Bay of Islands New Zealand
July 4. 1815
Revd Sir,
	It is with pleasure, that I have this oppertunaty [sic] to adress you with these few Lines, hoping they will find you in good health, as they leaves me, My Wife and two little Boys. In Feb I sent a Letter which would inform you of our settleing at this place under the protection of Duaterra but alas he is no more, it is true, what David said in his Day, it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man, yea, than in Princes. There has been a great deal said about Duaterra and a great deal expected from him, by some, who I trust wishes well to the natives: but his mind was much prejudiced against us, by some natives of Otaheetee, when at Port Jackson the last time—
Feb. 12 Being Sunday Duaterra attended divine Service tho he did not always attend, after he dinned at Mr Hall’s eat as hearty as usual, 13 he was taken ill but came to see us desiring to have the axes made to pay for the Ground we live on, as his people were daily teaseing him for the payment, it was not Duaterra’s Ground— We visited him daily gave him all the nurrishment we were able—
18 in the morning he was much better, at noon they would not let me go to him, he was made secred [sic]; 19 Mr Marsden came from the Ship and after service prevailed upon the Priest to see Duaterra, 23 Mr Marsden renewed or tried to renew his visit but all in vain untill he was or apeared to be in a great Rage, and told them if they did not let him see Duaterra he would fetch the big Guns and blow the Town up and set it all on fire, with this the natives permitted Mr M. to see him and give him a little refreshment, but he was so weak at this time [f] that he could not raise his Hand to his mouth he said he would eat when he was able or had breath enough, being so weak having no kind of nurishment since the 18/ 25 Mr Marsden seen him for the last time as the Active sailed this Day for Port Jackson March 2 it was reported the natives were carring [sic] Duaterra to his burying place, which they would have done some time before if he had not prevented them by loading a Pistol saying he would shoot them, if they atempted to move him, 3 Early in the morning the natives told us Duaterra was Dead, Mr Kendall and I went to see him, he was surrounded with his nearest Friends, a number of natives round about weeping and cutting themselves untill the Blood ran freely down, 4 we was called up at break of day to go and see him, Mr Hall and I went with a number of natives to Tippoona they was crying as before and making a doleful noise, we returned about nine oclock, not long after the natives came and told us that his head Wife had hung herself with a peice [sic] of green Flax upon a tree at a short distance from Duaterra, they all said it was very good at N-Z— Without doubt he was a well wisher to his own people, and to the English, at the same time it was evident he had no knowledge of Religon [sic], Sowing Wheat, planting corn, makeing Farms was his favourite employ and the topic of his conversation, he wanted his people to be like White people to have Bread Tea Suger— Clothing &c &c At the time of his Illness and to his Death it seemed to be the most of his care and talk to take care of us, he advised us to leave N-Z as the people were very bad in general, if not leave, it was his care daily to urge his people to take care of us & defend us to their utmost- - - -
 In this short time we have had many things very disagreeable and distressing to beare with not only from blacks but from whites also, at this time things are beginning to— When things are conducted according to things that are honest true just and of good report there is some hope of concord & peace [f] There is so much self will and selfishness among us that there is not but little room for the will of God and the good of Man to be regarded- - - I am very sorry to say there has been much disputing, care, studying, labour &c, but not how we might please and serve the Lord, but please and serve our selves. I hope and pray that the Lord will be pleased to send to us a wise and able Minister of Jesus Christ, for here, is a great Harvest before us— — This is the first Letter of complaint to England from me, if I forget not, it is with reluctance I now begin hoping it will be my lot to do so no more to speak in a few words without releating [sic] every particular I have to say they have beheaved [sic] very bad to us they will serve the runaway Prisoners from Port-jackson, before us, they made us go without Suger before the Ship came back Here while nobody else did, as there was fifty lb, in the settlement belonging to the society when the ship came back, and in many others instances which I shall omitt as I don’t like to complain, they will let us have nothing, but what they cannot hinder us of— — Mr Hall and Kendall quarrel very much, but the[y] both agree to deprive us of what is wright when they have got things in their own possesion [sic] it is with reluctance they part with any,- - -  I have been employed in makeing Shoes for our Famillies geting a little aquainted with the Language preparing Flax for making Lines I shall begin to instruct them in spinning as soon as the ship is gone if nothing prevents, The 22nd of June Duaterra’s Mother-in-law brought her Grand Daughter to our House, desireing she should live with us to nurse the child to learn to read to sew clean the House to do every thing like White People, this being the first that has been offered to us we gladly received her upon conditions she will not steal and will endevour to act according to our direction we must feed & cloth her, we could have a great many more but they steal all from us they are able, they are not content with a bellyfull themselves but want to feed all their Party and steal all they possibly can of other things besides. Many lives by plunder the Strong plunders the weak they have stolen ten cocks and hens & eighteen Turckeys from me besides things out of the House, altho they beheave well as we say, yet we have great deal to bear of ruff and indecent treatment they have learned a set of bad [f] words of our country men and often use them with obscene actions without shame or a sense of the evil of it, Ever since the Death of Duaterra we have been exposed left to mercy of all parties both far and near,
April 19 A large party came from Wangaroa in a most formidable manner, thirteen large Canoes about four Hundred people, indeed Sir you may belive me every white man and woman turned pale, the Chief came along the Beach in the front of his men came up to us saying he was not angry with us but with our natives, the reason was this, this Chief was up a little time before with a small party he prevailed upon Mr Kendall to go up with him to see the remains of the Ship Boyde and her cargo Dollers &c which the chief spoke of, Racoo Duaterra’s father in law prevailed upon him not to go for fear they should kill him as he had received strict orders to take care of us therefore this chief was very angry with Racoo brought this large party up to fight Racoo but he being out of the way at this time they was quiet stolen all from us they could and left us the next Day, next week they returned went past our place landed about two miles from us & destroyed a field of Potatoes belonging to our natives killed all the Pigs they could find- - The Wangaroa people are enemies to our natives they dare not come while Duaterra was living when Dead they came boldly they told us they would not hurt us nor Mr Marsdens Ship if it went there but any other ship coming they would take it if they could- - - - a little time back they [sic] Sawyer & his wife & child and one man was over at the New settlement living in a New house just built a party of natives surrounded the House in the night got in stolen all from them and threatened their lives so we know not what a Day may bring forth- - -
July 2nd the little girl we have living with us refused to repeat the Alphabet saying it was no good I put the Book up saying if she did not like to learn to read I would not make her I soon perceived what was the reason I taken the Bible down, telling her that this was Gods Book, that was not, which she used to read in, it being a speling Book. I asked her to come to read she came with pleasure she knew four Letters before, at this time lerned two more, they are very jelous of our God saying Mr Hall & Mr Kendall & myself praying so much makes our God [f] destroy them about this time here as hath a great number died some say it is our God kills them, others NZ God, they drop off very fast the weather being wet and cold and having no kind of nurishment, when ill they must not sleep nor eat in their House. Here is not one Chief I think I may say not one that wishes us well but what wants us to live with him or eat at his place, either one or all of us but this will not do at present they are such rouges [sic], and another thing is if we are under them we can be of no use to them, they want to instruct us how to treat our Children & cooke, and many other things saying it is very good in N-Z so that if we was in single families among them we could be of no use to them, in my opinion for they are like Bears when vexed we should be in too much fear of them not only that but it would be too strong a temptation for them they wont plunder us no doubt, no doubt the[y] would not kill us, here is no sort of punishment in genrral except when they are mad then they destroy all before them when we get any thing back which they have taken they in gennral want as much for bringing it back as it is worth the Chief will scold a little and then all laugh  together so no more only say it is very bad— I have sent you one matt one Basket, two small Flutes, a green stone, made up into a small Parcel covered with two news papers I have put it into a Box of Mr Kendall’s which he will direct to Revd J. Partt who I have no doubt but you will have them safe, the two Flutes are for your Dear Children, it is but a poor present but it shows that those people are not always idle, nor destitute of knowledge. I have sent a small parcel directed to my Father in it is one matt and one small Basket for my Mother if you will be so kind as to [f] send it to my Father I shall be very thankful to you and look upon it as a particular Favour it is put in Mr Kendalls Box sent to Revd J. Pratt— Pray excuse my blunders, you will plainly see Sir, how much we need the prayers and direction of our Honourable Society you well know that a Congregation without a Minister a Flock without a shepard [sic], a servant without a master is not good so here is little good to be expected untill a good Shepard cometh amongst us. So no more at this time but to whish you good luck in the name of the Lord and pray that the best of Blessings may rest upon you and your Family and that great power may attend your Ministry to the conviction and convertion of many Sinners to God and this is the sincere prayer of your most unworthy Servant. Give my kind respects to Mr Wilson and all that are dear to him So I rest
Revd Sir
Your most unworthy
and most obedient Servant
John King