muttering what I did not understand.  After this he went through the same ceremony with our two friends, which ended with a dance, when the two latter joined noses with me, and said that Ko-to-ko-ke was now become their father, and would in person conduct them to Ho-do-doe.* While I was preparing what I meant to give them, Too-gee (who I am now convinced was a priest) had made a circle of the New Zealanders round him, in the centre of which was the old chief, and recounted what he had seen during his absence.  At many passages they gave a shout of admiration.  On his telling them, that it was only three days sail from Norfolk to Moo-doo When-u-a, whether his veracity was doubted, or that he was not contented with the assertion alone, I cannot tell, but with much presence of mind he ran upon the poop, and brought a cabbage, which he informed them was cut five days ago in my garden.  This convincing proof produced a general shout of surprise.

[* Which was very faithfully performed.]

Every thing being now arranged, and ready for their departure, our two friends requested that Ko-to-ko-ke might see the soldiers exercise and fire.  To this I could have no objection, as the request came from them; but I took that opportunity of explaining to the chief (with Toogee’s help) that he might see, by our treatment of him and his two countrymen, that it was our wish and intention to be good neighbours and friends with all Ea-hei-no-mau-e; that these weapons were never used but when we were injured, which I hoped would never happen; and that no other consideration than the satisfying of his curiosity could induce me to show what those instruments were intended for.

About one hundred and fifty of the New Zealanders were seated on the larboard side of the deck, and the detachment paraded on the opposite side.  After going through the manual, and firing three volleys, two great guns were fired, one loaded with a single ball, and the other with grape-shot, which surprised them greatly, as I made the chief observe the distance at which the shot fell from the ship.  The wind had now the appearance of coming from the southward; and as that wind throws a great surf on the shore, they were anxious to get away.  Too-gee and Hoo-doo took an affectionate leave of every person on board, and made me remember my promise of visiting them again, when they would return to Norfolk Island with their families.  The venerable chief, after having taken great pains to pronounce my name, and made me well acquainted with his, got into his canoe and left us.  On putting off from the ship, they were saluted with three cheers, which they returned as well as they could, by Toogee’s directions.  It was now seven in the morning of the 13th:  at nine a breeze came from the north, with which we stood to the eastward.  After a passage of five days from New Zealand (having had light winds) and ten days absence from Norfolk Island, I landed at three o’clock in the afternoon of the 18th.