Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

586 SPIRITS — NOAH — WINE. Dec. owners, or as many as can come ; a few absentees, of little con- sequence, not being thought about. The goods intended to be given, as an equivalent for the land, are then spread out for inspection ; and if the contracting parties agree, their word is given, and their marks are perhaps put to a deed which they cannot read,* but whose purport they are told. The goods are forthwith carried away ; each man appropriates what he chooses, and it often happens that the chief men of the tribe receive the smallest portion of the purchase goods. One, among many objections alleged against the purchase of land, said to have been made by de Thierry, was, that he could not have bought land in New Zealand, while absent, because, in order to make a purchase valid, it is necessary to buy from the tribe, not from individuals. Mr. Stokes was informed that when a tribe is utterly van- quished, the conqueror generously gives the survivors a grant of land, and even slaves. I do not see how to reconcile this act of generosity with the blood-thirsty warfare which has usually ended in indiscriminate slaughter, and cannibal feasts. Satisfied, for the time, on the principal subject : — the much desired abolition of the use and importation of ardent spirits, was discussed. An old man, named ' Noah,"* spoke to the tribe ; and after alluding to the disgraceful and unfortunate events, caused by drinking, which had happened to their friends, and to neighbouring tribes, since the white men had introduced the vice of intoxication, old Noah ended a short but eloquent harangue, by saying, " expel the liquid fire." Noah is a Christian : his name was his own choice, when bap- tized, some years ago. The princip:J men, eight in number, signed, or made marks upon the paper, which contained the resolutions agreed to by acclamation. Noah wrote his name in a distinct hand : each of the others made marks resem- bling a small part of the tattowed lines upon their faces. One man imitated the mark upon the side of his nose ; ano- ther that near his eye. Baked potatoes were afterwards brought to us; and a curious wine, of which I had not * A few natives can now read and write.