The Chatham Islands |
 History: William Broughton’s account of his visit mentioned the abundance of seals on Chatham Island. As a result, sealers sailing from ports such as Sydney and Hobart (as well as further afield) made numerous voyages to the Chatham Islands during the early decades of the 19th century. Thousands upon thousands of seals – a significant resource on which the Moriori had depended for both food and furs – were slaughtered. The troubles confronting the Moriori had, however, only just begun, because … |