They were varied by tragedies on a larger scale.

In 1809 the _Boyd_, a ship of 500 tons--John Thompson, master--had discharged a shipload of English convicts in Sydney.

The captain decided to take in a cargo of timber in New Zealand, and accordingly sailed to Whangaroa, a romantic inlet to the north of the Bay of Islands.

Amongst the crew were several Maoris.

One of these, known as George, was a young chief, though serving before the mast.