Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara, Volume III (Commodore B. Von Wullerstorf-Urbair,) Undertaken by Order of the Imperial Government in the Years 1857, 1858, & 1859, Under the Immediate Auspices of His I. and R. Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, Commander-In-Chief of the Austrian Navy.

CHAPTER XIX.

Chapter 2206 wordsPublic domain

AUCKLAND.

Request preferred by the Colonial Government to have the coal-fields of the Drury District thoroughly examined by the geologists of the _Novara_.--Geographical remarks concerning New Zealand.--Auckland.--The Aborigines or Maori.--A Mass meeting.-- Maori legends.--Manners and customs of the Aborigines.--The Meri-Meri.--Most important of the vegetable esculents of the Aborigines before the arrival of the Europeans.--Dr. Thomson's anthropological investigations.--Maori proverbs and poetry.--The present war and its origin.--The Maori king.--Decay of the native population and its supposed causes.--Advantages held out by New Zealand to European emigration.--Excursion to the Waiatarna valley.--Maori village of Oraki.--Kauri forests in the Manukau range.--Mr. Smith's farm in Titarangi.--St. John's College.--Intellectual activity in Auckland.--New Zealand silk.-- Excursion to the coal-fields of the Drury and Hunua Districts.-- New Year's Eve at the Antipodes.--Dr. Hochstetter remains in New Zealand.--The Catholic mission in Auckland.--Two Maories take service as seamen on board the _Novara_.--Departure.--The results of the explorations of the geologist during his stay at the island.--Crossing the meridian of 180° from West to East.-- The same day reckoned twice.--The sight of the islands of Tahiti and Eimeo.--Arrival in the harbour of Papeete. 93