A more delightful child's narrative it would be hard to find.
[Footnote 1: _Ancient History of the Maori_, vol.v., p.

128.] The people at Mercury Bay knew at once, says Taniwha, that the English were goblins, because a boat's crew pulled ashore, rowing with their backs to the land.

Only goblins have eyes in the backs of their heads.
When these creatures stepped on to the beach all the natives retreated and the children ran into the bush.

But seeing that the wondrous beings walked peaceably about picking up stones and grasses and finally eating oysters, they said to each other, "Perhaps these goblins are not like our Maori goblins," and, taking courage, offered them sweet potatoes, and even lit a fire and roasted cockles for them.
When one of the strangers pointed a walking-staff he had in his hand at a cormorant sitting on a dead tree, and there was a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, followed by the cormorant's fall there was another stampede into the bush.

But the goblins laughed so good-humouredly that the children took heart to return and look at the fallen bird.