that when he took his friend, Moyhanger,[CM] to a shop
in the Strand to purchase some tools, he was particularly struck with a
common bill-hook, upon which he cast his eyes, as appearing to be a most
admirable instrument of slaughter; and we find accordingly that since
they have had so much intercourse with Europeans some of the New Zealand
warriors have substituted the English bill-hook for their native
battle-axe. Nicholas mentions one with which Duaterra was accustomed to
arm himself.

Their only missile weapons, except stones, which they merely throw from
the hand, are short spears, made of hard wood or whalebone, and pointed
at one extremity. These they are very dexterous with, both in darting at
a mark, and in receiving or turning aside with the blades of their
battle-axes, which are the only shields they use, except the folds of
their thick and flowing mats, which they raise on the left arm, and
which are tough enough to impede the passage of a spear. They have other
spears, however, varying from thirteen or fourteen to thirty feet in
length, which they use as lances or bayonets. These, or rather the
shorter sort, are also sometimes called by English writers patoos, or
patoo-patoos. Lastly, they often carry an instrument somewhat like a
sergeant's halbert, curiously carved, and adorned with bunches of
parrot's feathers tied round the top of it.

The musket has now, however, in a great measure superseded these
primitive weapons, although the New Zealanders are as yet far from being
expert in the use of it.

By Rutherford's account, as we have just seen, they only fire off their
guns once, and throw them away as soon as they have got fairly engaged,
much as some of our own Highland regiments are said formerly to have
been in the habit of doing.

Cruise, in like manner, states that they use their firelocks very
awkwardly, lose an immense deal of time in looking for a rest and taking
aim, and after all, seldom hit their object, unless close to it.

Muskets, however, are by far more prized and coveted by the New
Zealander than any of the other commodities to which his intercourse
with the civilized world has given him access. The ships that touch at
the country always find it the readiest way of obtaining the supplies
they want from the natives, to purchase them with arms or ammunition;
and the missionaries, who have declined to traffic in these articles,
have often scarcely been able to procure a single pig by