After the Native Minister had replied to the king's speech, the present of provisions given by the government, consisting of beef, flour, sugar, and biscuits, was hauled to the front in bullock drays, and, after being piled into a heap, Major Te Wheoro stepped forward and acknowledged the donation on the part of the natives. When this ceremony was concluded, loud shouts of joyful voices were heard in the distance, and from each side of the _marae_ two separate bands of about 200 women and girls came dancing along in variegated costumes, with small baskets in their hands made of plaited flax, and filled with cooked potatoes, roasted pork, and fish. They rounded up in front of the meeting with a measured step, between a skip and a hop, and when they had deposited their burdens in a heap, and grinned immensely, as if to show their white teeth, half a dozen stalwart men came forward with roasted pigs cut in twain, or rather amputated down the centre of the spine. When these sweet luxuries had swelled the dimensions of the _kai_,[14] Te Ngakau stepped forward, and, taking up a pronged stick, or roasting-fork, formally presented this token of hospitality to the government, which in its turn, according to custom, and to avoid the incubus of a "white elephant," returned it with thanks to the natives. Feasting then became the order of the day, and joining the king's circle, we partook of the kindly fruits of the earth with unalloyed satisfaction; and as table requisites were not plentiful, we dispensed with those baubles of modern progress, and ate after the primitive mode of our forefathers. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 11: _Marae_, an open space in front of a native settlement.] [Footnote 12: _Aotearoa_ is the ancient native name for the North Island; it is equivalent to "_land of bright sunlight_."] [Footnote 13: Meaning the _Aukati_ or boundary-line separating the King Country from the European portion of the colony.] [Footnote 14: _Kai_, Maori word for food.] CHAPTER III. ASCENT OF PIRONGIA. Mount Pirongia--Geological features--The ascent--A fair prospect. [Illustration: HATI WIRA TAKAHI. (_Chief of the Ngapuhi Tribe._)]