CHAPTER XXXIII, THROUGH COOK’S STRAIT. AILING away from Auckland, the Ante- lope was headed for Wel- lington, the capital of New Zealand; a hand- some city on the south- ern shore of North Is- land. As they’ neared — Wellington, Uncle Nat said to the boys: ONE PROOF THAT THE EARTH IS ROUND. “We are not only ap- proaching the capital, but Port Nicholson also. I speak of it be- cause I want to say something about the natives of this country. There have been wars between them and the English, and the land- question has been a bone of contention. “In 1839 a vessel named the Tory arrived at Port Nicholson and a num- ber of natives came on board. From the ship’s deck various headlands, rivers and islands were pointed out, and the natives were asked if they would sell them. They said yes; and in less than three months a tract as big as Ireland was bought of the accommodating natives, and many chiefs signed papers of sale, but only few understood. fully what they were domg. About nine thousand pounds were paid away 286