He rubbed noses with Hongi and Ruatara, and shook hands with Marsden, who passed on unharmed to the Bay of Islands.

There, by Ruatara's good offices, he was enabled to preach to the assembled natives on the Sunday after arrival, being Christmas Day, from the text printed at the head of this chapter.

The Maoris heard him quietly.

Koro Koro walked up and down among the rows of listeners keeping order with his chief's staff.

When the service ended, the congregation danced a war dance as a mark of attention to the strangers.
Marsden settled his missionaries at Rangihu, where for twelve axes he bought two hundred acres of land from a young _rangatira_ named Turi.
The land was conveyed to the Church Missionary Society by a deed of sale.