessel, around which a number of other canoes, with armed chiefs and natives, were already collected. The chief Bumorri, of whose perfidy Captain Jones had received repeated information, at this time drew alongside, intending familiarly to go on board as before; but this being refused him, and finding the ship in a thorough condition of defence, they thought it prudent to obey Captain Jones' orders not to presume to approach on pain of being fired into. The over-bearing insolence of the chiefs of this inhuman race of people it is impossible to form an adequate idea of. Their insults to Captain Jones and his officers and people were without parallel; spitting in their faces, and using menacing gestures to them on board their own vessel, was far from uncommon. And in their insolences they appeared to consider themselves protected by the consciousness of the ship's people that the missionaries on shore were always in their power, and that to incense these cannibal tyrants might provoke some act of vengeance upon them. Messrs: Hall and King, two of the gentlemen belonging to the missionary establishment there, were frequently on board, and declared their situation among them to be far from enviable. The natives rob them of whatsoever they see and have a wish for; they break in ad libitum upon their page 11inclosures; destroy their garden fences; and in all respects behave towards them, as we are confidently informed by Captain Jones and Mr Chase, chief officer of the vessel, in a most insolent and oppressive manner. The plan laid to cut off the Harriet was by no means limited in its extent, as the chiefs and their sanguinary subjects were attracted by the hope of plunder from the River Thames, which is 208, and others, from places upwards of 300 miles, distant. Such being their present feeling towards us, vessels proceeding thither cannot be too well upon their guard against surprise, as we were not heretofore aware that treachery and a thirst for blood formed their leading feature, and opportunity was the only ingredient needful to avowed hostility, and success their countersign for universal slaughter.—Sydney Gazette, 20th September, 1817.