Pito-one
Ngaiti was on deck waiting to board the ship's boat that would take him ashore. This was the day he would be leaving the Tory and ending his employment with the New Zealand Company. He was saying goodbye to his best friends, Andrew, and a tearful Eleanor. Promises were made to remain in contact, to see each other frequently and not become strangers. Colonel Wakefield, Charles Heaphy, Jerningham Wakefield and Doctor Ernst Dieffenbach, the company's naturalist, appeared on deck and began descending the ladder to the boat waiting below. Eleanor gave Ngaiti a final sisterly hug and said her emotional goodbyes. After shaking hands with Andrew, Ngaiti hoisted his canvas sack to his shoulder and with a wave climbed over the side.
Andrew and Eleanor watched as the ship's boat made its
