Watkins Reverend James 1840-1844. Journal. Facsimile, Hocken Library, Dunedin. 90 pp.
Notes
Notes
Journal, kept while serving as a missionary at Waikouaiti, South Island, 1840-1844
Entry for 13 February 1841:
"Have not had so many at the schools this week as in time past, many of the natives being away in quest of food &c the former a scarce article at present, and only necessity can drive them to dig and prepare the fern root which annually saves them from famine, it possesses a good quantity of nutriment but is disagreeable to the taste of the uninitiated and from the woody particles which belong to it is rough eating, a little more labour would generally secure them abundance, but labour they do not love, nor do I think they do as much in twelve months as they might do in two. Sleep and smoke, eat when they can get food and talk are their employments and enjoyments, I believe many of them have not been near their potatoe grounds since they planted, and that it is two months ago I should conjecture."
In entry, 5 July 1842:
"Korako an aged chief who remembers the time of Capt. Cook"s visit, and the introduction of the potatoe, ..."
