When the king had learned the object of my mission, and that I had come to obtain his authority to explore the Maori territory, he was careful to inquire what other countries I had visited, and whether I had before travelled in other parts of the world with no other view than to see mountains, rivers, and plains. "The Maori," he remarked, "never undergoes fatigue for such a purpose as that, but I know," he continued, with a slight touch of _naïveté_, "the _pakeha_ is different to the Maori, he has the 'earth hunger,' and likes to see new places. If you wish to go into the country, you may do so when the meeting is over, but it is not good that you should go until the Maori has spoken with the _pakeha_ at the _korero_, therefore I say wait, '_taihoa_.'" [Illustration: MANGA REWI. (_A Chief of the Ngatimaniapoto Tribe._)] The latter word sounded somewhat unpleasant to my ears, as I knew with the Maoris it was their gospel, and was synonymous with the Spanish proverb, "Never do to-day what may be done to-morrow." I took the king at his word, but before I left his presence I mentally recorded a vow that, if I could not get into the King Country at the north, I would get into it at the south, which I eventually did a few months afterwards, as the sequel of this narrative will show. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 5: _Whare_ is the native name for a house or hut.] [Footnote 6: The _aukati_ signifies the boundary of a _tapued_ or sacred district.] [Footnote 7: _Pakeha_ is a term used by the Maoris to designate Europeans; it means a stranger, or a person from a distant country.] [Footnote 8: For a synopsis of the principal _flora_ met with during the journey, see Appendix.] [Footnote 9: The word _korero_ (to speak) is here applied as a general term to the meeting.] [Footnote 10: The _pounamu_, or greenstone (nephrite), a species of jade, is much prized by the Maoris as an ornament, either for the neck or ears. It is only found on the west coast of the Middle Island, the native name for which is _Wahipounamu_, or Land of the Greenstone.] CHAPTER II. THE KORERO. The Kingites--Half-castes--An albino--The King's speech--Maori oratory--The feast. On the morrow after my interview with the king the meeting between the Native Minister and Tawhiao, with a view to bring about more friendly relations between the two races, was arranged to take place.