A Copy Bay of Islands. Novr. 5. 1819 Queries Answers 1. How far in your opinion has a regular communication between New Zealand & Port Jackson thro’ the medium of the Active contrib-uted to your Security & comfort during your residence in the Island? 1. Our Security & Comfort have been greatly promoted by a regular communication between N.Z. & P. J. through the medium of the Active, during our residence in the Island. The constant attention that has been paid to us by our powerful — Friends at a distance has made a favo-rable impression on the minds of the Natives in our behalf; & our temporal wants have been also regularly supplied which could not have been done without regular intercourse with Port Jackson. 2. How far has the same commu-nication contributed to the gen-eral improvement of those — Natives who have had an oppor-tunity to visit P.J. and to see & taste of the comforts of Civil Life? 2. The Natives of New Zealand are Men of strong Intellects & in general possess a Spirit of enterprise & enquiry. Those who have visited P.J. have at all — times express’d themselves highly gra-tified with what they have seen & heard in the Colony, & with their various em-ployments there. When they return to this Island they will spend many hours & sometimes whole Nights in telling — their Countrymen what the Customs of Englishmen are, & what are their various occupations in Civil Life. 3. Have the respective Reports of those Natives who have ret-urned to their friends, added to your influence & respectability amongst the Inhabitants? 3. They have. 4. How far would it be prud-ent or even practicable from the spirit of enterprize & thirst [?] for Commerce which the New — Zealanders possess from their national Character, to prevent them from visiting P.J. 4. The Natives consider the Mission-aries on shore, The Owner if the Vessel. The Captain & Ship’s Company, as mem-bers of the Body. They know also that the Vessel is navigated Chiefly of their Friends the Missionaries, & feel them-selves more interested in the Missionary Vessel, than they would in any other. in any Vessel which may be employed in the Mission to dispose of their Malts [?] +c? It would not therefore be prudent or even practicable to prevent the New Zealanders from visiting P.J. in a Vessel employed in the Mission. That spirit of enter-prize & thirst for commerce which — they possess would be check’d by such a measure; & they would be dissatisfied with the Missionaries who lived — in the Land. [f] 5. What number of Natives & under what Regulations so as to give the most general Satis-faction to the Chiefs, showed be permitted to visit Port Jack-son, if it showed be deem’d necess-ary for any to go? 5. Generally speaking two or three of the most intelligent Youths might be per-mitted to visit P.J. & remain there for some time for the purpose of being ins-tructed in reading, writing, or the Arts. Also a Chief or two might be permitted to pay a short visit. Should a greater number of natives be very importunate to embark at any one time it would be right to yield to their wishes as — much as possible, if no other means could be adopted to pacify them. 6. How far have the industry of the natives, the cultivation of the Land, & other comforts of Life increas’d since your residence amongst them? 6. Their Industry & the Cultivation of their Land have increased in proportion to the means which have been put from time to time into their hands, & have far exceeded our expectations. They have enlarg’d their fields as they have procured Implements of Hus-bandry, & the comforts of Life have increas’d accordingly. 7. Have the Deaths of the natives for the last 3 years been in this same proportion to the 2 first Years you liv’d amongst them? 7. They have not. During the 1st. year in particular there was a great mortality amongst the natives – but we now seldom hear of the death of a native. The natives live better. Many of them were formerly very — much afflicted with Boils, but — since they have lived upon more — wholesome food, they are free from — them, & at present appear healthy & well. [f] 8. How far are their outward Circumstances & general appear--ance improv’d since your arri—val in this Island? 8. Their outward Circumstances, & general appearance one greatly — improv’d. 3 9. Do they manifest aless thirst for war, & a greater desire to promote — Agriculture & commerce than — formerly? 9. They are still very fond of war, but mani-fest a greater desire to promote agriculture. The means now afforded to them to purchase Hogs, Potatoes, Corn, Malts [?], Fish Lines etc. with Axes, Hoes, & other European Articles has awaken’d their native Industry exceedingly. 10. Have they in any degree laid aside their ferocious habits, such as shouting, dancing naked, & Sham fighting to inflame their passions, & to kindle their warlike ardour? 10. The surrounding Natives are not so much addicted to these Habits as formerly. We seldom hear their shoutings &c. — except at a time when they are visited by Parties from a distant part of the Country. 11. With respect at to their Religion, do you consider them particularly — Attentive to their own Ceremonies? 11. They are particularly attentive to their own Ceremonies, Chiefly as we conceive from the fear of Death. 12. How far do you conceive their Superstitions may tend to obstruct the introduction of the Gospel — amongst them? 12. There appears to be no particular im--pediment to the introduction of the Gospel any further than the powerful effect of traditionary [?] Superstitions – Principles implanted in their minds by their Ancestors, & which we have no doubt will yield to the superior Light — of the Gospel, as soon as the Missionaries shall be enabled under the Divine blessing & guidance to lay before them the solemn & important Truths of Christianity. 13. Have they shown any disrespect for, & aversion to, the Forms of the Christian Religion & Sabbaths? 13. They have not; but on the contrary have on many occasions paid great respect to — both. 14. Do you consider them as fully— prepared for the reception of the Gospel, as my other uncivilized – nation? 14. We consider them much more so than any other uncivilized Nation which we have heard of. 15. Have you had any apprehensions for your personal safety while liv--ing amongst them? 15. We have not all been free from appre--hensions of this, but we are now under none whatever. [f] 16. Can Public Schools be esta--blish’d for the rising genera--tion? 16. We believe they can. To The Rev.d Saml. Marsden &c. &c. &c. _. } /Signed/ { Will.m Hall { Tho.s Kendall { John King. Questions – from The Rev.d Sam.l Marsden To The Missionaries on his arrival at The — Bay of Islands — with their Answers — in August 1819. —