HISTORICAL RESEARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 29

HISTORICAL RESEARCH.

WHAT HAPPENED 83 YEARS AGO.

HARDSHIPS OF A SEALING PARTY.

(Fbok Otjk Own Coreispondiht.)

WELLINGTON, October 13.

In connection with the interesting Ne^ Zealand historical researches that Mr M'Nab has been making, some particulars dealing with the voyage of Captain Edwardson along the southern coast of tho South Island of New Zealand in 1822 and 1823 are of interest. The captain had been entrusted by the Government "of New South Walos with the task of gathering Phormiuni tenax (the flax of the New Zealanders 1 , and was given the command of the Snapper, a colonial sloop of 29 tons. Ho had scarcely dropped anchor in the little port known as Southport when several sailors came on board from the American ship General Gates, left on that coast 17 months previously to hunt for seals.

The unfortunate men were in a most deplorable state and looking like skeletons. They had lived miserably and. in horrible snfferjng, fearing famine as well as the Natives. All the help, and succour that humanity could suggest was given tar them, but they were so weak that they could a>fe first only take tea. W-hen these poor sailors — 12 in number — were left by their ship they were given two barrels of salt, bacon. and dry provisions to last eight months, but very soon the place where their stores were hidden was discovered by the Natives. The Natives took possession of the stores, afcer having killed and devoured the young apprentice who was in charge. For about eight months the Americans had been hunted from place to place by the Islanders. Two of them had been captured and at once eaten. The Maoris' hut at Chalky Harbour contained some disgusting specimens of their usual food, says the chronicles. In spite of their miserable condition, they had gathered 1165 skins of seals from various points of the coast.

• The Americans afterwards set out on an excursion in their boat, but soon came back, as they had been completely routed by three large pirogues, full of men, women, and children -and a number of dogs. Tho unfortunate men, taken by surprise, abandoned all they posseesed and 1 went into the woods towards Preservation Bay, which they crossed in a sort of catamaran, hastily constructed of floating wood. They arrived in this way, all except one man, who was neve? found.

A band of Natives followed, *nd amongst them was a white man who spoke in English, snd another man called Stuart. Tho latter had come from Kangaroo Island, with a wife of the country and' two children, to settle in Now Zealand, but having, with his family, been taken prisoner by the Maoris he had adopted their customs, and had been employed by the chiefs as pilot in tracking and finding the different hiding; places of the sealers. In all four of tho Americans had been eaten by the Natives, and one had been lost. An island off which the Snapper dropped anchor in Foveaux Strait was called Goulburn, in honour of the Governor of New South Wale 3, who had taken great interest in the advantage to be obtained: ' from Phormiuni tenax. In one place where the expedition landed an armed party was sent on chore. and two -women were engaged to com© and work flax near fhe ship, with the promieo of fish-hooks, nails, knives, scissors, .hatchets, razors, glass beads, and trinkets. The expedition had brought two machines from Sydney for separating the fibrous part of the flax leaves from their covering, but; these machines did not answer the desired purpose, and only became an object o£ fccorn to the Natives.