E.—No. 5.

sand .vhich had been stained with the blood of the wounded sailor. They also picked up some four or five cartridges. The sand containing the blood was carefully collected, and with the cartridges placed on a board beside the sacred post (Niu). After the usual ceremonies of encircling the post and singing Pai Marire songs, each person advanced to the board, bowed low, and thanked the good god of the Pai Marire for making the Pakehas shoot their own people. The fanatics state that their god has revealed to them that the soldiers are all to return to England, (I believe they heard this via Tauranga), that their god will soon send all the soldiers away. Although a peace is made, they will murder every European, and every Queen Native they can lay hold of as utu for the Maoris who had been killed during the war. I heard this at a large meeting held at Opotiiri about three or four weeks ago. Two or three head of cattle were killed at this time. After the feast the men divested themselves of all clothing, the women stripped naked, with the exception of an under garment tied round the lower part of their persons. They danced together in the church, the men in one row and the women in another opposite. On another occasion they named a pig the Governor, and another represented the General. They then proceeded to hang these; after they were dead, one of the men who was partially deranged from running round the Niu (post), poked out the eyes of the pigs, and ate them raw, saying that before long he would serve the Governor and the General in the same way. I witnessed this scene. About three days after Tiwai and Mr. Fulloonleft in the "Eclipse," numbers of Natives told me that Wepiha, a relation of Mr. Fulloon's, had written to them to seize Fulloon and Tiwai, and take them to A'/hakatane, and he would kill them. The reason assigned was, they had persuaded him to go on board the " Eclipse" and have some grog. They detained him on board as a prisoner, would not let him land, and he was crying all the day and night. Captain Fremantle had asked him questions about the murder, and he told him that he had assisted in pulling the rope with which the Rev. Mr. A rolkner was hanged, but he did it by order of Kereopa. The Captain answered, " I will not keep you, then, but will capture Kereopa." I believe the Te Wepiha instigated the murder of Mr. Fulloon, and that his indignation at it is feigned. I also think his present attitude of hostility to the murderers, is assumed. It is either done with the intention of saving his own neck, or with a design of entrapping the Arawa. AVepiha has always been a violent kingite. The Chief Wiremu Kingi, of Tumapahore, says he will not interfere with the landing of soldiers. He and all his men will be neutral. He will not allow any soldiers to travel towards the East Coast, nor will he permit any Natives to proceed towards Opotiki. He does not object to the soldiers coming to Opotiki, as they will not take land the same as at Waikato, but merely intend to arrest the murderers who have brought evil to this district. A. Agassiz, M.E.C.S. The above statement was made before me on 21st August, 1565. J. Mackay, Jun., Civil Commissioner.

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SYLVIUS VOLKNEK EY THE HAU HAU FANATICS.