Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-12-29
AMONG THE MAORIS.
A HOLIDAY STORY OF NEW ZEALAND
LIFE,


Of tho Cannibals-A Sharp Engagement
and q Fortunate Rescue-A Merry Christ
mas Day At Auckland.
1T takes people from north of the
equator long time TO get accustomed
to the great difference in the seasons
one finds in Australasia, and particu.
larly here in the upper island of New
Zealand, where the climate is much like
that Of your gulf states.''
That is what Sir George Grey, ex-
governor Of New Zealand, said to me at
Auckland some years ago.
It was nearing the Christmas hoii-
days, and as my stay in these beautiful
islands was limited to two months de-
termined to see tho natives in 1.-The
kings country" as their great reserva-
ton is called, the famous hot springs to
the east and the grand avalanches and
mountain lakes Of the middle island
without regard to the season.
had a letter from Sir George Grey
to the Maori chief Ontonga, and half
breed Maori named Mahkah was engag.
ed to act as my guide into "the kings
country"
The American consul came to my
hotel to bid me goodby, and during the
conversation he told me Of country
man of ours who had reached the city
that day from Sydney.
His name is Baldwin," said the
R0ncr0 Hor1 no ic ioI, II, ho
tel. He is we'll to do, but his is very
sad case, and I incline to think that,
from dwelling on his troubles, his mind
is unhinged.
Then the consul went on to tell me
that Mr.. Baldwin was from Boston.
Some six years before this he was the
owner of number of New Bedford
whalers that came to collect whale oil
and bone in these southern waters.
The shipowner had son, spirited
but rather delicate boy, who, like most
wholesome youths brought up near the
sea, had an intense yearning to become
g sailor.
After much pleading on the boys part
his mother was dead-Mr. Baldwin
Entrusted him to the care of Captain
Wellman of the whaler Albatross, with
instructions to send Clifford-that was
the boys name-home on some steamer
as soon as he became tired of sailors
life, which he expected would be the
case by the time the ship reached the
south Pacific.
But the AlbatrOsS never came back,
and, except once, was never heard Of
again. Six months after she left New
Bedford she touched at Norfolk island,
where Clifford was reported we'll and
still enamored of the sea.
The manner Of the loss of the Alba.
tross could be only q matter for specula-
ton, but that she was lost was settled
beyond doubt, for the insurance COM
panies had paid the claim and the
widows and orphans Of the missing sail
ors had discarded their mourning years
ago.
''Still Mr.. Baldwin believes bis son is
alive, said the consul, land he spends
most of his time travelling along the
coasts Of Australasia in his vain search.
he is now much exhausted, and I fear
he will not see the year out
Together we called on Mr.. Baldwin,
q thin, careworn man, prematurely old,
although he was only IS.
He told me his sad story, as he had
told it for years to every one he met,
and in obedience to his request prom
ised to look out for the lost Clifford, as
every one had done, but it is unneces-
sary to state that there was never hope
behe.>1 any Of these promises
The next day, with my guide, left
Auckland. It was the 14th Of Deem
Der, aud more beautiful summer day
never came down from the blue skies
tor the delight of man. The woods were
ehimmering emerald pillows. The train
ran through broad sheep pastures and
past farms and orchards as beautiful
and rich in color as are the bills of Dev-
onshire in June
Unnecessary here to tell of our reach
Ing the end of the railroad, of the long
but CHEEKY stage Journeys, of Our visit to
the geysers and the scene of the recent
earthquake or Of our long horseback ride
into the forbidden land Of "the kings
country"
mot even the queen of England"
said my guide, with show of pride,
"cou]d enter the kings country with
out permission Of the chief. But few
viii te men have ever been there, nor
could you go if you were not the friend
Of Sir George Grey. whom the Maoris
call their father
Ontonga, the Maori chief, a tall,
magni6cently formed man, with tat.
tooed face, treated me with a hospitality
that was at once princely and barbaric.
These people in appearance and man.
ners reminded me very much Of our own
Navajo Indians. se9They cultivate the
ground after a fashion, but have great
flocks Of sheep, herds Of cattle and pigs
and poultry without end, while every
stream teens with fish.
Rather reluctantly the chief gave me
permission to 60 to the coast. The rea-
son for his opposition was the danger
ION the islands of Hankan." explained
the guide. ''There is still band Of man
eaters. That's why our people keep
away from the coast and do: not wish
white visitors to go. there"
I reasoned that %if +these people had
been really dangerous the English would
have cleared them out long before, and
the fact that they were unheard Of if
not unknown outside .'the kings coun-
try" argued that they were not impor-
tant. But the prospect of seeing real
cannibals, even at distance, increased
my desire to 80. ; :: H.: !. 80
We carried prov isiona On q pack horse.