By 1840 the Maoris, if they had not beaten their spears into pruning hooks, had more than one old gun-barrel hung up at the gable-end of a meeting-house to serve when beaten upon as a gong for church-goers.[1] [Footnote 1: See Taylor's _New Zealand, Past and Present_.] By this time there were in the islands perhaps two thousand Whites, made up of four classes--first, the missionaries; second, the _Pakeha_ Maoris; third, the whalers and sealers chiefly found in the South Island; and fourth, the traders and nondescripts settled in the Bay of Islands.

Of the last-named beautiful haven it was truly said that every prospect pleased, that only man was vile, and that he was very vile indeed.

On one of its beaches, Kororareka--now called Russell--formed a sort of Alsatia.

As many as a thousand Whites lived there at times.

On one occasion thirty-five large whaling ships were counted as they lay off its beach in the bay.