in small parties in the neighbouring creeks and coves, employed either in taking fish or collecting fern roots, etc., 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 difficult or dangerous.
Of these forts or towns we saw many; indeed, the inhabitants constantly lived in such, from the westernmost part of the Bay of Plenty to Queen Charlotte's Sound; but about Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, Tegadu and Tolaga, there were none, and the houses were scattered about. There were, indeed, stages built upon the sides of hills, sometimes of great length, which might serve as a retreat to save their lives at the last extremity and nothing else, but these were mostly in ruins. Throughout all this district the People seemed free from apprehension, and as in a state of profound peace; their cultivations were far more numerous and larger than those we saw anywhere else, and they had a far greater quantity of fine boats, fine clothes, fine carved work; in short, the people were far more numerous, and lived in much greater affluence, than any others we saw. This seemed to be owing to their being joined together under one chief or king, as they always called Teratu, who lives far up in the country.[1]
It is much to be lamented that we could get no further knowledge of this chief or king than his name only; his dominions are for an Indian monarch certainly most extensive. He was acknowledged for a length of coasts of upwards of eighty leagues, and yet we do not know the western limits of his dominions; we are sure, however, that they contain the greatest share of the rich part of the northernmost island, and that far the greatest number of people upon it are his subjects. Subordinate to him are lesser chiefs, who seem to have obedience and respect paid them
- ↑ The people who mentioned Teratu to us pointed, as we thought, always inland; but since the country has been laid down upon paper, it appears that over the land in that direction lies the Bay of Plenty; from hence it appears probable that this is the residence of Teratu, and, if so, the country inland will probably be found to be quite void of inhabitants. [Note by Banks.]
