WHALING ON THE EAST COAST.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 20, 6 October 1874, Page 257

WHALING ON THE EAST COAST.

(From the Poverty Bay Herald.) The whaling season on the East Coast has been unusually favourable, and the Ngatiporou Natives, in whose hands it for the most part lies, will reap a substantial return for their arduous exertions in this uncertain and perilous occupation. Along the coast from Tologa Bay, as far northward as Whangaparaoa, a distance of about 100 miles, whales have been extremely plentiful, about a dozen of these marine monsters having been killed and " tryed out," several others having escaped on account of rough weather, or other causes. At Te Mahia, three whales have been safely landed, and on the capture of the last one, a fine specimen, which yielded some six tuns of oil, it was found that canoes, cooking utensils, and every other vessel capable of holding fluid, were already filled to the brim, and a considerable quantity of the

oil was wasted in consequence. Fortunately, however, the " Opotiki" called in arid furnished the Natives with a fresh • sup ; ply of casks, which, enabled them to complete the trying out operations. Henare Potae is a great authority, in whaling matters, and it is said that if he is anywhere in the vicinity, the delicate and hazardous operation of dealing the deathblow to the whale with the lance is always left to him. Although there is little doubt that Pakeha whalers, from their improved appliances, and their experience, and greater daring, would have secured a still larger number of fish, it appears that the Madris in many cases exhibit great courage and perseverance in the matter, several instances having occurred lately when the boats have remained out for several days and nights together in pursuit of their prey. It' is estimated that the JSigktiporous have collected altogether about fifty tuns of oil, arid all agricultural operations have of late been entirely neglected, but the whaling season "being now closed, they will begin, planting and sowing very shortly.

An Alabama paper saysA girl named Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Albert Moore, living in the northeast end of Cleburn country, Alabama,. was lately returning home from a neighbour's house, when she felt something heavy strike upon, her shoulders, and the next instant she was borne to the ground, She. says that her first impression was that she had been seized by a panther or some other wild beast, but soon felt the talons of what proved to be an eagle clutching her sides and arms, lacerating the flesh in a fearful manner, and, with its beak pecking her head, she was carried some distance on the groun<l. : Pretty soon the eagle, having secured his prize, , with claws and bill firmly'fixed, raised her from the ground and sailed along at from three to four feet above the earth for some distance. Occasionally she was dropped on the ground, but the eagle would as often raise her again, making new and serious wounds with his talons in her body, with his beak in her head, til} at last he reached the height often feet, and attempted to light on the branch : of a red oak tree on the roadside, when his hold again gave way, and the girl .fell.to the earth seriously stunned and hurt. She was. unconscious for a time, and then clambered over the fence near by her father's orchard, and began making the. best of-her way to the near which she was met by her mother, who had been attracted by her screams, and was hastening to her relief. The', most remarkable part of tbe matter is that , the ,girl did not: see. the eagle at all. A shawl which had been securely fastened about her head, so. as to project over her face, hid the rude antagonist from her view. The track along which she was dragged, however, was plainly visible in the road. The girl is fourteen years old. Every effort is being made to kill or capture'the eagle, which has since been twice seen by the hunters.