Wythangee Bay of Islands January 16th 1816 Revd and Dear Sir The present being a fine opportunity for communicating our latest experiences and I am sorry they are not more favourable— yesterday Captn Graham came over to my Settlement and left me a Boat and several other articles out of his Ship, he he [sic] has been very kind indeed— After Captn Graham returned to his Vessel, my friendly Natives being up the Country in search of potatoes and a strange party came over from the other side of the Bay and got upon the Sawyers house top and I went to desire them to come down, they immediately laid hold of me and threw me down and got upon me and brandished their war instruments over me— it could be nothing but that some Almighty power that Saved Daniel [f] out of the jaws of the Lions that delivered me out of the hands of these Savages— And when Mrs Hall saw me Seised [sic] she came running towards me and a native met her and struck her in the face with a war instrument and knocked her down, and when I got myself wrested out from under them, I beheld my dear partner laying moaning and I could not see a feature in her face for blood— But some friendly Natives being at a short distance heard the alarm and came to our assistance else God only knows what the end would have been— we have reason to bless God that the Mrs wound is not mortal and I hope she will get the use of her eye again after a time— the first thing they took from us was our Bedding they stript the bed [f] they also pulled our cloathing out of the Boxes but they had not time to take it all away before assistance came, they took away my Axe and some of my Tools, Cooking utensils and fire irons and likewise my two Guns especially the Double-barrelled Gun which I am more concerned for than any other thing— But when I think of the wonderful mercies of God in sparing our Lives, the loss of the things are nothing— and I think from this most astonishing deliverance that the Lord has work for us to do yet, only I am sorry that I am under the necessity of confining my exertions to narrower limits, by removing to the other Settlement for protection. Wythangee is the garden of N. Zealand— I have only been here four months, and we have almost every useful kitchen vegetable in the highest state [f] of perfection. I have reaped both wheat and barley and has more nearly ready for reaping. I have got the Natives to clear two Acres more— I shall endeavour to induce the Natives to carry on the cultivation if possible, I shall give some of the confidential Chiefs charge of it, and pay them for their labour with Suitable trade and I shall visit it occasionally— I hope your Honourable Committee will not think it strange in me in asking the favour of two more Guns especially a double Barrelled one— I can go out occasionally in a morning befor [sic] breakfast and bring home as many ducks and wild fowl as will serve our house for two days, but this is the least thing— a European in N. Zealand bears no respect among the Chiefs, if he has no arms in his house, they call him only a servant, and he has no influence with them— [f] I am in great want of a few Carpenters Tools especially Axes and Adzes which the Natives frequently pilfer when they can lay hold of them two or three Blanketts [sic] would be very usefull and a few common Table knives, as for Cloathing or any other article I shall leave it entirely to the discretion of the Committee— and may the Lord be your, and our protector and director in all our doings now and for evermore amen— I am Dear [sic] your most affectionate and humble Servant in Christ Wm Hall