ng that man to light. Mr. Smith explains that "Ai" in
Rutherford's spelling represents "E," a vocative, in the accepted method
of spelling, and "my" represents "mai." The two words, combined, would
be "E Mai." In this way, "Mai's" attention would be called. But "Mai"
may be the first, second, or third syllable of a man's name, according
to euphony. The name supplied in the narrative, therefore, is no guide
in a search for Rutherford's friendly chief.]

[Footnote B: Transactions New Zealand Institute, volume xxiii., page
453.]

[Footnote C: "Journal of the Polynesian Society," volume x., page 35.]

JOHN RUTHERFORD

THE WHITE CHIEF.

CHAPTER I.

John Rutherford, according to his own account, was born at Manchester
about the year 1796. He went to sea, he states, when he was hardly more
than ten years of age, having up to that time been employed as a piecer
in a cotton factory in his native town; and after that he appears to
have been but little in England, or even on shore, for many years.

He served for a considerable time on board a man-of-war off the coast of
Brazil; and was afterwards at the storming of San Sebastian, in August,
1813. On coming home from Spain, he entered himself on board another
king's ship, bound for Madras, in which he afterwards proceeded to China
by the east passage, and lay for about a year at Macao.

In the course of this voyage his ship touched at several islands in the
great Indian Archipelago, among others at the Bashee Islands,[D] which
have been rarely visited. On his return from the east he embarked on
board a convict vessel bound for New South Wales; and afterwards made
two trading voyages among the islands of the South Sea.

It was in the course of the former of these that he first saw New
Zealand, the vessel having touched at the Bay of Islands, on her way
home to Port Jackson.

His second trading voyage in those seas was made in the "Magnet," a
three-masted schooner, commanded by Captain Vine; but this vessel having
put in at Owhyhee,[E] Rutherford fell sick and was left on that island.
Having recovered, however, in about a fortnight, he was taken on board
the "Agnes," an American brig of six guns and fourteen men, commanded by
Captain Coffin, which was then engaged in trading for pearl and
tortoiseshell among the islands of the Pacific.

This vessel, after having touched at various other places, on her return
from Owhyhee, approached the east coast of New Ze