The bee., 1896-12-24
AMONG THE MAoRIs.
a HOLIDAY STORY OF NEW ZEALAND
~ LIFE.


An Exciting Journey Through tho Home
OF the Cannlbals--A Sharp Engagomen,
and Fortunate Rescue = A Merry Christ.
mas Day nt Auckland.
1T takes people from north of tho
equator long timo TO got accustomed
TO tho great difference In the seasons
ono finds In Australasia, and particu.
larly hero In the upper island Of Now
Zealand, whore tho climate is much like
that Of your gulf states" /"
That Is what Sir George Grey, OK.
governor Of New Zealand. said 10 mo al
Auckland somo years ago
It was nearing tho Christmas holl-
days and as my stay In these beautiful
Islands was limited 20 two months de-
torniincd 10 scc the natives In "tho
kings country rs their great roserva.
iion is called, tho famous hot springs 10
the cast aud tho grand avalanches and
mountnin lakes Of tho middle island
without regard TO tho season.
had letter from Sir George Grey
10 the Maori chief Oniongn, and n half
breed Maori nnmed Mnhlah was ongng.
cd to act MS my guido into ''the king o
country"
Tho American cousul came 10 my
hotel to bid mo goodby. and during the
conversation he told INC Of country.
man OF ours who bad reached tho city
that day from Sydney.
''His nano Is Baldwin," said tho
consul. 'and 10 Is now sick in this hu.
tol. lio ia we'll 10 do, but his Is very
sad case. aI incline 10 think that,
from dwelling ON his troubles, his mind
is unhingcd. ("
Then tho consul went on to toll me
that MF. Baldwin was from Boston.
Some six years before this no was tho
owner OF q number Of Now Bedford
whalors that oam6 10 collect whale oil
and bono in these southern waters
Tho shipowner had son, n spirited
but rather delicate boy. who, like most
wholesome youths brought up near tho
sea, had an intense yoarning TO become
sailor
After much pleading ON the boys part
ibis mother was doad--Mr. Paldwin
iutinstcd him TO tho caro- OF Captain
Wcllmnii OF tho whaler Albatross. with
instructions TO send Clifford---that was
the boys name--homo ON somo steamer
"a soon as no became tired Of sailors
life, which hc expected would DO tho
case by tho time the ship reached the
south Pacific.
Bat the Albatrosg mover came. back,
aud, except once, was never heard Of
again. Six months nfter she left New
Bedford she touched at Norfolk island,
where Clifford was reported we'll and
still Cnamored Of tho sea.
Tho manner OF tho loss Of the Alba.
tross could bo only matter for spccula-
tion, but that shJ was lost was settled
.beyond doubt, for the insurance COM
panics had paid tho claim and tho
widows and orphans Of the missing sail
ors had discarded their mourning years
ago.
still Mr.. Baldwin believes his son Is
alive, said the consul, ''e=d ho spends
most Of his timo travelling along tho
coasts Of Australasia in his vain search.
He is now much exhausted. and I fear
ho will not sec tho year out"
Together we called ON Mr. Baldwin,
n thin, caroworn man, prematurely old,
although no was only 45.
He told mo his sad story, as he had
told IL for years TO every ono no met,
and in obedience to his request prom
isod to look ont for tho lost Clifford, as
every ono had done, but il is unneces.
sary to state that there was never hope
behind any Of thoso promises
Tho next day, with my guido. left
Auckland. 1t was tho l4th of Decem.
Der, and q moro beautiful summer day
never came down from tho bluo skies
for tho delight Of man. The woods were
shimmering emerald billows Tho train
ran through broad sheep pastures and
past farms and orchards as beautiful
and rich in color as are tho hills Of Dew
onshire In June
Unnecessary here 10 tell OF our reach
ing the end OF tho railroad, Of tho long
but CHEEKY stage journeys, Of our visit to
tho geysers and tho soene Of the recent
earthquake or Of our long horseback ride
into the forbidden land Of "the kings
country.
"Not even tho queen OF England"
said my guide, with a show Of pride,
"oould enter tho kings country with
out permission of tho chief, But few
white men have over boon there, nor
could you go IL you were not the friend
of Sir George Grcy. whom tho Maoris
call their father"
ontonga. the Maori chief, tall.
magnihcontly formed man, with a int
toocd face, treated mo with hospitality |
that was at onco princely and barbario.
These people in appearance and man
ners reminded mo very much OF our own |
Navajo Indians. They cultivate the |
ground after fashion, but have great
iloclSs 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 go to the coast. The roa-
son for his opposition was the danger
ION the islands Of Hankan," explained
the guido. There is still band Of man
eaters That's why our people keep
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