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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:55:59 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:55:59 -0700 |
| commit | 76c3889bc3fbdf2c0c85dfe5672e56f216de3882 (patch) | |
| tree | dbc4db407d3c0154c00efa274f883ecbb7036840 /44726-h | |
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diff --git a/44726-h/44726-h.htm b/44726-h/44726-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32aeaef --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/44726-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14535 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of An Old New Zealander, or + Te Rauparaha, the Napoleon of the South. + By T. Lindsay Buick. + </title> + + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-indent: 1em; + text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em; + line-height: 120%; } /* allow room for fn anchors */ + + h1 {text-align: center; font-weight: normal; + clear: both; line-height: 175%; + font-size: 175%; } + h1 span.size080 {font-size: 80%; } + + h2 {text-align: center; font-weight: normal; + clear: both; line-height: 150%; + font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; } + h2 span.size070 {font-size: 70%; } + h2 span.size090 {font-size: 90%; } + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 100%; } + + /* styles for Transcriber's Note */ + .tnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; + margin: 5% 15%; padding: 0.5em 1em; + border: dotted 1px gray; font-size: small; } + .tnote p {text-indent: 0; text-align: left; margin-bottom: .25em; + margin-top: .25em; } + + /* styles for front matter */ + .frontm {margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: center; line-height: 150%; } + .frontm span.size180 {font-size: 180%; } + .frontm span.size120 {font-size: 120%; } + .frontm span.size100 {font-size: 100%; } + .frontm span.size080 {font-size: 80%; } + + /* styles for signature blocks */ + .sigbloc {margin-left: 1.5%; margin-right: 1.5%; } + .sigbloc span.right {display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-align: right; } + .sigbloc span.hfright {display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-align: right; + margin-right: 5.5%; } + .sigbloc span.left {display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 0em; text-indent: 2em; } + + /* styles for tables of contents and illustrations */ + table.toc {margin: auto; } + table.toc td.chap {text-align: center; padding-top: 1.5em; } + table.toc td.titl {vertical-align: top; padding-top: 1.0em; padding-right: 2em; + margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; } + table.toc td.page {vertical-align: bottom; text-align: right; } + table.toc td.detl {padding-left: 2em; font-size: small; font-style: italic; } + table.toc span.small {font-size: x-small; } + + /* styles for lament */ + .lament-ctr {text-align: center; } + .lament {display: inline-block; margin: 0.5em auto; text-align: left; } + .lament span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .lament span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .lament span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .lament span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .lament span.i8 {display: block; margin-left: 8em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .lament span.i12 {display: block; margin-left: 12em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } + + /* styles for poems; "q" adjusts for opening quotes */ + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left; + margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i2q {display: block; margin-left: 1.7em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i8 {display: block; margin-left: 8em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i8q {display: block; margin-left: 7.7em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + .poem span.i12 {display: block; margin-left: 12em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + + /* style for page numbers */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 10px; text-align: right; } + + /* styles for illustrations */ + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; } + .caption {font-size: small; } + .caption p.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 1em; } + .caption p.right {text-align: right; } + + /* styles for footnotes; fnanchor styled to fit within line height */ + .footnote {margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%; + margin-top: 2em; font-size: 95%; } + .fnanchor {vertical-align : 0.3em; font-size: small; + font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; } + + /* misc styles */ + .center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps; } + .nodent {text-indent: 0; } + .block {text-indent: 0; font-size: 90%; + padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; } + + </style> + </head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44726 ***</div> + +<div class="tnote"> + +<p>Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p>Discrepancies between the detail of the list of illustrations, and the +text accompanying the illustrations themselves, have been retained.</p> + +<p>The list also omits the table of Te Rauparaha's wives and children, +that has been inserted at the end of the book before the map of his +and Te Puoho's raids. It is reproduced in this version.</p> + +<p>Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. Inconsistencies in +hyphenation have been retained.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="frontm"> +<span class="size180">AN OLD NEW ZEALANDER</span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 375px"> + <br /> + <a name="frontis" id="frontis"> + <img width="375" height="600" alt="frontis" src="images/004-frontis.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">TE RAUPARAHA.<br /> + After a drawing in the Hocken Collection, Dunedin.</p> + <p class="right">Frontispiece.</p> + </div> +</div> + + <h1>AN OLD NEW ZEALANDER<br /> + <span class="size080">OR, TE RAUPARAHA, THE<br />NAPOLEON OF THE SOUTH</span></h1> + +<div class="frontm"> +<span class="size080">BY</span><br /> +<span class="size120">T. LINDSAY BUICK</span><br /> +<span class="size080">AUTHOR OF "OLD MARLBOROUGH," "OLD MANAWATU"</span><br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img width="50" height="49" alt="emblem" src="images/005-emblem.jpg" /> +</div> + +<div class="frontm"><br /><br /> +<span class="size120">WHITCOMBE & TOMBS, LIMITED</span><br /> +<span class="size100">LONDON MELBOURNE<br /> + CHRISTCHURCH, WELLINGTON AND DUNEDIN, N.Z.<br /> + 1911</span> +</div> + +<h2><br /> +<span class="size075">To<br />S. PERCY SMITH, <span + class="smcap">Esq.</span>, F.R.G.S.</span></h2> + +<div class="frontm"> +<span class="size100">"A WELL-DESERVING PILLAR" IN THE TEMPLE<br /> + OF POLYNESIAN LEARNING, I GRATEFULLY<br /> + DEDICATE THIS BOOK</span> +</div> + +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">I have</span> +been constrained to write the story of "An Old New Zealander" +largely to gratify the frequently expressed desire for a more +comprehensive sketch of Te Rauparaha's career on the part of many +readers of my former books, in which fitful glimpses of the old chief +were given. These references have apparently awakened some +considerable interest in the life and times of the great Ngatitoan, +and although this period of New Zealand's history is by no means +barren of literature, I am hopeful that there is still room for a +volume in which much heterogeneous matter has been grouped and +consolidated. There may be some amongst the reading public who will +question the need, or the wisdom, of recording the savage and +sanguinary past of the Maori; but history is always history, and if +this contribution serves no other useful purpose, it may at least help +to emphasise the marvellous transformation which has been worked in +the natives of New Zealand since Te Rauparaha's time—a transformation +which can be accounted one of the world's greatest triumphs for +missionary enterprise. It may be, too, that some critics +will not subscribe to my estimate of the chief's character, because it +has been the conventional view that he who refused to part with his +own and his people's heritage was destitute of a redeeming feature. +Owing to the misrepresentation of the early settlers and traders he +has been greatly misunderstood by their successors; and they have +further added to the injustice by sometimes seeking to measure one who +was steeped in heathen darkness by the holy standard which was raised +by the Founder of Christianity. As in the careers of most conquerors, +there is much in the life of Te Rauparaha that will not bear +condonation; but in every British community there is a wholesome +admiration for resourcefulness, indomitable will, and splendid +courage; and, if the succeeding pages serve to balance these high +qualities of the chief against his failings, they may assist in +setting up a more equitable standard whereby future generations will +be able to judge him.</p> + +<p>In compiling this work I have necessarily had to draw upon many of the +existing publications on New Zealand, and I now desire gratefully to +acknowledge my obligations to their authors. I have also to thank Mr. +S. Percy Smith, F.R.G.S., for the kindly interest he has displayed in +the progress of my work, and in no less degree must I pay my +respectful acknowledgments to Mr. H. M. Stowell and to Mr. J. R. +Russell for their judicious criticisms and suggestions, whereby I have +been assisted in arriving at a correct historical perspective. To Mr. +T. W. Downes, of Whanganui, who has enthusiastically co-operated with +me in procuring some of the illustrations, and to Mr. J. W. Joynt, +M.A., for his +careful revision of the proofs, I am equally indebted, and now beg to +tender to these gentlemen my sincere thanks for their assistance.</p> + +<p>Humbly acknowledging the force of Carlyle's dictum that "Histories are +as perfect as the historian is wise and is gifted with an eye and a +soul," I now present the result of my last year's labour to the reader.</p> + +<div class="sigbloc"> + <span class="right">THE AUTHOR.</span> + <span class="smcap">Victoria Avenue, Dannevirke, N.Z.,</span> + <span class="left"><i>May</i> 23, 1911.</span> +</div> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table class="toc" summary="table of contents"> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER I</td></tr> + <tr><td></td> + <td class="page"><span class="small">PAGE</span></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">WHENCE AND WHITHER?</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER II</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">ARAWA AND TAINUI</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER III</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">A WARRIOR IN THE MAKING</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">THE LAND OF PROMISE</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER V</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">THE SOUTHERN RAIDS</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">THE SMOKING FLAX</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">WAKEFIELD AND THE WAIRAU</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">THE CAPTIVE CHIEF</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="chap" colspan="2">CHAPTER IX</td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#Page_331">331</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table class="toc" summary="table of illustrations"> + <tr><td class="titl">PORTRAIT OF TE RAUPARAHA</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">After a drawing in the Hocken Collection, Dunedin</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td></td> + <td class="page"><span class="small">FACING PAGE</span></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">DEPARTURE OF "THE FLEET" FOR NEW ZEALAND</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#fleet">16</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">From a painting by K. Watkins, Auckland.<br /> + By kind permission of the Artist</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">POMOHAKA PASSAGE, KAWHIA</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#kawhia">32</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">From a photo by Jonston</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">BURNING OF THE "BOYD"</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#boyd">48</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">From a painting by W. Wright, Auckland.<br /> + By kind permission of the Artist</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">TE ARAWI PA, KAWHIA</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#arawi">64</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">The Point from which the Ngati-Toa<br /> + migration commenced</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">THE MEMORIAL TIKI, KAIAPOI</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#kaiapoi">128</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">Erected on the site of the pa destroyed<br /> + by Te Rauparaha</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">GILLETT'S WHALING STATION, KAPITI, 1842</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#gillett">144</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">By kind permission of Miss Gilfillan.<br /> + From a sketch by her Father</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">MONUMENT ON MASSACRE HILL, WAIRAU</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#wairau">256</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">Erected by public subscription, 1869.<br /> + Photo by Macey</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">TAUPO PA, PORIRUA</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#porirua">288</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">After a drawing by G. F. Angas</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">TE RANGIHAEATA</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#rangihaeata">304</a></td></tr> + <tr><td class="detl">After a drawing by C. D. Barraud, Esq.</td> + <td></td></tr> + <tr><td class="titl">MAP DELINEATING JOURNEYS OF TE RAUPARAHA<br /> + AND TE PUOHO</td> + <td class="page"><a href="#map">At end</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<h2><span class="size090">LAMENT ON THE CAPTURE OF TE RAUPARAHA</span></h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Composed by Hinewhe, and supposed to be sung by Te Rangihaeata.</i></p> + +<div class="lament-ctr"> +<div class="lament"> + +<span class="i12">I</span> +<span class="i6">Alas! my heart is wild with grief:</span> +<span class="i8">There rises still</span> +<span class="i8">The frowning hill</span> +<span class="i2">Of Kapiti, in vain amid the waters lone!</span> +<span class="i8">But he, the chief,</span> +<span class="i6">The key of all the land, is gone!</span> + +<span class="i12">II</span> +<span class="i2">Calm in the lofty ship, O ancient comrade, sleep,</span> +<span class="i4">And gaze upon the stillness of the deep!</span> +<span class="i8">Till now, till now,</span> +<span class="i4">A calm was but a signal unto thee</span> +<span class="i6">To rise in pride, and to the fray</span> +<span class="i4">Despatch some martial band in stern array!</span> +<span class="i8">But go thy way,</span> +<span class="i6">And with a favouring tide</span> +<span class="i6">Upon the billows ride,</span> +<span class="i2">Till Albion's cliffs thou climb, so far beyond the sea.</span> + +<span class="i12">III</span> +<span class="i2">Thou stood'st alone, a kingliest forest tree,</span> +<span class="i8">Our pride, our boast,</span> +<span class="i6">Our shelter and defence to be.</span> +<span class="i4">But helplessly—ah, helplessly wast thou</span> +<span class="i4">Plucked sword-like from the heart of all thy host,</span> +<span class="i6">Thy thronging "Children of the Brave,"</span> +<span class="i8">With none to save!</span> +<span class="i4">Not amid glaring eyes;</span> +<span class="i4">Not amid battle cries,</span> +<span class="i4">When the desperate foes</span> +<span class="i4">Their dense ranks close:</span> +<span class="i2">Not from the lips of the terrible guns</span> +<span class="i2">Thy well-known cry resounding o'er the heath:</span> +<span class="i6">"Now, now, my sons!</span> +<span class="i2">Now fearless with me to the realms of Death!"</span> +<span class="i2">Not thus—not thus, amid the whirl of war,</span> +<span class="i2">Wert thou caught up and borne away afar!</span> + +<span class="i12">IV</span> +<span class="i6">Who will arise to save?</span> +<span class="i6">Who to the rescue comes?</span> +<span class="i4">Waikato's lord—Tauranga's chief,</span> +<span class="i2">Thy grandsons, rushing from their distant homes,</span> +<span class="i0">They shall avenge their sire—they shall assuage our grief.</span> +<span class="i4">While you, the "Children of the Brave,"</span> +<span class="i4">Still sleep a sleep as of the grave,</span> +<span class="i0">Dull as the slumbering fish that basks upon the summer wave.</span> + +<span class="i12">V</span> +<span class="i4">Depart then, hoary chief! Thy fall—</span> +<span class="i4">The pledge forsooth of peace to all—</span> +<span class="i0">Of Heaven's peace, so grateful to their God above,</span> +<span class="i4">And to thy kinsmen twain, by whom</span> +<span class="i0">Was brought us from the portals of the "land of gloom,"</span> +<span class="i4">This novel law of love—</span> +<span class="i6">This law of good:</span> +<span class="i2">Say, rather, murderous law of blood,</span> +<span class="i2">That charges its own crimes upon its foes—</span> +<span class="i0">While I alone am held the source whence these disasters rose!</span> + +</div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">{1}</a></span></p> + +<div class="frontm"><span class="size180"><br />An Old New Zealander</span></div> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER I</span><br /><span +class="size070">WHENCE AND WHITHER?</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">Probably</span> +no portion of the globe is so pregnant with the romance of +unsolved problem as the Pacific Ocean. For thousands of years before +Vasco de Balboa, the friend of Columbus, stood upon the heights of +Panama and enriched mankind by his glorious geographical discovery, +this great ocean and the islands which its blue waters encircle had +remained a world in themselves, undisturbed by the rise and fall of +continental kingdoms, unknown even to the semi-civilised peoples who +dwelt on the neighbouring continental shores. But although thus shut +out from human ken and wrapt in impenetrable mystery, we are entitled +to presume that during all this period of time Nature, both animate +and inanimate, had been there fulfilling its allotted part in the +Creator's plan, though no pen has fully told, or ever can tell, of the +many stupendous changes which were wrought in those far-away centuries +either by the will of God or by the hand of man. That vast and +far-reaching displacements had been effected before the Spanish +adventurer's discovery of 1513 broke this prehistoric silence, there +is little room to doubt, for the position and configuration of the +island groups are as surely the results of geological revolutions as +their occupation by a strangely simple and unlettered people is +evidence of some great social upheaval in the older societies of the +world. Precisely what those +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">{2}</a></span> +geological changes have been, or what the cause of that +social upheaval, it would be imprudent to affirm, but +there is always room for speculation, even in the realm +of science and history, and there is no unreasonable +scepticism in refusing to subscribe to the belief that the +Pacific Ocean always has been, geographically speaking, +what it is to-day, nor rash credulity in accepting the +ruined buildings and monolithic remains which lie +scattered from Easter Island to Ponape, as evidences of +a people whose empire—if such it can be called—had +vanished long before the appearance of the Spaniards in +these waters.</p> + +<p>But even if the opinion still awaits scientific verification that the +islands and atolls which sustain the present population of the Pacific +are but the surviving heights of a submerged continent, there is less +room to doubt that the dark-skinned inhabitants of those islands can +look back upon a long course of racial vicissitude antecedent to the +arrival of the Spaniards. What the first and subsequent voyagers found +was a people of stalwart frame, strong and lithe of limb, with head +and features, and especially the fairness of the skin, suggestive of +Caucasian origin.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_1" id="Ref_1" href="#Foot_1">[1]</a></span> +Although of bright and buoyant spirits, they were +without letters, and their arts were of the most rudimentary kind. Of +pottery they knew nothing, and of all metals they were equally +ignorant. For their domestic utensils they were dependent upon the +gourd and other vegetable products, and for weapons of war and tools +of husbandry upon the flints and jades of the mountains. Their +textiles, too, were woven without the aid of the spindle, and in much +the same primitive fashion as had been employed by the cave-dwellers +of England thousands of years before. In +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">{3}</a></span> +the production of fire they were not a whit less primitive +than the semi-savage of ancient Britain. They thus presented +the pathetic spectacle of a people lingering away +back in the Palæolithic period of the world's history, +while the world around them had marched on through +the long centuries involved in the Bronze and Iron Ages.</p> + +<p>But though devoid of these mechanical arts, the higher development of +which counts for much in national progress, these people were no +sluggards. They were expert canoe-builders, and their skill in naval +architecture was only equalled by the daring with which they traversed +the ocean waste around them. They were bold and adventurous +navigators, who studied the flow of the tides and the sweep of the +ocean currents. They knew enough of astronomy to steer by the stars, +and were able to navigate their rude craft with a wonderful degree of +mathematical certainty. Whether their wanderings were in all cases due +to design or sometimes to accident, cannot now be definitely affirmed; +but there is abundant proof that their voyages had extended from +Hawaii in the north to Antarctica in the south, and there was scarcely +an island that was not known and named in all their complex +archipelagos.</p> + +<p>Of literature they, of course, had none, but they revelled in oral +traditions and in a mythology rich in imagination and poetry, which +accounted for all things, even for the beginning of the world and for +the ultimate destiny of the soul. Being deeply religious and as deeply +superstitious, they interpreted natural phenomena in a mystic sense, +and Pope's lines on the poor Indian would have been equally applicable +to the ancient Maori in Polynesia—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"Lo! the poor Indian, whose untutor'd mind</span> +<span class="i2">Sees God in clouds, or hears Him in the wind:</span> +<span class="i2">His soul proud science never taught to stray</span> +<span class="i2">Far as the Solar Walk or Milky Way.</span> +<span class="i2">Yet simple Nature to his hope has given</span> +<span class="i2">Behind the cloud-capt hill an humbler heaven;</span> +<span class="i2">Some safer world in depths of woods embraced,</span> +<span class="i2">Some happier island in the watery waste,</span> +<span class="i2">Where slaves once more their native land behold,<span +class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">{4}</a></span></span> +<span class="i2">No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_2" id="Ref_2" href="#Foot_2">[2]</a></span> +</span> +</div> + +<p>The cradle of the Polynesian race was undoubtedly Asia; and to arrive at +a clear understanding as to how it became transported from a continental +home into this island world it will be necessary to carry the mind back +probably more than 200,000 years. At that time the dominating section +of the human family was the Caucasian—fair-skinned, blue-eyed, and +revelling in the glory of long, wavy hair. Their civilisation, +however, like their weapons of chipped stone, was of the most +primitive character; but they had advanced sufficiently in the +ascending scale of human progress to show that they valued life by +paying pious respect to their dead. They preserved the memory of the +departed by erecting over their burial-places huge blocks of stone, +many of which monuments stand to-day to mark the course of their +migrations. And, except possibly a flint axe-head or a rude ornament +found deep in some ancient gravel-bed, these megalithic monuments are +amongst the most convincing evidence we have of the wide diffusion of +the human race in prehistoric times. From the most westerly point in +Ireland, across the European and Asiatic continents, they stretch by +the shores of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in the former, and +the plains of Siberia in the latter, until they reach the waters of +the Pacific. Even this wide expanse of ocean proved no insuperable +barrier to the onward march of wandering man; for it is by the +presence of his stone-building habit in so many of the Pacific Islands +that we are able +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">{5}</a></span> +to construct a probable hypothesis of the process by +which Polynesia first became inhabited.</p> + +<p>In the light of modern knowledge, the theory which finds most ready +acceptance is that in Palæolithic times the Caucasian race, being more +or less a maritime people, had obtained possession of the coastal +districts of Europe. As they multiplied and spread, they followed the +ocean's edge to the northward, and, as the Arctic regions were then +enjoying a temperate climate, there was a plenteous and pleasant home +for them even in the most northerly part of Siberia. But later a +drastic climatic change began to take place. The great ice-sheet, +which is known to have twice covered northern Europe and Asia, began +to creep down upon the land, driving man and beast before it. Impelled +by this relentless force, there began a momentous migration of +Palæolithic man, who swept in hordes southward and eastward in search +of a more hospitable home. In course of time a section of these +fugitives, travelling across the Siberian plains, reached the Pacific +coast, and here their old maritime spirit reasserted itself. With the +pressure of climate behind them, and in their breasts the love of +adventure, the sea soon became as much their domain as the land.</p> + +<p>At first their canoes were of the frailest character; but experience +and unlimited opportunity soon taught them the art of constructing +safe sea-going craft, which could carry considerable numbers on a +course of discovery. The tales of new lands found, and their warm and +genial climate, no doubt stimulated the spirit of exploration, so that +gradually, and almost imperceptibly, the tide of migration which was +flowing from the centre of the continent was drawn across the sea to +the region of eternal summer.</p> + +<p>From somewhere in the vicinity of the Japanese archipelago, fleets of +canoes set off at various times carrying with them a freight of +humanity destined to found a new people in a new land. But, in order +to account for the transportation of large numbers of women and +children on vessels which, at the best, must have been mainly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">{6}</a></span> +constructed of reeds, we must assume smaller intervals +of ocean than exist now. There are evidences of other +kinds that startling geological changes have occurred in +this portion of the globe; and this assumption would +help to explain feats of travel otherwise apparently +impracticable to a rude and poorly equipped people.</p> + +<p>For how many centuries this stream of venturesome humanity flowed +southward no one can tell; but it is safe to assume that great numbers +must have taken the plunge into the unknown, some resting by the way, +others pushing on to a point beyond the furthest preceding colony, +until the main groups of islands were occupied, and outpost after +outpost was firmly established. With them these people carried their +simple mode of life, their primitive arts and customs, not the least +of which was their stone-building habit, which, as already shown, had +originated in their desire to perpetuate the memory and preserve the +bones of their dead. Hence arose in their new home those strange +structures of uncemented stone which astonished the early discoverers, +and which stand to-day, broken and decrepit relics, like ghostly +wraiths from a long-forgotten past.</p> + +<p>But, whatever its duration may have been, two causes operated to bring +this period of migration to a close. The first of these influences was +the dispersion of the Mongolian race from Central Asia; the second, +the subsidence of the land along the Asiatic coast. Either of these +events would have been in itself sufficient to cut off the supply of +emigrants to the islands. The descent of the more warlike Mongols from +their high plateau would effectually close the inland route across the +north of Asia to the gentle Caucasians; while the sinking of the +land-bridge, along which they had been wont to pick their way, would +so increase the hazard of the journey that none would care to risk a +voyage across the greater stretch of sea. Thus the first stratum of +the Polynesian race was laid by an invasion of European people +embarking from Asia; and these light-skinned, fair-haired +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">{7}</a></span> +Vikings, who were driven out of their ancient home by +the descent of the giant glaciers, plunged into the abyss +of uncertainty, little dreaming that from their stock would +arise a people whose life-story would be, as it still is +to some extent, one of the world's unsolved problems.</p> + +<p>Amongst the many features which have seemed to intensify the shroud of +mystery enveloping these people is the combination of a dark skin with +tall and stalwart frames and a head-form usually belonging to fair +races. Also the strange stratification of their customs discloses a +social condition so contradictory as to amount almost to a paradox. +Why a dark-skinned race should possess features which find their +counterpart in the whites of to-day, or why the most primitive method +of obtaining fire—by friction—should be found side by side with +highly scientific methods of warfare, especially displayed in the art +of fortification, seemed difficult of explanation, until the idea of a +second invasion, comprised of dark-blooded people, had been conceived +and had taken root.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_3" id="Ref_3" href="#Foot_3">[3]</a></span> +</p> + +<p>The theory of a grafting of a dark race on to the Caucasian stem which +had already been planted in Polynesia explains much. It would account +for the olive-coloured skin of the present-day natives, and it would +provide the reasonable supposition that, being later comers, they +would import with them newer ideas and more modern customs, some of +which would be adopted in their entirety, others in a modified form. +With the advantage of many centuries of contact with neighbouring +peoples, they had necessarily learned much of the art of war, which +had been quite unknown to the islanders in their isolation. These dark +invaders were therefore able to come in the spirit of conquerors; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">{8}</a></span> +consequently the masculine arts, such as the making of +weapons and the building of forts and canoes, received +an impulse which placed them considerably in advance +of anything of which the original people had ever +dreamed. But the domestic arts would be but little +changed, for the reason that the invasion, being one of +warlike intent, would be comprised largely of males, the +women who were taken to wife after their lords had been +vanquished being allowed to retain their old modes of +life. Hence the methods of twisting threads of fibre, +of weaving mats, and of making fire, would remain the +same as had been practised by them from time immemorial, +while there would be a distinct advance in those +arts which came more exclusively within the domain of +the males. In two respects, however, these newcomers +did not better the condition or raise the standard of art +amongst the people with whom they were about to +mingle their blood. They introduced neither pottery +nor the use of metals. It is therefore clear that the +section of the human family to which they belonged had +not advanced beyond the Stone Age when their invasion +took place; and this fact helps us to some extent in +our inferences as to the period when this second migration +commenced and when it terminated.</p> + +<p>For the direction whence these dark-skinned invaders came we have to +rely on a careful comparison of the traditions and genealogies of the +present-day people, who have preserved in a remarkable way certain +leading facts, which serve as landmarks by which their journeys can +still be traced. By the aid of these, the thread of their history has +been followed back to a time at least several centuries before the +birth of Christ, when a dark-skinned people dwelt upon the banks of +the river Ganges. Here, by contact with other races, probably the +Egyptian and Semitic, they acquired that smattering of mythology +which, as preserved by the ancient Maori, resembled so closely the +beliefs still prevalent in many parts of the Old World. But although +versed in the mysterious philosophy, if such it can be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">{9}</a></span> +styled, of their time, they were entirely ignorant of the +principles of the Buddhist religion; and from this +circumstance it is fair to deduce that they had left India +before Gautama, who died in 477 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, had commenced +his teaching of "Nirvana and the Law."</p> + +<p>But when we come to inquire into the causes which operated to inspire +this migration, we get little information beyond the explanation +commonly given as the root of all Polynesian movements, that "great +wars prevailed." If this be the true reason why a whole nation should +move <i>en masse</i>, then it is not unreasonable to suppose that the +future Polynesians were the defeated people, and were forced by +irresistible waves of invasion to abandon their home in India. Slowly +they were pushed southward and eastward by the more warlike tribes who +came down from the north; and as they made their way along the coasts +of the Malayan Peninsula, circumstances, climate, and assimilation +with other peoples continued the process of racial modification which +had commenced before they abandoned the valley of the Ganges. For +three hundred years or more they drifted from point to point. We know +little more, for there occurs a comparative blank in the story of +their journeyings as they moved along the coast of Sumatra and down +the Straits of Malacca.</p> + +<p>In the year 65 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, however, we again get a glimpse of them +on the island of Java. From this point, although their movements are +often vague and shadowy, they are never entirely lost to sight. +Tradition, at this period, speaks of a renowned personage named Te +Kura-a-moo, who "went to the east, to the rising sun, and remained +there." To precisely what spot in the east he journeyed is uncertain, +but his objective is generally supposed to have been the island of +Java, which was then known as Avaiki-te-Varinga. This is the first +suggestion of migration which we have in Polynesian tradition; and as +it corresponds in date with other large ethnic movements which are +known to have occurred in the Malayan archipelago, it is more than +probable that pressure from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">{10}</a></span> +other invaders compelled the occupation of Java, which +thus became the parent Hawaiki, towards which the +Maori stands in much the same relationship as does +his brother <i>pakeha</i> to the Garden of Eden.</p> + +<p>But the same cause which drove these wandering Asiatics into Java, at +a latter period led to its evacuation. And still the movement was in +an eastward direction, towards the islands of Indonesia, the people as +they moved becoming more and more expert in the art of navigation and +sea-craft. In view of the scattered nature of the archipelago in which +they now found themselves, their voyages became gradually longer, +requiring larger canoes and more daring seamanship. They were +beginning to leave the beaten path which hitherto had been the common +course of the human race—the mountain, the river, and the plain. With +them the sea was gradually becoming the broad highway which had to be +traversed in order to find fresh resting-places, or to maintain +communication with established outposts in more advanced situations. +The spirit of the sea-gipsy, which led them to do and dare, was +rapidly developing within them, and the knowledge thus born of courage +and experience was shortly to prove invaluable to them in carrying to +a successful issue their own great policy of conquest.</p> + +<p>Wars and rumours of wars are again heard of, and are given as the +underlying cause of the next movement southward from Indonesia, the +date of which is so uncertain that it cannot safely be defined more +strictly than as between the first and fourth centuries. It is +unfortunate that we are driven to this loose estimate of time for so +important a national event, because it was this final migration which +led to the actual entry into Polynesia of these dark-blooded +wanderers, and if our first hypothesis be correct, to their ultimate +fusion with the fair-skinned, stone-building people who had preceded +them by many centuries.</p> + +<p>They had obviously come into contact with strange people and strange +animals, for the existence of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">{11}</a></span> +former has been preserved in their traditions and the +memory of the latter in their fantastic carvings. Not +the least interesting of their stories is the finding of a +fair-complexioned people, whom their fancy has elevated +into the realm of fairies, and from whom they claim to +have learned the art of net-making. Whether these +mysterious people, who are said to have laboured only +at night and to have vanished when the sun rose, +were the original Caucasians who, we have supposed, +set out from the eastern coast of Asia, and who were +about to be absorbed by the more virile emigrants +from India, or whether they were, as some suggest, a +few wandering Greeks or Phœnicians on the coast of +Sumatra, we cannot pretend to decide. But, in all its +vagueness and fanciful setting, the tradition is interesting, +as indicating the existence on their route of a +people fairer than themselves, and the fact that they +must have come into close personal contact with them. +A careful reflection upon the probable circumstances +attending the story of how Kahu-kura captured one of +the fairy's nets inclines us to the opinion that it is +the first evidence we have of the contact of the Indian +branch of the Polynesian race with their whiter predecessors. +These they would meet in island after island as +they moved down the Pacific towards Fiji, which group +they are believed to have occupied about A.D. 450.</p> + +<p>Like all other dates connected with Polynesian migrations, this one +can only be approximate, for the people were without any mode of +reckoning time, except by reference to ancestral lines. But there is +traditional authority for supposing that their descent upon Fiji was +made in considerable numbers, and that for a time these islands +constituted one of their principal colonising centres. Whether Tonga +and Samoa were settled from this point seems doubtful; but it is +certain from the marvellous stories which find credence in the +traditions of this period that an era of extensive voyaging had set +in, and that the newcomers began to spread themselves with +considerable rapidity from atoll to island and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">{12}</a></span> +from island to archipelago. These excursions into new +realms naturally gave promise of an attractive home +amongst the palm-covered islands; and, simultaneously +with their policy of conquest and colonisation, they began +the absorption and assimilation of the resident people. As +the defending warriors were driven out or annihilated, +the women of the vanquished were taken possession of +by the victors, and their domestic arts were taken with +them. This blending necessarily, in the course of many +centuries, worked appreciable modifications in the physique +and customs of both races, and gave to the world +the Polynesian people as we know them to-day.</p> + +<p>A race of stalwarts, long-headed, straight-haired, and brown-skinned, +warriors from birth, full of courage, and ardent for adventure, they +were not altogether devoid of those higher ideals which make for the +elevation of man. They were deeply imbued with a love of poetry, which +enabled them to appreciate in a rude way the beautiful in life and to +preserve in quaint song and fantastic tradition the story of their +wanderings and the prowess of their heroes. They were even +enterprising enough to attempt the solution of the marvellous natural +phenomena everywhere presented to them, which, to their simple minds, +could have no origin except in the intervention of the gods.</p> + +<p>With a continuous stream of fresh immigrants flowing in from the north +to reinforce the southern outposts, the conquest and colonisation of +the islands was now only a matter of time. Before we come to the +period directly connected with our story, some seven hundred years had +elapsed, during which every trace and even the memory of the original +people had been effaced, and but for their stone monuments, which have +withstood alike the shock of invasion and the ravages of time, their +very existence would have remained as one of the problems of a +forgotten past. But long before this period had been reached, some +great ethnic or geographical event had occurred to terminate the +further inflow of these invaders from the north. Either the movements +of the nations upon the Asiatic continent supervened to make continued +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">{13}</a></span> +migration unnecessary, or geographical changes in the +distribution of land and sea operated to make it more +difficult, if not impossible. Certain it is that the supply +of warriors was effectually cut off, and that at a time before +the parent people had learned the use of metals. From +this period, down through the ages until the day of their +discovery by the Spaniards, the gulf which separated +them from the rest of the human family remained unbridged, +and the Polynesians were suffered to evolve their +own racial peculiarities and develop their own national +spirit, untrammelled by exterior influences. Isolated from +the rest of the world, they lived in total ignorance of the +progress with which other peoples were advancing +towards a higher type of human development and loftier +ideals of national life. They knew nothing of the growth +of science or of art, and they derived no benefit from the +stimulating effect of competition, or from the bracing conditions +of a strenuous life. Nature was bountiful to them +in the ease and abundance with which their simple wants +were supplied, for it required neither labour nor ingenuity +to provide for their daily needs. Hence there was little +incentive to depart from traditional customs, or to seek +more advanced methods than their fathers had learned and +applied in that far-off time when they lived on the banks +of the Ganges. Had it been otherwise, the Polynesians +would not have been found still clinging to their stone +clubs and flint axes, while the continental peoples surrounding +them had acquired a written language, the use +of metals, and the arts of husbandry, pottery, and weaving. +The complete absence of these primary evidences of +civilisation amongst the islanders gives us the right to +assume that they came into the South Seas before man +had acquired any knowledge of the metallic arts, and that +their migration ceased before pottery and the weaving +spindle were known.</p> + +<p>Polynesia must, therefore, have been occupied during the Palæolithic +and Neolithic periods of the world's history. From that time down to +the Spanish era all communication with the surrounding nations was +completely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">{14}</a></span> +cut off, and the Polynesians were allowed to sleep +the sleep of centuries and to work out their own +destiny in the midst of their tragic isolation. As the +evolution of the race progressed, there was gradually +developed a rude system of tribal government, administered +by acknowledged chieftains, who claimed +and obtained unquestioned obedience. So, too, victory +or defeat became gradually the chief factor in determining +the home of each tribe. These tribal boundaries +were, however, by no means arbitrary lines of exclusion, +and, in fact, there were frequent visits of friendship +between the different sections of the race. These voyages +necessarily led to a wide knowledge of the Southern seas +and their archipelagos, and often contributed surprising +results. While the sea-captains navigated their canoes +with wonderful accuracy, unaided as they were by chart +or compass, their vessels were not always under absolute +control, and in stress of sudden storm, or influenced by +some unexpected current, they were frequently carried +far out of their intended course.</p> + +<p>It is probable that in some such way the first canoes reached New +Zealand, for it is known that individual vessels had visited these +shores long before the historic migration known as "the fleet" left +Rarotonga in or about the year 1350 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> The stories brought +back by these pioneering mariners excited the cupidity and fired the +imagination of the islanders, and when a fleet of several great canoes +arrived at Rarotonga, and found that group already fully occupied, +they decided to set out in search of the strange land which had been +dragged from the depths of the sea by the miracle-working Maui, and +discovered by the great sea-captain Kupe.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_4" id="Ref_4" href="#Foot_4">[4]</a></span> +Here they hoped to +capture the giant bird, the flesh of which Ngahue had preserved and +brought back with him, but more than all they were eager to enrich +themselves by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">{15}</a></span> +the possession of the <i>toka-matie</i>, or much prized greenstone, +the beauty of which they had heard so much +extolled.</p> + +<p>The story of this migration is recorded amongst the classic traditions +of the New Zealanders: how the Arawa canoe came perilously near being +lost in a tempest, and descended into the mysterious depths of the +whirlpool, Te Parata; how the crew of the Taki-tumu suffered the pangs +of starvation; how the Kura-haupo suffered wreck; and how, on landing, +the crew of the Arawa practised the deceit upon the sleeping Tainui of +placing the cable of their canoe under that of the latter, in order +that they might, with some hope of success, set up a claim to first +arrival. One by one the canoes reached these shores, the major part of +them making land in the vicinity of East Cape, thence sailing to the +north or to the south, as the whim of the captain or the divination of +the <i>tohunga</i> decided their course. In this way they spread to +almost every part of the North Island, which they found already +peopled with the remnants of prior migrations, who were living in +peaceable possession. With these the warlike Vikings from the Pacific +fought and contended until they gained undoubted supremacy, thus +giving a starting-point to New Zealand history by establishing +ancestral lines from which all Maoris love to trace their descent. +These tribes soon became the dominant power in the land. The weaker +<i>tangata whenua</i><span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_5" id="Ref_5" href="#Foot_5">[5]</a></span> +were subdued and absorbed. Their traditions, +arts, and customs disappeared, except in so far as they may have +unconsciously influenced those of their conquerors. The latter grew in +strength and numbers, extending their influence far and wide, as they +marched towards the development of their national existence and their +final consolidation into the Maori race.</p> + +<p>Unto these people was born, about the year 1768, a little brown babe +who was destined to become the great Te Rauparaha, chief of the +Ngati-Toa tribe.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_1" id="Foot_1" href="#Ref_1">[1]</a> +"The distinguishing characteristic of the Marquesan Islanders, and +that which at once strikes you, is the European cast of their +features—a peculiarity seldom observable among other uncivilised +peoples. Many of their faces present a profile classically beautiful, +and I saw several who were in every respect models of beauty" +(<i>Melville</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_2" id="Foot_2" href="#Ref_2">[2]</a> +"I found that the Natives had not formed the slightest idea of +there being a state of future punishment. They refuse to believe that +the Good Spirit intends to make them miserable after their decease. +They imagine all the actions of this life are punished here, and that +every one when dead, good or bad, bondsman or free, is assembled on an +island situated near the North Cape, where both the necessaries and +comforts of life will be found in the greatest abundance, and all will +enjoy a state of uninterrupted happiness" (<i>Earle</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_3" id="Foot_3" href="#Ref_3">[3]</a> +"It is most certain that the whites are the aborigines. Their +colour is, generally speaking, like that of the people of Southern +Europe, and I saw several who had red hair. There were some who were +as white as our sailors, and we often saw on our ships a tall young +man, 5 feet 11 inches in height, who, by his colour and features, +might easily have passed for a European" (<i>Crozet's Description of +the Maoris at the Bay of Islands</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_4" id="Foot_4" href="#Ref_4">[4]</a> +The knowledge which the Polynesians possessed of the Southern sea, +and their skill as navigators, was such that when "the fleet" set out +from Rarotonga, they did not go to discover New Zealand, but they went +with the absolute certainty of finding it.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_5" id="Foot_5" href="#Ref_5">[5]</a> +"Man of the land, native, aboriginal." Probably these people were +a mixture of the Melanesian and Polynesian types.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">{16}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER II</span><br /><span +class="size070">ARAWA AND TAINUI</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">If</span> +the genealogies of the Maori race can be relied upon, it may be +accepted as a fact that the immediate ancestors of Te Rauparaha came +to New Zealand in the canoe Tainui, which is said to have been the +first vessel of the fleet after the Arawa, prepared for sea. By an +unfortunate circumstance there sprang up between the crews of these +two canoes a fatal rivalry, which repeated acts of aggression and +retaliation were continually fanning into open ruptures, even after +they had landed and were widely separated on the shores of New +Zealand. This ill-humour, according to the tradition, was first +engendered by Tama-te-kapua, the chief of the Arawa, depriving the +Tainui of her high priest, Ngatoro-i-rangi, by inviting that renowned +<i>tohunga</i> on board his vessel for the purpose of performing some +of the all-important ceremonies which the complex ritual of the Maori +demanded on such occasions, and then slipping his cable and putting to +sea before the priest had time to realise that he had been +deliberately led into a trap. But this act of treachery on the part of +the bold and unscrupulous captain cost him dear, and bitterly must he +have repented before the voyage was over his trifling with the dignity +of so consummate a master of magic as Ngatoro-i-rangi. But that story +belongs to the voyage of the Arawa. Of the voyage of the Tainui, under +Hoturoa, we know little; but presumably she had a comparatively +uneventful passage until she touched land at a point near the +north-east end of the Bay +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">{17}</a></span> +of Plenty, which her people named Whanga-poraoa, for the reason that +there they found a newly stranded sperm-whale. But scarcely had they +disembarked than a dispute arose between them and the Arawas, who had +beached their canoe at a spot close by, as to the ownership of the +carcase. The result of the debate was an agreement, arrived at on the +suggestion of a Tainui chief,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_6" id="Ref_6" href="#Foot_6">[6]</a></span> +that the crew which had first touched +land should be the acknowledged owners of the fish, and to establish +the date of arrival it was further agreed that they should examine the +sacred places which each had erected on the shore, and on which they +returned thanks to the gods for guiding them safely across the ocean. +Here the ingenuity of the Arawa people enabled them to outwit the +Tainuis. While the latter had built their shrine of green wood, the +followers of Tama-te-kapua had taken the precaution to dry the poles +of their altar over the fire before sinking them into the sand. +Precisely the same process had been applied to their hawsers, so that +when the examination was made for the purpose of determining priority +of arrival the Arawa temple carried with it the appearance of greater +age, and the Tainuis, without detecting the trick, conceded the point +and yielded the prize to their rivals.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 600px"> + <br /> + <a name="fleet" id="fleet"> + <img width="600" height="390" alt="fleet" src="images/035-fleet.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">DEPARTURE OF "THE FLEET" FOR NEW ZEALAND.<br /> + From a painting by K. Watkins, Auckland, by kind permission of the artist.</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Hoturoa then decided to make further explorations to the north, and +moved off in that direction with his canoe, to be followed a few days +later by the Arawa. The Tainui skirted the coast, noted and named many +of its prominent features as far as the North Cape, and then, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">{18}</a></span> +as the land terminated at this point, the canoe was put +about and retraced her course as far south as Takapuna.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_7" id="Ref_7" href="#Foot_7">[7]</a></span> +Here a halt was called, and exploring parties were sent +out to ascertain if all the district promised was likely to +be realised. Upon ascending one of the many hills<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_8" id="Ref_8" href="#Foot_8">[8]</a></span> +which mark the landscape in this particular locality, the +voyagers were surprised to observe flocks of sea-birds, +some flying over from the westward, others wheeling +with noisy flight in mid-air. To the experienced eye of +the native, who had been bred on the borders of the sea, +this circumstance bespoke a new expanse of water to the +west. The canoe was once more launched, and on their +crossing the Wai-te-mata<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_9" id="Ref_9" href="#Foot_9">[9]</a></span> +harbour a critical examination +of the eastern shore revealed to the astonished visitors +the fact that a narrow portage existed at the head of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">{19}</a></span> +Tamaki River, over the ridge of which lay another arm +of the sea, apparently as wide and as deep as that which +they had just entered.</p> + +<p>In the meantime they had been joined by the Tokomaru canoe, and the +joint crews decided upon the bold scheme of hauling their vessels over +the narrow portage at Otahuhu.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_10" id="Ref_10" href="#Foot_10">[10]</a></span> +The Tokomaru was the first to be +taken across, and under the guidance of the chiefs she glided with +perfect ease and grace over the carefully laid skids into the deep, +smooth water. But when the drag-ropes were applied to the Tainui, pull +as they would, she remained fast and immovable. Tradition says that +Marama-kiko-hura, one of Hoturoa's wives, being unwilling that the +weary crews should proceed at once upon this new expedition, which the +chiefs were evidently projecting, had by her power as an enchantress +so rooted the canoe to the ground that no human strength could move +it. Against this supernatural agency the stalwart boatmen struggled +unavailingly, for, although there was a straining of brawny arms, a +bending of broad backs, and much vocal emulation, inspired by the +lusty commands of those in authority, the charm of the enchantress +could not be broken. In this distressful emergency the womanly +sympathy of a second wife of the chief was stirred within her, and +she, being even more gifted in the art of magic than her sister, +chanted an incantation so great in virtue that instantly the spell was +loosed and the wicked work of a disappointed woman undone.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_11" id="Ref_11" href="#Foot_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>The song which was chanted on this memorable occasion has long since +been embalmed amongst the classics of the Maori, and has become the +basis of many another chant which is used while canoes are being drawn +down to the sea.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"Drag Tainui till she reaches the sea:<span + class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">{20}</a></span></span> +<span class="i2">But who shall drag her hence?</span> +<span class="i2">What sound comes from the horizon?</span> +<span class="i2">The Earth is lighting up,</span> +<span class="i2">The Heavens arise,</span> +<span class="i2">In company with the feeble ones</span> +<span class="i2">Welcome hither! Come, O joyous Tane!</span> +<span class="i2">Thou leader and provider.</span> +<span class="i2">Here are the skids laid to the sea,</span> +<span class="i2">And drops the moisture now from Marama,</span> +<span class="i2">Caused by the gentle breeze</span> +<span class="i2">Which blows down from Wai-hi;</span> +<span class="i2">But still Tainui stays,</span> +<span class="i2">And will not move.</span> +<span class="i2">Red, red is the sun,</span> +<span class="i2">Hot, hot are its rays,</span> +<span class="i2">And still impatient stands the host:</span> +<span class="i2">Take ye and hold the rope,</span> +<span class="i2">And drag with flashing eyes</span> +<span class="i2">And drag in concert all.</span> +<span class="i2">Rise now the power</span> +<span class="i2">To urge. She moves and starts,</span> +<span class="i2">Moves now the prow,</span> +<span class="i2">Urge, urge her still."</span> +</div> + +<p>Under the exhilarating influence of the singer's musical voice, +together with a profound faith in her skill as a mistress of magic, +the weary crews once more bent themselves to their task. Their renewed +efforts were rewarded with success; for with one vigorous pull the +canoe was seen to move, and was soon slipping and sliding on her way +to the bosom of the bay below.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_12" id="Ref_12" href="#Foot_12">[12]</a></span> +Once fairly launched, the Tainui +was soon speeding her way to the open sea; and, having successfully +crossed the Manukau bar, she passed out into the Western Ocean to +battle with adverse winds and tides. Evidently, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">{21}</a></span> +the physical features of this coast were not greatly to the +liking of the explorers. Unlike the eastern side of the +island, there were fewer shelving beaches and favourable +landing-places; the predominating aspect was high +and abrupt cliffs, fringed with jagged and evil-looking +rocks, against which the surf beat with deafening roar. +The sea, too, was much more turbulent; so that, after +travelling only some eighty miles, the canoe was headed +for the sheltered harbour of Kawhia,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_13" id="Ref_13" href="#Foot_13">[13]</a></span> +and there Hoturoa +and the tribes who accompanied him determined to +bring their wanderings to an end.</p> + +<p>The canoe which had brought them safely over so many miles of open +ocean was hauled to a secure spot on the beach, there to await the +ravages of decay, the spot where she rested and finally rotted away +under the <i>manuka</i> and <i>akeake</i> trees being still marked by +two stone pillars,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_14" id="Ref_14" href="#Foot_14">[14]</a></span> +which the natives have named Puna and Hani. The +next thing was to erect an altar to the gods for having thus far +prospered their journey. The spot chosen was that afterwards called +Ahurei, in memory of their old home in Tahiti;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_15" id="Ref_15" href="#Foot_15">[15]</a></span> +and, doubtless for +the same sentimental and patriotic reason, the spot on which the wives +of Hoturoa first planted the <i>kumara</i><span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_16" id="Ref_16" href="#Foot_16">[16]</a></span> +was called Hawaiki. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">{22}</a></span> +With these preliminaries settled, the pilgrims from the +east were now faced with the most serious duty of all, +to arrive at an equitable division of the new land which +was about to become their permanent home. What +method of adjudication was employed in the apportionment +we cannot now say; but two main divisions mark the +final arbitrament. The Waikatos occupied the country +from Manukau in the north to the Marokopa River in the +south, while the tribe afterwards known as Mania-poto +occupied a domain which extended from that point to +one about two miles south of the Mokau River. Within +these comprehensive boundaries was embraced the +acknowledged territory of the numerous sub-tribes; but +to only two of these need we refer at this stage, namely, +to the Ngati-toa, who lived on the shores of Kawhia +Bay, and to the Ngati-Raukawa, who had settled further +inland, in the country of which Maungatautari is now +the centre.</p> + +<p>When the Tainui people landed on the shores of Kawhia and began to +spread their settlements throughout the valleys of the district, they +did not find, as they might have expected, an empty land. At some +time, and by some means, man had already established himself in New +Zealand, and before the organised migration, of which the Tainui was a +part, had set sail from Rarotonga, the country was already extensively +peopled. Whether these <i>tangata whenua</i>, as the Maoris called +them, were Polynesians like themselves, and the fruits of some of the +prior migrations which are known to have taken place, or whether they +were a lower order of mankind struggling through the process of +evolution to a higher plane of civilisation, is a point which cannot +well be debated here. But whatever manner of men they were who lived +in the balmy climate of Kawhia, they were already well established +there in their villages and gardens, and for many generations—perhaps +for many centuries—they had been burying their dead in the secret +caves which honeycombed the limestone cliffs that rise in beetling +precipices sheer from the harbour's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">{23}</a></span> +edge. Although they are generally credited with being +a less combative and virile race than the fierce and hardy +tribes who came with the fleet, they were not disposed +to surrender or divide their estate without a struggle, +and Hoturoa found that, if he was to become master of +Kawhia, it could only be as the outcome of a successful +war. But Kawhia was a country worth fighting for. +Early travellers through New Zealand, who saw it before +the devastating hand of man had marred its beauties, +speak with eloquent enthusiasm of its extremely picturesque +and romantic landscape.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_17" id="Ref_17" href="#Foot_17">[17]</a></span> +At full tide the +harbour shines in the sunlight like an unbroken sheet +of silver, in which the green and gold reflections of the +surrounding bush are mirrored and magnified. For +many miles in length and breadth the sea runs inland +from the bay's bar-bound mouth, stretching its liquid +arms right to the base of the mountains which encircle +the harbour like a massive frame. Rugged and picturesque +are these mountains, with their cloak of deep +verdure, through which huge masses of limestone rock +protrude their white faces, suggesting the bastions of +some old Norman tower covered with gigantic ivy. So +marked, in fact, is this resemblance, that the character +of the peaks has been preserved in their name—the +Castle Hills.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_18" id="Ref_18" href="#Foot_18">[18]</a></span> +Down the sides of these slopes run innumerable +streams, the largest being the Awaroa River, +which enters the harbour at the north-east end, where +the scenery attains its most impressive grandeur. A +little to the north-east of Kawhia, and over the ranges, +lies the broadly-terraced valley of the Waipa, and +between this district and the harbour stands "an ancient +and dilapidated volcano," called Pirongia, upon which +the evening sun directs its blood-red darts, lighting up +its many peaks and towers until they resemble a giant +altar raised by some mighty priest. The climate, too, is +mild and soft, like that of Southern Spain, and there the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">{24}</a></span> +orange and the lemon might bud and blossom with +all the luxuriance found in the valleys of Granada.</p> + +<p>Such was the home in which the people of the Tainui canoe sought to +gain a footing, when they abandoned their vessel; but these exiles +from far Hawaiki were yet to pass through the bitter waters of +tribulation before their arms were blessed with success and their +claims ceased to be contested. In the quaint language of an old +<i>tohunga</i> we are told: "In the days of the ancient times the +descendants of those who came in the Tainui made war on the people who +had occupied the interior of Waikato. These people were called Te +Upoko-tioa, and were the people who had occupied the land long before +the Tainui arrived at Kawhia. These people were attacked by those who +came over in the Tainui. The men they killed, but the women were saved +and taken as wives by the Tainui. Those who attacked these people were +of one family, and were descended from one ancestor, who, after they +had killed the inhabitants of Waikato, turned and made war each on the +other—uncle killed nephew, and nephew killed uncle: elder killed the +younger, and the younger killed the elder."</p> + +<p>Of the various battles which the Tainui people fought during the +conquest of their new home we have scarcely any account, beyond vague +and general statements of the most fugitive character. These, +unfortunately, do not afford us any wealth of detail, the possession +of which would enable us to picture in vivid colours the doughty deeds +by which the invaders overcame the strenuous resistance of the +<i>tangata whenua</i>, who maintained the struggle with the +desperation of men who were fighting for their very existence. The +story of the conquest of Kawhia may be regarded as lost in the misty +distances of the past, but it is not surprising to discover by shadowy +suggestion, such as quoted above, that, after the original inhabitants +had been effectually subdued, the turbulent nature of the Maori should +lead to devastating and sanguinary internecine wars. One of the +traditions of the Tainui tribes is that they left +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">{25}</a></span> +the South Pacific because of a great battle called "Ra-to-rua," +which originated in a quarrel between Heta and +Ue-nuku; and it would be quite unreasonable to expect +that they should suddenly forsake their warlike passions +on reaching New Zealand, a country in which there +was so much to fight for. With the Maori war had +now become more than a passion: it had become part +of his nature; for, through all the long centuries of +migration, the story of the race had been one of incessant +struggle with other races and with circumstances. +They fought their way into the Pacific, and were in +turn submerged under the tide of a second invasion, +which gave to the world a people inured to the hardships +inseparable from strife, who had tasted the bitterness +of defeat as well as the joys of victory—a proud +and haughty race, sensitive to the slightest insult, and +so jealous of their honour that they were ever ready to +vindicate their fair name before the only tribunal to +which they could appeal—that of war. Steeped as they +had been from birth in this atmosphere of strife, they +had grown to expect the clash of arms at every turn, +and, as they grew to expect it, they grew to love it. +It is small wonder, then, that, when they found their +enemies at Kawhia and its neighbourhood vanquished, +they occasionally turned their hands upon each other, +in the attempt to efface some real or imagined wrong.</p> + +<p>But, fatal to national progress as these inter-tribal wars must have +been, they, nevertheless, played an important and valuable part in +spreading the Maori over New Zealand. A tribe defeated in battle was +forced to fly before the pursuing enemy, with no alternative but +either to appropriate some district still unoccupied or to displace +some weaker people, upon whom the burden was cast of again +establishing themselves where and as best they could. Thus the tide of +fortune and misfortune rolled and recoiled from Te Reinga to Te +Ra-whiti, until an asylum was sought by the last of the refugees even +across the waters of Cook Strait. Although we have no accurate +information on the point, it is probable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">{26}</a></span> +that these blood-feuds contributed in no small measure +to the ultimate distribution of the Tainui people; for +their subsequent history is eloquent of the fact that, +while they claimed common descent from the ancestral +line of Hoturoa, this family bond did not prevent +hatred and hostility springing up, and at times bathing +their country in blood.</p> + +<p>The first migration, however, of which we have any +record did not apparently ensue upon the result of a +battle, although a quarrel was its underlying cause. +Hotu-nui, who was one of the principal chiefs of the +canoe, is said to have taken as his wife a daughter of one +of the <i>tangata whenua</i>, and was apparently living in the +same village and on terms of perfect friendship with +her people. Having been wrongfully accused of an +act of petty thieving, he determined to rid the <i>pa</i> of +his presence; and so, with one hundred of his immediate +followers, he, it is said, moved off towards +the Hauraki Gulf. As the years rolled on, and the +systematic exploration of the country began to be +undertaken, many similar expeditions, no doubt, went +out from the parent home at Kawhia, one at least +of which was fraught with fateful consequences. A +chief named Raumati,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_19" id="Ref_19" href="#Foot_19">[19]</a></span> +whose story has been embalmed +in tradition, had taken a band of followers with him +and travelled across the island, past Rotorua, until he +finally came to the shores of the Bay of Plenty, where +his mother's people lived. Here he was in the Arawa +country, and it was not long before he heard that their +canoe was lying at Maketu, some distance further to +the southward. It will be remembered that there had +never been good feeling between the Tainui and Arawa +peoples, and Raumati determined upon an act which +would demonstrate beyond all doubt that he, at least, +was not disposed to hold out the olive-branch to Arawa. +His scheme was to effect the destruction of the great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">{27}</a></span> +canoe which had brought the hated rivals of his tribe +to New Zealand. Once decided upon, his plan was +put into execution with a promptness worthy of a better +cause. Travelling along the coast from Tauranga to +Maketu, he and his followers arrived at the latter place +when all its inhabitants were absent in quest of food. +But his trouble was that the Arawa had been berthed +on the opposite side of the Kaituna River, where she +had been housed under a covering of reeds and grass +to protect her from the ravages of the weather. Nothing +daunted, however, Raumati soon proved that his ingenuity +was equal to the desperate circumstances in +which he found himself placed. Taking a dart, and +attaching to the point of it a live ember, he hurled the +smoking stick across the water with unerring aim, and, +to his intense satisfaction, he saw the firebrand fall +in the midst of the combustible material which formed +the covering of the canoe. The fire was soon in full +blast: the glare of the flames lit up the surrounding +country and was reflected in the red glow of the evening +sky. The first impression of the people out in the forest +was that the Maketu <i>pa</i> had been destroyed; but in +the morning they were undeceived, for then they saw +that it was their beloved canoe which had been burned, +and all that remained of her was a heap of glowing +ashes.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_20" id="Ref_20" href="#Foot_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>The unanimous conclusion was that this had been the work of an enemy, +and messengers were sent far and wide to acquaint the tribesmen of the +fate of the canoe and call them to council upon the subject. At the +meetings the debates were long and serious, for the tribe was torn +between its desire to live in peace with all men and its natural +impulse to revenge the burning of the Arawa, which "they loved and +venerated almost as a parent." They remembered the injunction which +had been given to them by Hou when on the point of leaving Hawaiki: "O +my children, O Mako, O Tia, O Hei, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">{28}</a></span> +hearken to these my words: There was but one great +chief in Hawaiki, and that was Whakatauihu. Now do +you, my children, depart in peace, and, when you reach +the place you are going to, do not follow after the deeds +of Tu, the God of War: if you do, you will perish, as if +swept off by the winds; but rather follow quiet and +useful occupations, then you will die tranquilly a natural +death. Depart, and dwell in peace with all; leave war +and strife behind you here. Depart and dwell in peace. +It is war and its evils which are driving you hence: +dwell in peace where you are going; conduct yourselves +like men; let there be no quarrelling amongst you, but +build up a great people."</p> + +<p>These were, no doubt, excellent words of advice, and they expressed a +very noble sentiment; but the practical question which they had to +determine was whether they could afford to adopt an attitude of +passivity while these acts of aggression went on around them: whether +they should declare war on account of the destruction of their canoe, +or permit the act to pass without notice. This was the problem over +which they pondered; and, as they discussed and debated it, "impatient +feelings kept ever rising up in their hearts." But at last an end was +made of deliberation, the decision of the tribe being in favour of +battle as the one and only sufficient means by which they could be +compensated for the burning of their canoe. In the words of the old +tradition, "then commenced the great war which was waged between those +who arrived in the Arawa and those who came in the Tainui."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_21" id="Ref_21" href="#Foot_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_6" id="Foot_6" href="#Ref_6">[6]</a> +On this occasion Hotu-nui is credited with having addressed his +people in the following terms: "Friends, hearken! Ours was the +first canoe to land in New Zealand before any of you had arrived +here. But let this be the proof as to which of our canoes landed +first. Let us look at the ropes which the various canoes tied to the +whale now before us, and also let us look at the branches of the +trees which each have put up in building an altar, then the owners +of the rope which is the driest and most withered, and of the altar +the leaves of which are the most faded, were the first to land on the +coast of the country where we now reside."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_7" id="Foot_7" href="#Ref_7">[7]</a> +After the canoe left Whanga-poraoa the first stopping-place was +at Whare-nga, where the crew amused themselves with various +games on the beach. To mark the spot, one legend has it, they +placed one large stone on top of another, while a second story has +it that this monument, which is still existent and is called <i>Pohatu +Whakairi</i>, represents one of the crew who was turned into stone. +The next point of interest was Moe-hau, now known as Cape +Colville. They then landed at Te Ana-Puta, where, it is said, the +canoe was moored to a natural arch of rock jutting into the sea. +For some reason the anchor was left at a spot between Wai-hou +and Piako, and under the name of <i>Te pungapunga</i> (the pumice +stone) is still to be seen on the coast by those who are curious +enough to look for it. The course was then deflected slightly to +the west, and the canoe crossed to Whaka-ti-wai and coasted along +the mainland past Whare-Kawa, where, it is said, Marama, one +of the wives of Hoturoa, desired to be put ashore with one of her +male slaves. Here they were left, and, according to one version of +the tradition, it was her misconduct with this slave which prevented +the crew dragging the Tainui over the portage at Otahuhu. The +canoe then went on, some accounts say, as far as the North Cape, +and others seem to imply that she was shortly afterwards put about +and, returning into the Hauraki Gulf, sailed past the islands of +Waiheke and Motu-Korea, until land was once more made at Takapuna.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_8" id="Foot_8" href="#Ref_8">[8]</a> +Now called Mount Victoria or "Flagstaff Hill."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_9" id="Foot_9" href="#Ref_9">[9]</a> +Waitemata may be interpreted as "the waters of volcanic obsidian," +no doubt a reference to the eruptive disposition of Mount Rangitoto.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_10" id="Foot_10" href="#Ref_10">[10]</a> +Otahuhu signifies "ridge-pole." This portage is only 3,900 feet +long and 66 feet high.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_11" id="Foot_11" href="#Ref_11">[11]</a> +There are different versions of this tradition, some attributing +the transfixing of the canoe to Marama, others crediting her with +releasing it. The version given in the late Sir George Grey's +<i>Polynesian Mythology</i> has been here adopted.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_12" id="Foot_12" href="#Ref_12">[12]</a> +Some authorities are of opinion that the Tainui was not taken +across the portage at Otahuhu (ridge-pole), and they base this +contention upon the fact that no traditional marks have been left +inside the Manukau harbour. All the points of interest which have been +handed down, and are remembered, are on the sea coast; and from this +circumstance it is argued that the canoe was never in Manukau harbour +at all. Others say that some of the skids of Tainui were left at South +Manukau Heads.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_13" id="Foot_13" href="#Ref_13">[13]</a> +As they were passing the mouth of the Waikato, the priest of the +canoe, noticing that the river was in flood, named it by calling out +"<i>Waikato, Waikato, kau</i>." Further on, noticing that there were +no landing-places, he threw his paddle at the face of the cliff and +exclaimed, "<i>Ko te akau kau</i>" (all sea coast). The paddle is said +to be still embedded in the face of the rock, and is one of the +traditional marks by which the course of the Tainui can be traced. At +the entrance of Kawhia Harbour they ran into a shoal of fish, and the +priest gave this haven its present name by exclaiming "<i>Kawhia +kau</i>." Another account is that the name comes from Ka-awhi, to +recite the usual <i>karakia</i> on landing on a new shore, to placate +the local gods.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_14" id="Foot_14" href="#Ref_14">[14]</a> +The distance between these stones is 86 feet, indicating the +probable length of the Tainui canoe.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_15" id="Foot_15" href="#Ref_15">[15]</a> +Now called Te Fana-i-Ahurei (or, in Maori, Te Whanga-i-Ahurei, +the district of Ahurei).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_16" id="Foot_16" href="#Ref_16">[16]</a> +The Tainui brought the species of kumaras known as +<i>Anu-rangi</i> (cold of heaven) and the <i>hue</i> or calabash. +Those planted by Marama did not come up true to type, but those +planted by Whakaoti-rangi, another of the chief's wives, did.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_17" id="Foot_17" href="#Ref_17">[17]</a> +"I reckon this country among the most charming and fertile +districts I have seen in New Zealand" (<i>Hochstetter</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_18" id="Foot_18" href="#Ref_18">[18]</a> +The natives call them Whenuapo.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_19" id="Foot_19" href="#Ref_19">[19]</a> +His full name was Raumati-nui-o-taua. His father was Tama-ahua, +who is reputed to have returned to Hawaiki from New Zealand, and his +mother was Tauranga, a Bay of Plenty woman.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_20" id="Foot_20" href="#Ref_20">[20]</a> +The date of this incident has been approximately fixed at +<span class="smcap">a.d.</span> 1390, or forty years after the arrival of "the fleet."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_21" id="Foot_21" href="#Ref_21">[21]</a> +"It is to be presumed that Raumati's relatives and friends at +Tauranga made his cause their own, for they met the Arawa people +somewhere near Maketu, where a great battle was fought. Raumati's +party, though successful at first, were defeated, and their leader +killed by the power of <i>makutu</i>, or witch-craft, for Hatu-patu, +the Arawa chief, caused a cliff to fall on him as he retreated from +the battle, and thus killed him" (<i>Polynesian Journal</i>).</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">{29}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER III</span><br /><span +class="size070">A WARRIOR IN THE MAKING</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">In</span> +one of the many sanguinary battles of those intertribal wars which +raged in Old New Zealand from this period down to the introduction of +Christianity, Werawera, the father of Te Rauparaha, was captured, +killed, and eaten. The subject of our sketch was at that time a mere +child, and the grim old warrior who had made a meal of Werawera was +heard to remark that, if ever the youngster fell into his hands, he +would certainly meet a similar fate, as he would make a delicious +relish for so great a warrior's <i>rau-paraha</i>. The +<i>rau-paraha</i> here referred to was a juicy plant of the +convolvulus family, which grew luxuriantly upon the sand-dunes of the +seashore, and was largely used by the Maori of those days as an +article of food. Such a tragic association of the child with the plant +was never forgotten by his tribe, and it was from this circumstance +that he derived that name which has stood paramount amongst Maori +<i>toas</i><span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_22" id="Ref_22" href="#Foot_22">[22]</a></span> +of all time—Te Rauparaha—the convolvulus leaf. The +branch of the Tainui people to which Te Rauparaha belonged was the +Ngati-Toa tribe, who have already been described as occupying the +country immediately surrounding the shores of Kawhia harbour. Like all +the other Tainui tribes, these people claimed direct descent from +Hoturoa, the admiral of the canoe; but the ancestor from whom they +derived their name was Toa-rangatira, and from him Te Rauparaha was +descended in a direct line on his father's side. Werawera, however, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">{30}</a></span> +had married a Ngati-Raukawa lady, named Pare-kowhatu, +and this fact, placing a bar sinister across Te Rauparaha's +escutcheon, destroyed in a measure the purity of his +pedigree from the Ngati-Toa point of view, although, as +compensation, it gave him an influence with the Ngati-Raukawa +tribe, which in after years carried with it fateful +results.</p> + +<p>The Ngati-Raukawa people were closely allied to Ngati-Toa by ties of +blood and friendship; for Raukawa, the ancestor who gave them name and +individuality as a tribe, was related to Toa-rangatira, both chiefs +being descendants of Raka, and through him of Hoturoa. This common +ancestry gave these two tribes a common interest and sympathy, which +were steadily increased by frequent inter-marriages; and to these +bonds they appear to have been faithful through all the varying +fortunes of their history. Conflicts between the Ngati-Toa and +Ngati-Raukawa tribes were less frequent than was the case with the +majority of the tribal families; and when the time came to mould their +affinities into a closer union, Te Rauparaha used this long-standing +friendship as the central argument, by which he eloquently sought to +convince Ngati-Raukawa that there was but one destiny for them and for +Ngati-Toa.</p> + +<p>Te Rauparaha had two brothers and two sisters, all older than himself; +but none of them ever achieved a great position or reputation in the +tribe, except perhaps Waitohi<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_23" id="Ref_23" href="#Foot_23">[23]</a></span>, +who might claim the reflected glory +of being the mother of that fiery and volcanic soul, Te Rangihaeata. +This chief, whose life enters largely into early New Zealand history, +rose to be the fighting lieutenant +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">{31}</a></span> +and trusted adviser of his more famous uncle, and, in +these questionable capacities, he was probably the most +turbulent spirit who crossed the path of Wellington's +pioneer colonists. Towards them he ever manifested +an uncompromising hatred, the one redeeming feature of +his hostility being the absolute frankness with which he +proclaimed it.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately but little is known of Te Rauparaha's boyhood. +Presumably he was brought up by his mother, after his father's death, +between the settlements at Maungatautari<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_24" id="Ref_24" href="#Foot_24">[24]</a></span>, +where he was born about +the year 1768, and Kawhia, where his father's relatives lived. As he +grew in years, the greater part of his time was spent at Kawhia with +the Ngati-Toa tribe, by whom he was regarded as a hereditary chief and +as one of their future leaders. His influence with Ngati-Raukawa did +not commence until he had attained to early manhood; and the visits +which he paid to his kindred at Maungatautari during this period had +no military importance, and could only be regarded as interchanges of +friendship. His sojourns at Maungatautari were always welcome, for as +a boy he is said to have had a particularly sunny disposition, and to +have entered eagerly into all the amusements dear to the heart of +Maori children of that day. These enterprises frequently led him into +mischief, and into those moral pitfalls which beset the path of +high-spirited lads. But, for all his boisterous spirits, the boy never +failed to pay respect to his elders, and one of the marked +characteristics of his nature at this time was his willing obedience +to those who were entitled to give him commands. He was even known to +have performed services at the request of a slave, whom he might very +well have ordered to do his own work, since his birth and breeding +placed him far above the behests of a menial.</p> + +<p>As Te Rauparaha grew to youth and early manhood +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">{32}</a></span> +he began to display qualities of mind which soon +attracted the attention of the leading Ngati-Toa chiefs; +but, strange to say, his mother was the last to discern +these exceptional talents in her son, and always maintained +that Nohorua, his elder brother, was the clever +boy of the family. These maternal expectations, however, +were not destined to be realised.</p> + +<p>Before the introduction of Christianity amongst the Maori, it was the +custom to assign to a young chief some girl from his own or a +neighbouring friendly tribe as his wife. Neither of the parties most +directly interested in the alliance was consulted, and their feelings +or wishes were not considered to have any important bearing upon the +question. Such a system frequently led to unhappiness and +heart-burning, but in the case of Te Rauparaha, the choice made for +him proved to be a happy one, and Marore<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_25" id="Ref_25" href="#Foot_25">[25]</a></span>, +a girl of tender grace, +made him an admirable wife. Of her he became extremely fond, and out +of this affection arose the first military enterprise which gave him +fame and reputation as a leader of men.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 570px"> + <br /> + <a name="kawhia" id="kawhia"> + <img width="570" height="400" alt="kawhia" src="images/053-kawhia.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">POMOHAKI PASSAGE, KAWHIA.<br /> + <i>Photo by Jackson.</i></p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>As not infrequently happened in Maori life, his own people had +prepared a great feast for some visiting tribesmen; but when the food +which had been collected for their entertainment was distributed to +the various families, Te Rauparaha observed with considerable +displeasure that the portion given to Marore was of the very plainest, +and contained no dainty morsel which she was likely to enjoy. The want +of consideration thus shown towards his child-wife preyed upon the +young chief's mind, and he speedily determined that, come what might, +he would find with his own hand the relish which his friends had +failed to provide. Accordingly he petitioned those in authority at +Kawhia to permit him to organise a war party for the purpose of +invading the Waikato country, where he hoped to take +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">{33}</a></span> +captive in battle some warrior who would make a banquet +for his bride. At first his proposals were received with +opposition, for the reason that he was himself at this +time in delicate health, and it was deemed prudent that +he should await recovery before embarking upon so +desperate a venture. Moreover, the tribe being then at +peace with Waikato, the chiefs were naturally reluctant to +sanction any act which would inevitably embroil them in +a quarrel with their neighbours. But the fiery enthusiasm +which Te Rauparaha displayed for his own scheme, and +the persistency with which he urged its claims, overcame +the resistance of the tribal fathers, who thus acknowledged, +for the first time, the strength of the personality +with whom they had to deal.</p> + +<p>Armed with this authority, he at once set about marshalling his +forces, and his call to arms was eagerly responded to by a band of +young bloods equally keen for adventure with himself. The +<i>taua</i><span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_26" id="Ref_26" href="#Foot_26">[26]</a></span> +made its way safely to the nearest Waikato <i>pa</i>, +where the profound peace prevailing at the time had thrown the +defenders off their guard. In the belief that the visitors were on a +friendly journey, they invited their advance guard within the walls of +the village. Soon, however, the error was discovered; and the +inhabitants, realising the position, flew to arms with an alacrity +which sent the invaders flying through the gate of the <i>pa</i>. The +impetuous energy of the Waikatos, led by Te Haunga, induced them to +push the pursuit a considerable distance beyond the walls of their +stronghold; and it was the strategic use which Te Rauparaha made of +this fact that gave him the victory and established his claim to +leadership in future wars. Owing to the difficulty which he +experienced in walking, he had not been able to march with the +leaders, but was following with a second division of his men, when he +saw, to his dismay, his warriors being chased out of the <i>pa</i>. +His own force was as yet concealed behind an intervening hill, and, +quickly taking in the situation, he ordered his men to lie down +amongst the <i>manuka</i> scrub, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">{34}</a></span> +which grew to the height of several feet beside the narrow +track which they had been traversing. He saw that the +fugitives would follow this line, in order to rejoin him as +speedily as possible, and in this anticipation his judgment +proved correct. At full run they swept past, +closely followed by the angry Waikatos, who, having +escaped from one trap, little dreamed how simply they +were falling into another. Close in his concealment, Te +Rauparaha lay until the last of the pursuing body had +rushed by; then, bursting from his hiding-place, he +attacked them in flank and rear with such vehemence +that they were at once thrown into disorder. The tumult +of his assault checked the flight of the Ngati-Toas, and +the Waikatos, now wedged in between two superior forces, +sustained heavy losses. Te Rauparaha is credited with +having slain four of his opponents with his own hand, +and the total killed is said to have numbered one hundred +and forty. Amongst these was Te Haunga, the principal +chief of the <i>pa</i>, who formed a specially valuable trophy +in view of the purpose for which the raid had been +organised. His body was carried home to Kawhia to +provide the relish which Te Rauparaha so much desired +for Marore.</p> + +<p>Although this attack upon Waikato was only one of the many sporadic +raids so common amongst the Maori tribes, and could not be regarded as +a military movement of national importance, Te Rauparaha had conducted +it with so much skill and enterprise that his achievement became the +chief topic of discussion throughout the neighbouring <i>pas</i>, and, +in the words of an old narrator, "he was heard of as a warrior by all +the tribes." The fame which he had thus suddenly achieved, and the +desire to live up to his reputation, inspired him with a new sense of +responsibility, and he became a keen student of all that pertained to +the art of war as practised in his day. He was shrewd enough to see +the advantages attending military skill amongst a people with whom +might was right, and, even at that age, he was ambitious enough to +dream dreams which power alone would enable him to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">{35}</a></span> +realise. He aimed at making the acquaintance of all the +great chiefs of the surrounding tribes; and, when it was +safe to visit them, he travelled long distances to sit at the +feet of these old Maori warriors, and learn from them +the subtle methods by which fields were won. These +journeys gave him a familiarity with the country and the +people which was very useful in the disturbed and precarious +relations between Ngati-Toa and the neighbouring +tribes. In these warlike excursions, which were as often +of an aggressive as of a defensive nature, Ngati-Toa was +not invariably successful. But, even in their defeats, +the reputation of Rauparaha increased with his years, +for he was ever turning to account some new device +of tactics or giving some fresh proof of his personal +courage.</p> + +<p>Nor did he neglect to cultivate the good opinion of his tribe by +generosity in the discharge of his social duties. His bounty was never +closed against the stranger; and when he invited his friends to a +feast, his entertainment was always of the most lavish kind. Even to +his workmen he was strikingly considerate. He abolished the practice +indulged in by the field labourers of giving a portion of the food +provided for them to strangers who happened to arrive at the +settlement, by insisting that the kumara-planters should retain their +full ration and the strangers be fed with food specially prepared for +them. This unconventional liberality speedily created the desired +impression,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_27" id="Ref_27" href="#Foot_27">[27]</a></span> +and became the subject of general remark amongst those +who were on visiting terms with the Kawhia chief. It even became +proverbial, for it was sometimes said of a benevolent Maori, "You are +like Te Rauparaha, who first feeds his workmen and then provides for +his visitors."</p> + +<p>Reference has already been made to the fact that Te Rauparaha had been +in the habit of making frequent visits to parts of the country distant +from Kawhia, for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">{36}</a></span> +the dual purpose of completing his education in the art +of warfare and of strengthening his personal relations +with influential chiefs, who might be useful to him in +future diplomacy. During one of these excursions he +had proceeded as far as what is now known as the Valley +of the Thames, in the Hauraki Gulf, to pay his respects +to the chiefs of the Ngati-Maru<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_28" id="Ref_28" href="#Foot_28">[28]</a></span> +tribe, who were then +both numerous and influential in that part of the island. +How much he was esteemed by the leaders of this people +may be judged by the fact that, when he was about to +return, they, amongst other gifts, presented him with a +firearm and a few cartridges, his first acquisition of the +kind. To us the gift of an old flintlock might seem a +trivial circumstance; but to a Maori, who was lingering +on the fringe of the Stone Age, such a weapon was a +priceless treasure. So dearly were they prized by the +natives at this time that only the consideration of +warmest friendship could have induced the Ngati-Maru +to part with even one. There was in these rusty and +erratic "fire-spears" that which would before long revolutionise +the whole system of native warfare; and the +shrewdest of the natives saw that the tribe which +acquired the largest number of guns in the least time +would have an enormous advantage in the field of +battle.</p> + +<p>For some years a few vagrant and adventurous voyagers, together with +the more honest whalers, had been making the Bay of Islands one of +their principal rendezvous; and in the desultory trade which had been +carried on between the crews and the natives, guns had first fallen +into the possession of the Nga-Puhi tribe. The deadly use which these +warriors had made of this new instrument of destruction, in their +skirmishes with their neighbours, had so impressed the native mind +that forces hitherto well-disciplined were seized with panic when +marched against guns, until it was felt by the inland tribes that such +weapons were absolutely indispensable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">{37}</a></span> +to safety or victory.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_29" id="Ref_29" href="#Foot_29">[29]</a></span> +Many of the natives, +whose curiosity had been aroused by the novel sights +which they had seen on the visiting whalers, had shipped +as seamen before the mast in the hope of seeing more of +the great world from which the <i>pakeha</i> came. In this +way they had been carried to Port Jackson, where they +had witnessed on a more extensive scale the destructive +power of the European weapons. Owing to the misjudged +generosity of the Sydney public, some had been +able to bring a few muskets back with them, while others +had secured hatchets and bayonets, which, fastened on +the end of long handles, were soon recognised as +weapons vastly superior to the spears and <i>taiahas</i> of +their fathers. These discoveries accentuated the desire +to replace their obsolete arms with others of a more +modern type; and as a result of the excessive demand +thus created, the commercial value of a musket rose in +the market, until the traders asked, and the Maoris willingly +gave, as much as a cargo of flax for a single +weapon. The effect of this musket-hunger was to +change completely the existing relations between the +<i>pakeha</i> and Maori, going far to remove the estrangement +and distrust which had been generated between the +two races. Up to this time but little respect had been +shown to the dark-skinned natives of these far-away +islands by the rude sailors who had visited them; and +in their contempt for the "niggers" they had been guilty +of many outrages which would have staggered humanity, +had humanity been able to grasp the full measure of +their ferocity.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_30" id="Ref_30" href="#Foot_30">[30]</a></span> +Retaliation, culminating in the murder +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">{38}</a></span> +of Marion du Fresne and the burning of the <i>Boyd</i>, followed +upon outrage, and hatred, fed by misunderstanding, +was daily driving the two peoples further and further +asunder.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_31" id="Ref_31" href="#Foot_31">[31]</a></span> +But the need and the hope of acquiring +muskets suddenly changed all this, for the natives now +saw that it was necessary to their very existence that they +should cultivate the European, in order that they might +trade their flax and pigs for guns; while the white man, +seeing that he could procure these valuable products at +so insignificant a cost, was nothing loath to forget the +many injuries which had been inflicted upon his own race.</p> + +<p>Thus the spirit of crime and revenge, which for years had darkened the +page of New Zealand's history, suddenly disappeared in the eagerness +for trade, and in its stead came the spirit of industry, which sent +countless natives toiling in the swamps and on the hill-sides, +preparing in feverish haste the fibre wherewith they might purchase +this new weapon of destruction. This mad rush for muskets did not +escape the keen observation of Te Rauparaha, who saw with unerring +precision what its ultimate effect must be. Had he been a resident of +the east coast there is little doubt that he too would have plunged +with enthusiasm into the fatal scramble, trusting to his natural +shrewdness and business acumen to secure for him a fair share of the +market's prizes. But he was at the outset placed at this disadvantage. +His country was on the west coast of the island, where the whalers and +traders seldom came; and the Ngati-Toa, unlike the Nga-Puhi, had few +or no opportunities of holding intercourse with the <i>pakeha</i>, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">{39}</a></span> +from whom alone the coveted muskets could be +procured. It was therefore with a heavy heart and +sorely perplexed mind that Te Rauparaha returned to +Kawhia, for he knew with absolute certainty that so soon +as the Waikatos succeeded in arming themselves with +firelocks it was only a question of time when they would +decide to attack him and his people, in satisfaction for +many an old grudge. Then the day would go hard +with Ngati-Toa, who could only encounter this new +invasion with stone clubs and wooden spears.</p> + +<p>As the result of many years of intertribal wars the country +surrounding Aotea harbour, to the north of Kawhia, had become almost +denuded of population. A few inconsiderable <i>pas</i> still remained, +but their defenders were so inefficient as to constitute a living +invitation to some stronger people to come down and exterminate them. +Thus it was not surprising that a section of the Ngati-Mahanga tribe, +whose home was at Raglan, should, after a successful raid in this +quarter, decide to permanently occupy so inviting a district. They +immediately attacked and drove out the feeble occupants, and then sat +down to enjoy the fruits of their conquest. This act of aggression was +hotly resented by Te Rauparaha, who could not suffer his allies to be +buffeted in so unceremonious a manner, and within an incredibly short +period of time he had his fleet of canoes on the water carrying a +<i>taua</i> to Whanga-roa, where he met and decisively defeated +Ngati-Mahanga. The report of this Ngati-Toa victory soon spread +throughout the enemies' domain, and in due course reached the ears of +those branches of the tribe living at the mouth of the Waikato River, +who at once resolved to espouse the cause of their defeated friends. +Manning seven large canoes, they came down the coast with a +well-disciplined force under the renowned leader Kare-waho, and +landing at Otiki, they first demolished the <i>pa</i> there and then +passed on to Ohaua, whither the fugitives had fled, and delivered +their attack upon that stronghold. No decisive result was achieved, as +the rupture appears to have been healed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">{40}</a></span> +before victory crowned the arms of either side, and the +invaders were as eager to return as the besieged were +glad to see them go. But the peace thus hastily made +was as speedily broken, and a series of events was soon +to ensue which was fated to have far-reaching results. +Shortly after the return of the northern raiders a noted +Waikato warrior, named Te Uira, came into the disputed +Aotea territory, and while there varied his sport as a +fisherman by killing a stray Ngati-Toa tribesman. On +hearing of this tragedy Te Rauparaha and a war party +promptly went over and retaliated by slaying Te Uira. +Though to all appearances strictly within the code of +morality which sanctions the taking of a life for a life, +the Waikato people chose to regard this act as one of +treachery, and the magnitude of the crime was measured +by the value of the life taken. Te Uira was a man who +had ranked high in their esteem. As a warrior and a +leader of men he was a <i>toa</i>, indeed, and his death was to +them a disaster. They therefore determined that the +annihilation of Ngati-Toa was the only adequate solace +for their injured feelings, and on this end they now concentrated +their energies. War party after war party was +sent over to Kawhia, and many desperate battles were +fought, out of which Ngati-Toa seemed to emerge generally +with success. But the gloom of impending disaster +was gathering round Te Rauparaha, for the powerful +Ngati-Mania-poto tribe became leagued with Waikato +against him; and, although he had no difficulty in +defeating them singly when they met, their coalition +with his old enemy was a more serious matter. Stung +by a recent repulse at Ta-whitiwhiti, they hurried +messengers to all their distant friends, and in answer to +their call a combined force of 1,600 men under Te Rau-Angaanga, +father of the more famous Te Wherowhero, +was soon marching against Kawhia's diminishing band +of defenders. Crossing the ranges, they soon fell upon +the Hiku-parea <i>pa</i>, which they invested at the close of +the day. During the night half their force lay concealed +in ambush, and when the garrison emerged in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">{41}</a></span> +morning to give battle to an apparently small body of +besiegers they were mortified to find themselves so hopelessly +outnumbered and outgeneralled that there was +nothing left for them to do but die as bravely as they +might. The invaders then marched to attack the great +Te Totara <i>pa</i>, where Te Rauparaha was personally in +command, and here again the defenders were driven in +before the swift onslaught of the allies. But where his +arms had failed him Te Rauparaha's diplomacy stood +him in good stead. He managed to soothe Te Rau-Angaanga +into agreeing to a truce, and a temporary +peace was patched up, only to be broken by the turbulent +temper of the Ngati-Toa, who saw no impropriety in +committing fresh aggressions so soon as their militant +neighbours had returned home.</p> + +<p>The position was thus becoming grave for Te Rauparaha, and in an +effort to stem the threatening disaster he sought to turn to some +practical purpose the influence and prestige which he had now gained +with the neighbouring chiefs. He suggested to his more trusted friends +amongst the Maori leaders the need and wisdom of a confederation of +all their tribes against the oppression of the Waikato people. But, +though conducted with consummate tact and skill, these negotiations +were destined to be futile. While all were friendly enough with Te +Rauparaha, mutual jealousies existed amongst the other tribes, which +destroyed any prospect of that unanimity and cohesion so essential to +the success of such a scheme. Nga-Puhi remembered how Ngati-Maru had +invaded their territory in days of old, and now that they were +possessed of muskets they saw a prospect of repaying the debt—a +chance much too promising to be lightly thrown away. Te Heuheu, the +great chief at Taupo, would not coalesce with Ngati-Maru, and the +Arawa still nursed their grudge against Tainui. These ancient +grievances, which never seemed to die, kept the tribes outside Waikato +apart, while the fact that Te Wherowhero had been able to form an +offensive and defensive alliance with the Blücher of Maoridom, Te +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">{42}</a></span> +Waharoa, so strengthened his position that, after months +wasted in fruitless appeal, Te Rauparaha returned to +Kawhia more than ever convinced that if his tribe was +to be spared the humiliation of defeat, and perhaps annihilation, +self-reliance must be the keynote of his future +policy.</p> + +<p>During the next two years (1816-1818) Te Rauparaha devoted himself to +occasional excursions against Waikato, in which he was moderately +successful; but his more important operations at this period were +directed against the tribes of Taranaki. The peculiar ethics of Maori +warfare were largely responsible for the first of these southern +descents upon a people with whom he was now beginning to enjoy +considerable intercourse. A marriage had been celebrated between +Nohorua, his elder brother, and a Taranaki lady,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_32" id="Ref_32" href="#Foot_32">[32]</a></span> +and by way of +commemorating the solemnity, a feast on a sumptuous scale had been +given to the bridegroom's friends. Te Rauparaha, with the generosity +for which he was at this time remarkable, was not slow to return the +compliment, and in the course of a few months he journeyed southward +to Te Taniwha <i>pa</i>, where Huri-whenua, the brother of Nohorua's +young wife, lived, bringing gifts of dried fish and other seasonable +foods. These social amenities led to still more intimate relations, +and at the end of the following kumara and taro harvest the chief of +Te Taniwha proceeded northward in his fleet of canoes on a promised +visit to Kawhia. A fair wind beating into their triangular sails +carried the canoes to within ten miles of their destination, and at +the close of day the fleet headed for the shore at Harihari. Next +morning they were met at their camp by Te Rauparaha and Rauhihi, who +assured them of a cordial welcome at Kawhia and then proceeded +overland to prepare their reception. In the meantime a rolling surf +had set into the bay where the canoes were beached, and in the +operation of launching them several were overturned and their crews +nearly drowned. This +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">{43}</a></span> +misfortune, which involved the loss of all the food +intended for the feast, angered Huri-whenua exceedingly, +and he adopted a strange but characteristically Maori-like +method of seeking balm for his injured feelings. +Gathering a party of his people together, he set off in +pursuit of Te Rauparaha and his friend, and, attacking +them, succeeded in killing Rauhihi, but not Te Rauparaha, +who reached Kawhia after an exciting chase. +His assailants, knowing full well that this unprovoked +attack upon their chief would excite the indignation of +Ngati-Toa, retired in haste to their home, which they +immediately began to place in a condition of defence +against the day when Te Rauparaha would return to seek +satisfaction for the contemptuous disregard of his hospitality +and the menace offered to his life. Nor were their +precautions taken a moment too soon. Scarcely had the +walls been strengthened and the Waihi stream dammed +up so as to form a wide lake on one side of the <i>pa</i> than +Te Rauparaha appeared, accompanied by Tuwhare,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_33" id="Ref_33" href="#Foot_33">[33]</a></span> +one +of the most celebrated Nga-Puhi chiefs of his day. This +was Tuwhare's first visit to the south. He had gladly +accepted the invitation to join the expedition, for his +purpose in coming to Kawhia had been to lead an invasion +into Taranaki territory, in order to secure some of +the valuable mats, for making which the people of that +part were widely famed.</p> + +<p>Tuwhare's contingent consisted of not more than two hundred men, but +they brought with them something which, at this period, was more to be +dreaded than men—the deadly musket. A few of these arms were carried +by the invaders, while the defenders had not as yet even heard of or +seen them.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_34" id="Ref_34" href="#Foot_34">[34]</a></span> +The precautions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">{44}</a></span> +of the garrison had robbed the northerners of all hope +of successfully capturing the <i>pa</i> by assault, and so they +sat down to besiege it in the most leisurely fashion. +For several weeks besiegers and besieged watched each +other across the wide lagoon which had been formed +by the waters of the Waihi. At last Te Rauparaha and +his people, growing weary of the enforced inactivity, +sent proposals of peace to Huri-whenua. These were +accepted, and subsequently ratified, but not before the +pride of Ngati-Toa had been salved by their insistence +upon a quaint condition. Te Rauparaha, recognising +that the damming of the Waihi stream had been the +means of frustrating his plans, demanded that, before +the siege was raised, the dam should be removed. The +point was conceded and the barrier broken down; +and, as the waters rushed back into their bed, the +northerners ostentatiously discharged their muskets in +token of victory, and "then," says a Maori chronicler, +"this ignorant people of these parts heard for the first +time the noise of that weapon, the gun." The war party +remained for some time on amicable terms at Te +Taniwha, and before they had resolved to return home +they were importuned to engage in further aggressions +by Te Puoho, of whom we shall hear more anon. This +warrior was a man of influence amongst the Ngati-Tama +tribe, who held what has been called "the gate of +Taranaki"; and it was due to the numerous connections +by marriage between the northerners and Ngati-Tama +that the former had been permitted to pass unmolested +to the attack upon Te Taniwha. Te Puoho now sought +recompense for his friendship by enlisting the sympathies +of the northern leaders in the redress of his +own grievances. He solicited their aid in an attack +upon Tatara-i-maka <i>pa</i>, the home of those who had +been responsible for the death of his sister not long +before.</p> + +<p>Obedient to Te Puoho's summons, and eager to secure mats and heads and +slaves, the war party marched upon the <i>pa</i>, which stood with its +terraced ramparts upon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">{45}</a></span> +the sea-coast eleven miles south-west of New Plymouth. +Seeing the invaders approach, the defenders went out +to meet them, and gave them battle on the open space +in front of the <i>pa</i>; but the sound of the guns, and the +sight of men falling as by the hand of some invisible +enemy, so terrorised the defenders that their lines were +soon broken, and they fled, a demoralised host, back +to their stronghold, which was immediately stormed and +taken with great slaughter. This incident inspired the +following lament, which was composed by one of the +Taranaki people, in memory of those who fell at +Tatara-i-maka:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"Sweet is the Spring, the September month,</span> +<span class="i2">When brilliant Canopus stands aloft,</span> +<span class="i2">As I lay within my solitary house,</span> +<span class="i2">Dazed with sad thoughts for my people</span> +<span class="i2">Departed in death like a flash.</span> +<span class="i2">To the cave of Rangi-totohu—</span> +<span class="i2">Emblem of sad disaster—</span> +<span class="i2">They are gone by the leadership</span> +<span class="i2">Of Uru, of the fearsome name.</span> +<span class="i2">'Twas there at the hill of Tatara-i-maka</span> +<span class="i2">The foe advanced in wedge-like form,</span> +<span class="i2">Whilst our gathered people bid defiance</span> +<span class="i2">At the entrance of the <i>pa</i>,</span> +<span class="i2">Where Muru-paenga<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_35" id="Ref_35" href="#Foot_35">[35]</a></span> +forced his way—</span> +<span class="i2">The army-raiser, the leader—</span> +<span class="i2">His was the fatal blow delivered,</span> +<span class="i2">At the ascent of Tuhi-mata:</span> +<span class="i2">Hence I am dried up here in sorrow."</span> +</div> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">{46}</a></span> +From Tatara-i-maka the <i>taua</i> moved southwards, attacking +Mounu-kahawai as they went. This <i>pa</i> was taken under cover of +the smoke caused by firing the dry <i>raupo</i> which grew in the +neighbouring swamps, and then Tapui-nikau was invested. Here the +defenders, though fighting only with their <i>rakau maori</i>, or +native weapons, made so gallant a resistance that not even the guns of +the invaders could penetrate it. They had filled the fighting towers +of the <i>pa</i> with huge boulders and smaller stones, and the +branches of the trees which overhung the trenches were lined with men, +who handed the missiles to those best able to drop them upon the enemy +as they swarmed round the walls.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_36" id="Ref_36" href="#Foot_36">[36]</a></span> +Changing their tactics, the +invaders drew off to a position which closed all communication with +the <i>pa</i>, and at the same time gave them complete control of the +surrounding country, so as to prevent the possibility of succour +reaching the beleaguered <i>pa</i>. It was during the respite from +active hostilities thus secured that there occurred one of those +strange incidents which, though common enough in Maori warfare, appear +so anomalous in the light of European custom. Te Ratutonu, one of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">{47}</a></span> +defending chiefs, had been so conspicuous in repelling +attacks that his gallantry and skill in arms became the +subject of universal admiration throughout the northern +camp. But not alone upon the men had his bravery +made its impression. Rangi Topeora, Te Rangihaeata's +sister, had witnessed his prowess, and, charmed by his +handsome figure and manly strength, had been seized +with a desire to have the hero for her husband. When +the clash of arms had ceased, she persuaded her uncle, +Te Rauparaha, to have Ratutonu "called," a ceremony +which was performed by some one approaching the +beleaguered <i>pa</i>, and under a guarantee of safety, inviting +the warrior into the camp. Ratutonu obeyed the +summons, and came down from the <i>pa</i> to meet Topeora; +and to her he was married after the orators had delivered +themselves of speeches rich in eulogy of their new-found +kinsman, and full of admiration for the virtues of his +bride.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_37" id="Ref_37" href="#Foot_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>This unexpected union had raised a hope in the breast of the defenders +that the rigour of the siege would now be relaxed, and that peace +would be made as a fitting sequel to the romantic nuptials. In this +they were, however, doomed to disappointment, for the Nga-Puhi, +knowing that the food of the <i>pa</i> must be failing, would listen +to no suggestion of compromise. But, moved by a more generous impulse, +Ngati-Awa, the Taranaki section of the allies, entered into secret +communication with the garrison, and finally arranged that the +defenders should be allowed to pass through their lines by night and +escape to the neighbouring hills. Next morning, great was the +excitement in the camp when it was discovered that there was neither +smoke ascending from the fires nor sound from the ramparts of the +<i>pa</i>. The enemy had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">{48}</a></span> +slipped from under their very hand; had flown from +under their very eyes; and, as Ngati-Awa kept their own +counsel, there was not a trace to show or suggest how +the trick had been accomplished. Nothing, therefore, +remained for the outwitted besiegers to do but avail +themselves of what plunder had fallen into their +hands, and make the best of their way back to their +homes.</p> + +<p>Upon the return of the <i>taua</i> to Kawhia, its composite forces +separated and departed to their respective districts, but not before +the plans of a still more extensive campaign had been discussed. These +operations, however, did not commence for a year, and, in the +meantime, the seriousness of his position in relation to the Waikato +people was more than ever apparent to Te Rauparaha, whose inability to +come into contact with the whalers, and the consequent difficulty he +experienced in becoming possessed of muskets, brought him much +"darkness of heart." But, as he meditated, his anxiety of mind was to +some extent relieved by the arrival at Kawhia of the northern portion +of the war party, the raising of which had previously been agreed +upon. In accordance with this arrangement, Tuwhare, accompanied by +Patuone, and his brother, that picturesque figure in Maori history, +Tamati Waka Nene<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_38" id="Ref_38" href="#Foot_38">[38]</a></span>—whose +influence and eloquence were subsequently +to be so powerfully used to secure the acceptance by the natives of +the Treaty of Waitangi—left Hokianga in November, 1819, and +proceeding by a circuitous route which embraced the country of the +Waitemata, reached the home of Te Rauparaha, and found there a force +of four hundred men waiting to welcome them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 570px"> + <br /> + <a name="boyd" id="boyd"> + <img width="556" height="400" alt="boyd" src="images/071-boyd.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">BURNING OF THE "BOYD".<br /> + From a painting by W. Wright, Auckland, + by kind permission of the artist.</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Accredited estimates give the strength of the combined +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">{49}</a></span> +contingents at fully one thousand men, and they were +armed with a greater number of muskets than had ever +previously been carried into the field by any Maori +organisation. A further distinction was the presence of +many leaders whose deeds were to be deeply imprinted +upon the records of Maori history. Each tribal section +was under chiefs who are acknowledged to have been +amongst the classic warriors of their time; so that, in the +matter of skilful direction and heroic example, the <i>taua</i> +might consider itself more than usually fortunate. The +primary purpose of the expedition appears to have been +no more than a love of adventure and a desire to kill +and eat a few of their enemies; but embraced within +this scheme was a secondary motive, which involved +the redress of a grievance which Te Puoho had acquired +against the Whanganui people, whom he considered +accountable for a slight put upon his daughter. +The friendly relations which prevailed between Ngati-Toa +and Ngati-Tama ensured the war party an uncontested +passage through "the gate of Taranaki"; and, +although Ngati-Awa assembled to oppose them, they +were satisfied to desist, upon Te Rauparaha consenting +to pay the tribute of ownership by requesting permission +to pass through their territory.</p> + +<p>The first important halt was made at Manu-korihi, on the north bank of +the Waitara River, where a stay of some length was made for the +purpose of finally determining the order of their plans. The +Manu-korihi people became deeply interested in the muskets which the +visitors had brought with them; and curious to observe their +effect—at the expense of some one else—they persuaded Te Rauparaha +and his friends to commence hostilities against the famous +Puke-rangiora <i>pa</i>, whose inhabitants had been guilty of some +cause of offence. The invitation to attack the great stronghold was +accepted with alacrity; but when the war party presented themselves +before the walls, they found it so strongly fortified and so keenly +defended that discretion dictated a less valiant course, and so they +passed Puke-rangiora, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">{50}</a></span> +and went over the mountain track to Te Kerikeringa +in search of a meaner enemy. This <i>pa</i> was a +central point in the system of defence set up by Ngati-Maru, +who had established populous settlements and +made great clearings in the forest east of the present town +of Stratford. Their great fighting chief was Tutahanga, +who in former days had subdued the pride of both the +Waikato and the Nga-Puhi. Now he was old, but his +martial bearing was still such that, when the invaders +inquired of their guides how they might distinguish him +from those of inferior rank, they were told, "He is a +star."</p> + +<p>Graced by the red plumes of the tropic bird, the northerners moved up +to the attack, but were met with so stout a resistance by the +defenders, who had donned the white feathers of the sacred crane, +that, in spite of their muskets, their combination broke, and they +retired in disorder to the western slopes, where they were compelled +to resort to the tactics of a regular siege. From these heights, which +dominated the <i>pa</i>, they were occasionally able to shoot down an +unwary defender who exposed himself to their fire; but they did not +rely entirely upon this method of fighting to effect their conquest. +Frequent assaults were made upon the gateway, in one of which they +succeeded in shooting Tutahanga, and in another Patu-wairua, his +successor in command. Before his death, Patu-wairua, persuaded that +the <i>pa</i> could not hold out much longer, desired to make peace if +possible; but his conciliatory views were overruled by the less +diplomatic leaders of the tribe. Patu-wairua then sat down and sang a +lament for his people, whose impending fate he deplored with all the +affection of a father. In the next sally he was killed in the +fore-front of the fighting line, bravely sustaining the unequal +contest, in which the <i>mere</i> was matched against the musket.</p> + +<p>With their two great leaders gone and many of their tribesmen dead, a +feeling of depression settled down upon the garrison, whose position +was daily growing less +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">{51}</a></span> +secure. But while they were sinking under the weariness +begotten of incessant vigilance, a Maori-like episode +occurred, in which the arts of the women were employed +to do that in which the stalwart arms of the men had +failed. As a last device, the Ngati-Maru generals hit +upon the idea of sending all the young women of the <i>pa</i> +into the camp of the invaders, to beguile the warriors +with their charms, and so induce them temporarily to +relax the severity of the siege. History does not record +the fate of these maidens of Te Kerikeringa; but they +deserve at least a certain immortality. For during the +diversion thus caused the <i>pa</i> was silently evacuated, +the survivors of the siege making their escape across the +Waitara River along the Tara-mouku Valley, and through +the dense forest which stretched for many miles into the +heart of the island.</p> + +<p>The tidings that Kerikeringa had fallen spread with such rapidity +that, before the rejoicings of the victors had concluded, the tribes +to the southward had succeeded in concealing themselves within their +mountain fastnesses. Consequently we hear of no conflicts with +Ngati-Ruanui or Nga-Rauru, as the victorious <i>taua</i> passed over +the old forest track which leads out into the open country near the +town of Normanby. This peaceful passage was not interrupted until they +reached the Whanganui River, where they found the resident tribes +drawn up in battle array to oppose them at the Turua <i>pa</i>. This +<i>pa</i> was situated on the eastern bank of the river, a little +above the present town of Whanganui; but, in reaching it, the +northerners were faced with a serious initial difficulty, inasmuch as +they had no canoes of their own, and Te Anaua, of Whanganui, had taken +the precaution to remove his flotilla to the opposite shore. But the +ingenuity of Tuwhare and Te Rauparaha was equal to an emergency of +that kind. Ordering their men into the neighbouring swamps, they +employed a month in cutting dry <i>raupo</i> leaves, out of which they +constructed a <i>mokihi</i> fleet, and on these vegetable rafts the +whole force was eventually transported across the wide and deep river. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">{52}</a></span> +The capture of the <i>pa</i> was a work of no great +difficulty; for here, as elsewhere, the muskets exercised +their terrifying influence upon natives coming into +contact with them for the first time.</p> + +<p>Southward the march was once more directed, and skirmishes followed +with Ngati-Apa in the Whangaehu and Rangitikei districts. No +protracted fighting was possible where the panic-stricken inhabitants +fled before the all-destroying guns. Across the Rangitikei the +<i>taua</i> passed into the fertile district of the Manawatu, which +since the traditional days of Whatonga had been the home of the +Rangitane people. Of this hostile descent upon the coast the Rangitane +people declare that they, secure in their mountain fortresses, heard +nothing until the arrival of the war party at Otaki. Thither some of +the children of Toki-poto, the chief at Hotuiti, near Awahou (Foxton), +had gone on a visit to their friends; and there they met Te Rauparaha, +who inquired of them the whereabouts of their people and the number +and strength of their <i>pas</i>.</p> + +<p>The patronising and fatherly demeanour which this warrior could +assume<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_39" id="Ref_39" href="#Foot_39">[39]</a></span> +when his ends were better served by the concealment of his +true purpose completely won the confidence of the lads, and, in their +innocence of the man, to whom they were confiding the secrets of the +tribe, they readily told him all that he wished to know. When the +desired information had been obtained some of Te Rauparaha's followers +proposed, as a precautionary measure, that the children should be +killed; but Te Rauparaha, more far-seeing than they, interposed, for +he had not yet exhausted their usefulness. In the depths of his +cunning he had conceived the idea of making the children of Toki-poto +the instruments by which that chief should be delivered into +Ngati-Toa's hands. Accordingly, he resisted the demand for their +blood, saying, "No, let them alone, they are only children. Rather let +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">{53}</a></span> +us go and take Toki-poto out of the stern of the canoe." +This was his expressive and figurative method of conveying +to his warriors that he sought a more valuable +trophy than the life of a child, and that he had resolved +upon no less a scheme than the assault of the Hotuiti <i>pa</i>. +To Mahuri, the eldest son of Toki-poto, he then turned, +and in dulcet tones he said, "Go to your father, I will +see him."</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the Ngati-Toa warriors and their leader, the lad led +the way to a small lake <i>pa</i> at Hotuiti, whither Toki-poto had +gone with the major portion of his people from their main settlement +on the banks of the Manawatu River. The <i>pa</i> itself was built on +one of the many miniature islets which dot the face of the lake; and, +while Te Rauparaha and his followers lurked in the bush which fringed +the margin, he sent the unsuspecting Mahuri to tell his father that Te +Rauparaha wished to talk with him. The first thought to arise in the +mind of the Rangitane chief was one of suspicion, and he at once +exclaimed, "No, I will not go. I shall be slain." But the boy, into +whose good graces Te Rauparaha had completely ingratiated himself, +ridiculed these fears, and urged his father to go. To these entreaties, +and possibly to fears of retaliation if he did not comply, Toki-poto +at last yielded, and, taking a few of his people with him, went in his +canoe, unarmed, to welcome his visitor.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had they reached the edge of the wood when they were set upon +by the secreted warriors, and in the massacre which followed the chief +and a number of his followers were killed, the remainder, with the +exception of two, being taken prisoners. The two who escaped were +Mahuri, the innocent cause of the disaster, and Te Aweawe, the father +of the well-known family who still reside upon the Rangitane lands in +the Manawatu. Side by side with Toki-poto, there fell that day another +chief named Te Waraki, whose greenstone <i>mere</i>, a weapon famous +in the annals of the tribe, was buried on the site of the massacre by +the mourning people, and there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">{54}</a></span> +it remained hidden for full sixty years, until it was discovered in 1882.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, Te Rauparaha did not press the advantage gained by the +removal of Hotuiti's chief by attacking the <i>pa</i>, but contented +himself with carrying off his prisoners to Otaki, where he rejoined +Waka Nene. Here the two chiefs rested for a time, pursuing vigilant +inquiries into the number and disposition of the resident tribes. They +visited for the first time the island stronghold of Kapiti, and found +it in the possession of a section of the Ngati-Apa people, under the +chieftainship of two men named Potau and Kotuku. The visit was made +with a simulation of friendship, for the time was not ripe for an +attack; and the northerners were satisfied for the moment with +examining the strategical features of the island, and extorting from +Potau and Kotuku a considerable quantity of the greenstone which they +had accumulated during the course of their traffic with the Ngai-Tahu +of the South Island.</p> + +<p>Refreshed by their sojourn at Otaki, and considerably enlightened as +to its military possibilities, the northern war party then pushed on +southwards, fighting as they went, first at Wai-mapihi, a fortified +<i>pa</i>, the remains of which are still to be seen not far from the +Puke-rua railway station. The <i>pa</i> was captured, it is said, by +treachery suggested by Te Rauparaha, and the Muaupoko, whose valour +had defied the most desperate efforts of their assailants, were hunted +in and through the bush by their fierce pursuers. Here, and at +Porirua, a number of canoes fell into the hands of the invaders, some +of whom now decided to vary the monotony of the land journey by the +exhilaration of the sea route. This determination ended disastrously. +Ignorant of the silent currents and treacherous tides of Cook Strait, +the Nga-Puhi men of two canoes were swamped while taking the outer +passage in rounding Sinclair Head, and fully one hundred of them were +drowned. The remainder of the canoes, steering a course inside the +reefs, escaped the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">{55}</a></span> +danger of shipwreck, and reached Whanganui-a-Tara<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_40" id="Ref_40" href="#Foot_40">[40]</a></span> +almost simultaneously with the party who had journeyed +by land.</p> + +<p>The country surrounding this great basin was then held by the +Ngati-Ira, a sub-branch of the Ngati-Kahungunu tribe, whose +possessions practically extended from Gisborne to Cape Palliser, on +the eastern side of the North Island. They were a brave and numerous +people, and when their <i>pa</i> at Pa-ranga-hau was attacked, they +fought with a desperation which extorted admiration even from their +enemies. Though considerable numbers of Ngati-Ira were killed in this +conflict, Nga-Puhi did not escape scatheless; for one native account +says: "Ngati-Ira charged them in the face of the flames of their +muskets, and with their native weapons killed many Nga-Puhi." Hunger +was now beginning to assert its inconvenience; and the war party were +at this time compelled to live exclusively on the flesh of their +slaves, of whom large numbers were killed, each chief undertaking +successively to provide the necessary supply. Disease also attacked +their camps, of which there were two; and some mysterious pestilence +was responsible for the death of many warriors and several chiefs, +whose heads were preserved and their bodies burned, to prevent them +falling into the hands of the enemy. Scarcely had the stricken host +recovered from the prevailing sickness than the Ngati-Ira swept down +upon the bivouac at Te Aro in the dead of night, and, in the first +shock of the surprise, inflicted sore loss upon the sleeping warriors. +Thanks to their guns, the northerners were ultimately successful in +beating off the attack, and immediately afterwards the pas which +skirted the harbour were deserted by their inhabitants, who, reluctant +to accept the responsibility of battle under such unequal conditions, +beat a stealthy retreat into the Hutt Valley, whither the northern +chiefs followed them, though their force was now only a remnant of +what it had formerly been. They travelled by canoe up the river which +waters the valley, and, as they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">{56}</a></span> +went, the resident people, confident in their numbers, +collected along the banks to jeer at them, and contemptuously +invited them on shore to be eaten.</p> + +<p>The details of this campaign are but a repetition of successive +slaughters; for the panic created by the strange sound and deadly +power of the gun left the unhappy defenders no spirit to resist the +onslaughts of their assailants. For several weeks they remained in the +valley, guided from <i>pa</i> to <i>pa</i> by their slaves, who, to +save their own lives, were forced to sacrifice those of their +tribesmen. Every nook of the dark forest was penetrated, and even the +steeps of the Rimutaka Range were climbed in vengeful pursuit of the +fugitives. In connection with these manœuvres the reputation of Te +Rauparaha has again been besmirched by suggestions of treachery—and +treachery of the blackest type; for nothing could be more hurtful to +the honour of a high chief than that he should prove faithless while +feigning hospitality. It has been recorded by the Nga-Puhi chroniclers +that, as they pushed on through the forest, they came upon a strongly +built and populous <i>pa</i>, which left some room for doubt as to +what the issue of an attack would be. To tempt the warriors into the +open was the policy advocated by Te Rauparaha, and to achieve this end +he sent messengers to the Ngati-Ira chiefs with offers of peace. To +render the bait more seductive, a feast was prepared, to which the +warriors of the Hutt were invited; and, on assembling, a northern man +sat down beside each one, prepared at a sign from their chief to +spring upon the unsuspecting guests. Into the <i>marae</i> the women +brought the food, and, as the unsuspecting Ngati-Ira were revelling in +the delights of the banquet, the fatal signal was given by Te +Rauparaha, and a massacre commenced, which ended only with the capture +of the <i>pa</i> and the rout of its inhabitants.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_41" id="Ref_41" href="#Foot_41">[41]</a></span> +Whether the name +of Te Rauparaha will ever be cleared of this odious imputation which the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">{57}</a></span> +Nga-Puhi record has branded upon it is uncertain. +But, as a counterpoise, it must be remembered that those +who have made the accusations were at least willing participators +in the schemes which they ascribe to him, and +that, if the plans were his, the execution of them was +undoubtedly theirs.</p> + +<p>Having exhausted the field of conquest open to them in the valley of +the Hutt, the war party returned to the harbour where their canoes +were beached, and, undeterred by the fact that their numbers had now +dwindled to less than three hundred, they set off by sea for Palliser +Bay, by which route they had determined to enter the Wairarapa. A +successful reprisal by the Ngati-Kahungunu tribe, who had cut off and +annihilated a small party of the northerners, was the immediate +justification for this new development in the plans of Tuwhare and Te +Rauparaha. The opposing forces met at the Tauhere Nikau <i>pa</i>, +near Featherston, which was strongly fortified and bravely defended; +but the muskets which these rude imitators of Cortés carried with them +were here, as elsewhere, sufficient to spread consternation through +the opposing ranks, and the <i>pa</i> soon fell before the Ngati-Toa +assault. Numbers of the besieged escaped to the hills, where they +suffered the biting pangs of hunger, and the bitterness of soul +inseparable from the aftermath of war.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_42" id="Ref_42" href="#Foot_42">[42]</a></span> +Others, keeping to the open +country, were pursued as far as Porangahau, in Hawke's Bay; and then +the war party, weary of their bloody work, made their way back to +Tauhere Nikau, where they spent some days demonstrating their contempt +for the enemy by eating the bodies of the slain.</p> + +<p>When hunger and tribal hatred had been sated, the victorious warriors, +observing ominous signs of a gathering storm, returned to the west +coast, and remained for a few days' rest at Omere.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_43" id="Ref_43" href="#Foot_43">[43]</a></span> +While here, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">{58}</a></span> +the eagle eye of Waka Nene descried a vessel<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_44" id="Ref_44" href="#Foot_44">[44]</a></span> +in full sail +beating through Cook Strait. To the quick intellect of +the chief, the sight of the ship opened up in an instant +fresh possibilities; for he knew what intercourse with the +<i>pakeha</i> had done for the Nga-Puhi, and he saw no reason +why the same advantages should not be shared by his +friend and ally, Te Rauparaha. Doubtless that chief had +confided his fears to Waka Nene, and they had probably +consulted long and anxiously as to the growing weakness +of the position at Kawhia. When, therefore, Tamati +beheld the passing ship, he saw at a glance that, if +this part of the coast was frequented by vessels of the +white man, it offered the same facilities for obtaining arms +and ammunition which Hongi enjoyed at the Bay of +Islands. With unrestrained excitement he called out to +his comrade: "Oh, Raha,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_45" id="Ref_45" href="#Foot_45">[45]</a></span> +do you see that people sailing +on the sea? They are a very good people; and if you +conquer this land and hold intercourse with them, you +will obtain guns and powder and become very great." +This optimistic little speech was apparently all that was +required to confirm Te Rauparaha in his growing desire +to take the decisive step of migrating with the whole +of his people from the storm-threatened Kawhia; and +when the chief turned his face towards home, it was +with the full resolve to come back at the first convenient +season and make the country his own.</p> + +<p>The homeward journey was characterised by the same ruthless behaviour +towards the resident people which had been practised on the way down, +those who were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">{59}</a></span> +captured being killed and eaten without any unnecessary ceremony.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_46" id="Ref_46" href="#Foot_46">[46]</a></span> +What occurred within the confines of the +Manawatu district we do not know, because the present-day +representatives of the Rangitane people declare that +they saw and heard nothing of the invaders. As they +proceeded further north, however, we hear more of +them; for while they were in the Rangitikei district an +incident occurred which it suited the Ngati-Apa people +not to forget. In one of the many excursions made +into the interior in search of prisoners, a young chieftainess, +named Pikinga, was captured by a party of Te +Rangihaeata's men. Pikinga was the sister of Arapata +Hiria, the Ngati-Apa chief against whom Waka Nene +and Te Rauparaha were operating at the moment; and, +if the gossip of the day is to be believed, she was +possessed of no mean personal charms. She, at least, was +attractive enough to captivate the most ruthless of the +party, for it was not long before Te Rangihaeata fell a +victim to her charms and made her his wife.</p> + +<p>Whether this was merely a passing whim on the part of an amorous young +warrior or a move in a much deeper game of diplomacy, it would be +difficult to say at this distance of time, particularly as each tribe +now imputes to the action of the chief a different motive. The +Ngati-Apa claim, with some insistence, that the marriage was the +expression of a bond of perpetual peace between them and Te Rauparaha: +while the Ngati-Raukawa, to whose lot it fell some fifty years later +to contest the point, contend that no such wide construction could be +put upon Rangihaeata's action, and that, even if it involved the +tribes in a treaty of friendship at the time, the compact was +subsequently denounced by Te Rauparaha on account of the treachery of +Ngati-Apa. It is quite within the region of possibility that Te Rauparaha, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">{60}</a></span> +having regard to the political aspect of the situation, +would, so soon as he had measured their strength, lead +the Ngati-Apa to believe that he desired to cultivate their +goodwill; because immediately he had determined to +seize the country opposite Kapiti, he would perceive the +wisdom of having some friendly tribe stationed between +him and his northern enemies, upon whom he could rely +to withstand the first shock of battle in the event of a +Waikato invasion. Such tactics would not be foreign to +the Ngati-Toa leader, for that part of his life which was +not spent in battle was occupied in the development of +schemes whereby the efforts of one tribe were neutralised +by the efforts of another; and if he could make pawns +of the Ngati-Apa, he would chuckle to himself and say, +"Why not?"</p> + +<p>But Te Rauparaha was not the man to seriously contemplate anything in +the way of a permanent peace with Ngati-Apa, or with any one else whom +he felt strong enough to destroy. And even assuming that he encouraged +them in the belief that Rangihaeata's devotion to Pikinga was a common +bond between them, he would not dream of maintaining such an +understanding a moment longer than it suited his purpose. It seems, +therefore, more likely that, when he satisfied himself that the people +of the Rangitikei were no match for his own warriors, and that he +could subdue them at his leisure, he was at some pains to impress them +with a sense of his magnanimity, but only because he desired to use +them as a buffer between himself and the Waikatos. Years afterwards, +when he felt secure against invasion, he repudiated all friendship +with Ngati-Apa, and ordered his people to wage eternal war against +them. The claim which the Ngati-Apa subsequently made to the land in +the Rangitikei-Manawatu districts, on the ground that they were never +conquered by the Ngati-Toa, because this marriage protected them from +conquest, was therefore not well founded, the ordinary occurrence of a +chief taking a captive woman to be his slave-wife being invested with +a significance which it did not possess. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">{61}</a></span> +Upon the consummation of this happy event, the war +party, laden with spoil and prisoners, made their way +back to the north. When they reached Kawhia, after an +absence of eleven months, Tuwhare being dead,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_47" id="Ref_47" href="#Foot_47">[47]</a></span> +Waka +Nene, who had now assumed command of the northern +contingent, took his leave of Te Rauparaha, and Te +Rauparaha prepared to take leave of the land of his +fathers.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_22" id="Foot_22" href="#Ref_22">[22]</a> +Braves.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_23" id="Foot_23" href="#Ref_23">[23]</a> +Waitohi had other children, one of whom, Topeora, afterwards +became the mother of Matene Te Whiwhi, one of the most influential and +friendly chiefs on the west coast of the North Island. Topeora is +perhaps more famed than any other Maori lady, for the number of her +poetical effusions, which generally take the form of <i>kaioraora</i>, +or cursing songs, in which she expresses the utmost hatred of her +enemies. Her songs are full of historical allusions, and are therefore +greatly valued. She also bore the reputation of being something of a +beauty in her day.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_24" id="Foot_24" href="#Ref_24">[24]</a> +There appears to be some doubt as to the exact locality of Te +Rauparaha's birth, some authorities giving it as Maungatautari and +others as Kawhia.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_25" id="Foot_25" href="#Ref_25">[25]</a> +Marore was killed by a member of the Waikato tribe—it is said, +at the instigation of Te Wherowhero—while she was attending a +<i>tangi</i> in their district, about the year 1820.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_26" id="Foot_26" href="#Ref_26">[26]</a> +War party.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_27" id="Foot_27" href="#Ref_27">[27]</a> +The traditional accounts of the Maoris have it that at this +period Te Rauparaha was "famous in matters relative to warfare, +cultivating generosity, welcoming of strangers and war parties."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_28" id="Foot_28" href="#Ref_28">[28]</a> +This tribe was afterwards partially exterminated during the raids +of Hongi and Te Waharoa.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_29" id="Foot_29" href="#Ref_29">[29]</a> +"When Paora, a northern chief, invaded the district of Whanga-roa, +in 1819, the terrified people described him as having twelve muskets, +while the name of Te Korokoro, then a great chief of the Bay of +Islands, who was known to possess fifty stand of arms, was heard with +terror for upwards of two hundred miles beyond his own district" +(<i>Travers</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_30" id="Foot_30" href="#Ref_30">[30]</a> +"If we take the whole catalogue of dreadful massacres they (the +New Zealanders) have been charged with, and (setting aside partiality +for our own countrymen) allow them to be carefully examined, it will +be found that we have invariably been the aggressors: and when we have +given serious cause of offence, can we be so irrational as to express +astonishment that a savage should seek revenge?" (<i>Earle</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_31" id="Foot_31" href="#Ref_31">[31]</a> +Marsden, writing of this time, says that such was the dread of +the Maoris that he was compelled to wait for more than three years +before he could induce a captain to bring the missionaries to New +Zealand, as "no master of a vessel would venture for fear of his ship +and crew falling a sacrifice to the natives." As an extra precaution, +all vessels which did visit the country were supplied with boarding +nets.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_32" id="Foot_32" href="#Ref_32">[32]</a> +Whare-mawhai, sister of Huri-whenua, chief of the Ngati-Rahiri, +who lived at Waihi, four or five miles north of Waitara.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_33" id="Foot_33" href="#Ref_33">[33]</a> +Tuwhare belonged to the Roroa branch of the Nga-Puhi tribe.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_34" id="Foot_34" href="#Ref_34">[34]</a> +When the musket was first introduced into Taranaki, a slave was +very anxious to know how it was used. A Nga-Puhi warrior explained to +him the method of loading and priming, then told him to look down the +muzzle. The slave did so, whereupon the Nga-Puhi pulled the trigger, +and the top of the unfortunate slave's head was blown off, much to the +amusement of the surrounding crowd.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_35" id="Foot_35" href="#Ref_35">[35]</a> +Associated with Tuwhare and Te Rauparaha in this raid was another +and equally famous chief, named Muru-paenga. That he was a great +warrior is proved by the fact that his enemies speak of him in the +lament already quoted as "the army-raiser, the leader," while his +friend Te Taoho, in a <i>tangi</i> composed after his fall, refers to +his "warlike eloquence," and compares him to "a richly-laden vessel, +with all knowledge and great courage." But Muru-paenga is not merely +famed in song, for his achievements have in a measure passed into +proverb. In the taking of <i>pas</i>, one of his favourite stratagems +was to stealthily approach the enemy's fort at nightfall, and pounce +upon it with the first light of dawn. This involved the sleeping of +his men amongst the tender ferns growing on the outer edge of the +bush, which in the morning necessarily bore a trodden-down appearance, +a fact which did not escape the keen observation of those who had oft +been the victims of his tactics. Consequently, when Muru-paenga was +killed by Nga-Puhi in 1826, the joyful news went through the country +which he had previously devastated, and the saying was composed, in +significant suggestion that the ferns and the people would no longer +be crushed, "Rejoice, O ye little ferns of the woods, Muru-paenga is +dead."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_36" id="Foot_36" href="#Ref_36">[36]</a> +"During the siege, Tawhai (afterwards Mohi Tawhai), father of the +late Hone Mohi Tawhai, M.H.R., who was with the northern contingent of +the taua in the attack, was close under one of the towers of the +<i>pa</i> when one of the defenders hurled a big stone at him which +split open his head. But by careful doctoring he recovered—careful +doctoring according to Maori ideas meant that they poured hot oil into +the wound and then sewed it up" (<i>Polynesian Journal</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_37" id="Foot_37" href="#Ref_37">[37]</a> +Topeora did not secure her husband without a struggle, for +another lady, Neke-papa, had also taken a fancy to the handsome +warrior, and as Te Ratutonu was leaving the <i>pa</i>, a dispute arose +as to which should have him. But Topeora, being fleet of foot, ran to +meet the advancing warrior, and cast her <i>topuni</i>, or dog-skin +mat, over him, "and this being in accordance with Maori custom, Te +Ratutonu became the husband of Topeora."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_38" id="Foot_38" href="#Ref_38">[38]</a> +His home was on the banks of the Hokianga River, on the western +side of the country, opposite to the Bay of Islands. He afterwards +became a convert to the Wesleyan Mission, and received at his baptism +the prefix "Thomas Walker" to his old Maori name of Nene, hence the +name by which he is known in history—Tamati Waka Nene.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_39" id="Foot_39" href="#Ref_39">[39]</a> +The late Hon. J. W. Barnicoat, who knew Te Rauparaha well, has +assured the writer that when it suited him the wily old chief could +"lend a most angelic expression to his countenance."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_40" id="Foot_40" href="#Ref_40">[40]</a> +Now known as Wellington.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_41" id="Foot_41" href="#Ref_41">[41]</a> +"All these works of treachery, ambushes, murders, and all these +wrongs done by the <i>taua</i> of Nga-Puhi, were taught them by Te +Rauparaha" (<i>Nga-Puhi account</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_42" id="Foot_42" href="#Ref_42">[42]</a> +The female prisoners were secured by plaiting flax ropes into +their long hair, and the men were imprisoned in enclosures made for +the purpose.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_43" id="Foot_43" href="#Ref_43">[43]</a> +Omere is a high bluff just to the south of Ohariu Bay. This bluff +was the place which Maoris always visited to see if the Straits were +calm enough to cross: hence the reference in the old song—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">Where Omere projects outside,</span> +<span class="i2">The look-out Mount for calms.</span> +</div> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_44" id="Foot_44" href="#Ref_44">[44]</a> +It has been suggested that this vessel was either the <i>Wostok</i> +or the <i>Mirny</i> of the Russian scientific expedition sent out by +Czar Alexander I. in 1819, and which visited Queen Charlotte Sound. If +this is so, the date of this event was either late in May or early in +June, 1820.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_45" id="Foot_45" href="#Ref_45">[45]</a> +A contraction for Rauparaha.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_46" id="Foot_46" href="#Ref_46">[46]</a> +On one occasion, when Te Rauparaha was conversing with Mr. George +Clarke, then Protector of the Aborigines, the latter asked him how he +made his way from north to south. With a wicked twinkle in his eye, Te +Rauparaha replied, "Why, of course, I ate my way through."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_47" id="Foot_47" href="#Ref_47">[47]</a> +On reaching Whanganui, a division in the councils of the leaders +took place, Ngati-Toa and Nga-Puhi remaining on the coast, while +Tuwhare made an intrepid dash up the Whanganui River with his own +immediate followers. They fought their way up into the "cliff +country," in the upper reaches of the river, and here, in an +engagement at the Kai-whakauka <i>pa</i>, Tuwhare received a wound on +the head from which he shortly afterwards died. On receiving the fatal +blow, he contemptuously remarked to his assailant: "If thine had been +the arm of a warrior I should have been killed, but it is the arm of a +cultivator."</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">{62}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER IV</span><br /><span +class="size070">THE LAND OF PROMISE</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">When</span> +the period of feasting and enjoyment, which invariably followed +upon the return of a successful Maori war party, had terminated at +Kawhia, Te Rauparaha immediately became involved in a fresh struggle +with Waikato. The cause of the hostility was remote; but, as Waikato +had vowed to drive him out, no pretext was too slight upon which to +base a quarrel. Thus the killing of one of their chiefs by a Taranaki +warrior, to whom Te Rauparaha was related, was sufficient to justify +the marching of a large war party against him. Their force advanced in +two sections: the one came down the inland track, and the other, which +was to actively engage Te Rauparaha, entered Kawhia from the sea. Two +<i>pas</i>, Tau-mata-Kauae and Te Kawau, speedily fell before the +invaders, and again Ngati-Toa were defeated at the battle of Te +Karaka, on the borders of Lake Taharoa, after an heroic struggle, in +which it is said that three hundred Ngati-Toa fought more than a +thousand Waikatos. These disasters were indeed darkening the outlook +for Ngati-Toa, and the position has been graphically described by one +native historian, who states that "the losses of the tribe of Te +Rauparaha were very great; by day and by night they were killed by +Ngati-Pou." Success had also attended the arms of the section of +Waikato who, under Te Wherowhero, had swept through the Waipa Valley +and across the forest plateau until they reached the Wai-Kawau +<i>pa</i> on the sea-coast, just north of the Mokau River. This they +stormed and sacked by force of overpowering +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">{63}</a></span> +numbers, and, surfeited with victory, they +united with their comrades at Te Karaka, and then +triumphantly marched home.</p> + +<p>With so many of his <i>pas</i> obliterated and his warriors slain, Te +Rauparaha retired upon Te Arawi, a coastal stronghold built upon the +summit of a forbidding-looking rock, which at full tide is completely +surrounded by a breaking sea. Here he had leisure to reflect upon the +lessening radius of his freedom and to formulate his plans for +extricating his people from a position of increasing peril; and we may +fairly assume that it was now that his final decision to migrate from +Kawhia to Kapiti was taken. Once resolved on this course, he applied +himself systematically to the task of persuading his people to enter +into the spirit of the scheme, over which he himself had become so +enthusiastic, and which he now deemed necessary to their safety. The +task was by no means a simple one, for the impending danger was not so +apparent to all the tribe as it was to their chief; and, moreover, +there centred in the spot which he was asking them to leave the +traditions and associations of all the centuries which had passed +since their forefathers had first landed there from the pilgrim canoe. +They knew each nook and corner, from the caves to the hill-tops, every +point of which spoke to them of the beloved past. Here a rock which +had been a trysting-place in some tragic love affair, there a haunt of +spirits, yonder a burying-ground made sacred by the bones of their +ancestors, and there again a battlefield hallowed by the memory of the +fallen. Each of these was a tie dear to the Maori; and they were loath +to leave all that linked them to the past and face a future full of +doubt and uncertainty.</p> + +<p>But the confidence which Te Rauparaha had inspired, and the prospect +of guns and ammunition in abundance, gradually overcame these +sentimental objections; and before long the Ngati-Toa people agreed to +follow their chief whithersoever he might lead. Te Rauparaha was, +however, prudent enough to recognise that his own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">{64}</a></span> +section of the tribe, though brave at heart, were few in +numbers for so serious an undertaking as the conquest of +a new territory. As soon, therefore, as he had secured +the consent of his own tribe, he paid a visit to Maungatautari, +for the purpose of obtaining the co-operation +of Ngati-Raukawa. With them he was no more successful +at first than he had been with his own people. He +pointed out their liability to attack, the difficulty in +obtaining guns, shut out as they were from communication +with the whalers, and the prospect of an easy victory +over the weakened tribes of the coast. But they were +reluctant to give up all that they possessed for a visionary +and problematical success, and it was not till quite a year +later that he was able even partially to break down their +resistance. In pressing his claims upon the Ngati-Raukawa, +he was materially aided by a somewhat +romantic incident which occurred during his stay at +Maungatautari. Although his mother was a Ngati-Raukawa +woman, and by virtue of that fact he could +claim chieftainship amongst them, Te Rauparaha was not +regarded as a particularly brilliant star in their peerage; +but what he lacked in pedigree was more than compensated +for by his mental initiative and personal +courage. Conscious of his own power, he never lost an +opportunity of impressing it upon others; and it is therefore +not a matter for surprise that he made the death +of the Ngati-Raukawa chief the occasion of advancing his +own claims to leadership.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 530px"> + <br /> + <a name="arawi" id="arawi"> + <img width="530" height="400" alt="arawi" src="images/089-arawi.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">TE ARAWI PA, KAWHIA. From which the Ngati-Toa + migration commenced.<br /><i>Photo by Jackson.</i></p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Thus it was a fortunate circumstance for him that, while he was +advocating the conquest of Kapiti, Hape Taurangi, the great chief of +Maungatautari, was seized with a fatal illness, and, while the whole +tribe sat silently waiting for the end, the question of succession +seemed to trouble him, as he probably realised the absence of a +master-mind amongst his own sons. To them he put the question: "Can +you tread in my steps and lead my people to victory? Can you uphold +the honour of the tribe?" To these interrogations not one of his sons +replied, and the silent suspense remained unbroken, until +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">{65}</a></span> +Te Rauparaha, springing from the ring of warriors, +exclaimed, "I am able to tread in your steps, and even do +that which you could not do." The apparent presumption +of this speech was lost in the general satisfaction, +and, when Hape passed into the Great Beyond, Te Rauparaha +took over his wives and his leadership, the latter +of which he retained to his dying day.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_48" id="Ref_48" href="#Foot_48">[48]</a></span> +But the measure +of authority which had passed to him on the death of +Hape did not include the sole direction of Ngati-Raukawa's +affairs. The tribe still looked to their natural +leaders for guidance in domestic matters, and the new +influence gained by Te Rauparaha in their councils, +though considerable, was not sufficient to overcome +the obduracy of the tribe towards what they chose to +regard as his chimerical proposal.</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted, however, by the refusal of his kinsmen to participate +in his bold enterprise, Te Rauparaha proceeded with patient +deliberation to make his own arrangements. These involved the most +careful planning and delicate negotiation, for failure in any one +direction might wreck the whole scheme. The first consideration was to +secure safe conduct for his people through the territory of the +Taranaki tribes, and the establishment of resting-places where the +very old and very young could recover their strength, and where +sufficient food could be grown to carry them on to the next point of +vantage. To this end negotiations were entered into with the Ngati-Awa +and Ngati-Tama chiefs, who were more or less connected with Ngati-Toa +by inter-marriage. It would, however, be a mistake to elevate this +racial relationship into a bond of sincere friendship between these +tribes, for neither would have hesitated long about a proposal to +destroy the other, had a favourable opportunity presented itself. +Their attitude towards each other was distinctly one of armed +neutrality, which at any moment might have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">{66}</a></span> +broken out into open rupture. But even this negative +attitude of the tribes proved useful to Te Rauparaha, as it +enabled him to approach Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Tama +with at least the semblance of friendship, while it deprived +them of open hostility as a reason for refusing his +requests. The concessions which the Ngati-Toa leader +asked for were therefore granted, though grudgingly; +but he could no more persuade Ngati-Awa to go with +him than he could impress the Ngati-Raukawa; and +when he reminded them of the change which was +coming over the system of Maori warfare, and the weakness +in which they would be left by his departure, they +laughed at his misgivings, boasted of their ancient <i>mana</i>, +and told him that his fears were altogether unworthy +of a chief of his standing. How dearly they paid for +their lack of foresight is told in the fall of Puke-rangiora +<i>pa</i> a few years later, when the Waikatos swept down +upon them and drove them flying into the arms of the +man whose counsel they had so carelessly despised.</p> + +<p>Having thus diplomatically arranged an open road for the passage of +his people to the south, he found it equally essential to secure an +unmolested departure from the north. He therefore appreciated the +necessity of making terms with his old enemy, Te Wherowhero, of +Waikato, and in this important negotiation he availed himself of the +services of two Ngati-Mania-poto chiefs, who occupied the country +close to Kawhia and were on friendly terms with Te Wherowhero. These +chiefs paved the way for a conference, at which Te Rauparaha appears +to have been unusually candid with his old antagonist. He frankly +unfolded to him the details of his proposed migration, and, in +consideration of Te Wherowhero's guaranteeing him immunity from +attack, he, on his part, agreed to cede the whole of the Ngati-Toa +lands to the Waikato tribes after his people had vacated them. Such +easy acquisition of a valuable piece of country was not without its +influence upon Te Wherowhero. But he was even more impressed by its +strategic than by its inherent value. The migration of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">{67}</a></span> +Ngati-Toa would rid him of a troublesome enemy on +the west, and enable him to concentrate all his forces +on his eastern frontier, where he would be the better +able to resist the aggressions of that other remarkable +figure in Maori history, Te Waharoa, should it ever +occur to that warrior to attack him. On the understanding, +then, that Kawhia was to be formally ceded +to him, Te Wherowhero undertook not to molest the +migrating tribe, either during their preparations or on +the actual march.</p> + +<p>The question of immunity from attack having been thus satisfactorily +disposed of, the next matter which Te Rauparaha had to consider was +the securing of an adequate supply of provisions for his people during +their pilgrimage. As it was impossible to complete the journey in a +single season, it was necessary not only that large quantities of food +should be carried with them, but that planting-places should be +established at various points along the route of march, where these +supplies could be renewed from time to time. None of these details +were overlooked, but all were worked out with mathematical exactitude +by the consummate organiser in whose brain the migration had been +planned; and the smoothness and precision with which these precautions +dovetailed together furnish a remarkable example of high organising +capacity. As a final preparation, it was necessary that the +disposition of his fighting men should receive some attention, because +he could not hope to conceal his real purpose from the people whose +country he was about to invade. It is true he did not anticipate any +serious opposition, because the defeats inflicted upon them by the +recent expedition under Tuwhare, Waka Nene, Patuone, and himself had +so reduced their strength as to render serious opposition impossible; +but, in view of the limited force at his command, and the unlikelihood +of increasing it, unnecessary waste had to be guarded against. He +therefore divided his warriors into suitable sections, and, appointing +a sub-chief to lead each company, he retained the supreme command of +affairs in his own hands. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">{68}</a></span> +The carrying out of these varied preparations had now +occupied several months, and when all was ripe for +departure he paid a last visit to the surrounding tribes +and chiefs—to Kukutai, of Lower Waikato, to Pehi-Tukorehu, +of Ngati-Mania-poto, to Te Kanawa, of +Waikato, bidding them good-bye, and, as an example +in good faith, he kept his word to Te Wherowhero, saying +to that chief: "Farewell! remain on our land at +Kawhia; I am going to take Kapiti for myself: do not +follow me." At Mungatautari a final effort was made to +induce the Ngati-Raukawa to join him; but, although +there were evidences of weakening resistance, he had +still to wait several months before their objections were +so far overcome as to permit him any measure of hope +that they would yet yield and follow him. The tour of +leave-taking at an end, Te Rauparaha returned to his +<i>pa</i> at Te Arawi, and there summoned his people to +prepare for the fateful march. When all was ready, the +blazing flaxstick was put to the walls of the great carved +house which had adorned the <i>pa</i>, and as the smoke of +its destruction arose, the whole tribe of fifteen hundred +souls passed through the gate which they were never +again to enter.</p> + +<p>In the case of unlettered peoples there is necessarily some difficulty +in determining the precise periods at which important incidents in +their history have occurred; and in this instance we have nothing to +guide us except the arrangement and comparison of subsequent events. +By this mode of reasoning we are led to the conclusion that the +migration from Kawhia must have occurred during the latter months of +the year 1821. But, whatever obscurity rests upon this point, +tradition is clear<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_49" id="Ref_49" href="#Foot_49">[49]</a></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">{69}</a></span> +that the circumstances under which the exodus commenced +were singularly auspicious. The day broke with +a cloudless sky, and, as the sun rose into the blue dome, +the landscape for miles was lit by the rosy tints of morn, +rendering every peak and valley more beautiful. On the +route of march lay the hill of Moeatoa, and to its summit +the pilgrims climbed, in order to take a last fond look at +their ancient home. As they turned and gazed upon old +Kawhia the memories of the past came crowding back +upon them, and it is easy to understand their deep +manifestations of sorrow at leaving their ancestral +domain. The softer sentiments associated with home +and country are not the exclusive prerogative of civilised +beings. These people, savage and ruthless though they +were, thrilled with the same patriotic feeling which +prompted the Prophet of Israel to exclaim: "If I forget +thee, O Jerusalem! may my right hand forget her +cunning." And although their form of expressing it was +neither so beautiful nor so poetical, they were, nevertheless, +quite as sincere when they cried upon the +mountain-side: "Kawhia, remain here! The people of +Kawhia are going to Kapiti, to Waipounamu." "The +love of a New Zealander for his land is not the love of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">{70}</a></span> +a child for his toys," says a well-known writer.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_50" id="Ref_50" href="#Foot_50">[50]</a></span> +"His +title is connected with many and powerful associations +in his mind, his affection for the homes of his fathers +being connected with their deeds of bravery, with the +feats of their boyhood, and the long rest of his ancestors +for generations." And there is no reason to suppose +that these feelings were less active in the Ngati-Toa at +such a moment than they were in other Maori tribes.</p> + +<p>The closing scene in the life of the Ngati-Toa at +Kawhia has been beautifully described by Thomas +Bracken, whose word-picture of the scene on Moeatoa +Hill is amongst the finest that came from his poetic +pen:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"Beneath the purple canopy of morn,</span> +<span class="i2">That hung above Kawhia's placid sheet</span> +<span class="i2">Of waters crystalline, arose on high</span> +<span class="i2">The golden shield of God, on azure field,</span> +<span class="i2">With crimson tassels dipping in the sea!</span> +<span class="i2">And from its burnished face a shower of rays</span> +<span class="i2">Shot up the hills and gilt their spires and peaks</span> +<span class="i2">In lambent sheen, until the turrets seemed</span> +<span class="i2">Like precious ornaments of purest gold</span> +<span class="i2">On mighty altars raised by giant priests</span> +<span class="i2">In olden times, to offer sacred fire</span> +<span class="i2">As sacrifice unto the Fount of Light,</span> +<span class="i2">From whence the planets and the myriad stars</span> +<span class="i2">Drink their effulgence!</span> +<span class="i12">In the wild ravines</span> +<span class="i2">And gorges deep, the limpid babbling creeks</span> +<span class="i2">Sang matins as they left their mother hills</span> +<span class="i2">To mingle in united waters, where</span> +<span class="i2">They lost their little selves, and merged in one</span> +<span class="i2">Pellucid flood that gathered stronger life</span> +<span class="i2">From day to day! as God's great human church,</span> +<span class="i2">Now building on the earth shall gather all</span> +<span class="i2">The little sects and creeds and small beliefs</span> +<span class="i2">That split mankind into a thousand parts,</span> +<span class="i2">And merge them in one universal flood</span> +<span class="i2">Of boundless charity.</span> +<span class="i12">The dazzling points</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">{71}</a></span> +<span class="i2">Of morning's lances pierced the bursting hearts</span> +<span class="i2">Of all the flow'rets on the fertile slopes,</span> +<span class="i2">And waked red Kawhai's drops from sleep</span> +<span class="i2">And shook the dew buds from the Rata's lids,</span> +<span class="i2">Until its blossoms opened up their breasts</span> +<span class="i2">And gave their fragrance to the early breeze</span> +<span class="i2">That played amongst the Koromiko's leaves,</span> +<span class="i2">And stole the rich Tawhiri's sweet perfume,</span> +<span class="i2">And strung the flax-leaves into merry tune</span> +<span class="i2">To woo the Bell-bird from his nest, to ring</span> +<span class="i2">The Tui up to sing his morning hymns.</span> +<span class="i2">The scene was made for man, not savage man,</span> +<span class="i2">The cunningest of brutes, the crafty king</span> +<span class="i2">Of beasts! but Man the Spiritualised,</span> +<span class="i2">With all the light of knowledge in his brain,</span> +<span class="i2">With all the light of love within his heart!</span> +<span class="i2">And yet they were but savages who stood</span> +<span class="i2">On Moeatoa's hill, above the scene,</span> +<span class="i2">Mere savages, a step beyond the brute!</span> +<span class="i2">But still there were bright sparks of God-lit fire</span> +<span class="i2">Within their breasts! they loved their native vales</span> +<span class="i2">With heart and soul! for they had hearts and souls</span> +<span class="i2">Far nobler than some milk-faced races who</span> +<span class="i2">Have basked 'neath Calv'ry's sun for ages long,</span> +<span class="i2">And yet lie grov'lling in the nations' rear,</span> +<span class="i2">With hearts encased in earth too coarse and hard</span> +<span class="i2">For Calv'ry's glorious light to penetrate.</span> +<span class="i2">Poor savages! that Orient had not yet</span> +<span class="i2">Shed its benignant rays upon their souls,</span> +<span class="i2">To melt the dross that dragged them down to earth</span> +<span class="i2">In carnal bonds! they knew not yet the road</span> +<span class="i2">To reach the standard of their better selves.</span> +<span class="i2">Yet they were men in all save this! brave men</span> +<span class="i2">With patriots' hearts, for as they stood and gazed</span> +<span class="i2">O'er fair Kawhia's hills and vales</span> +<span class="i2">That stretched into the sea, o'er which their sires</span> +<span class="i2">In ages past sailed from Hawaiki's shores,</span> +<span class="i2">The tears ran down their tattooed cheeks, and sobs</span> +<span class="i2">Welled from their bosoms, for they loved the land</span> +<span class="i2">With all the love intense a Maori feels</span> +<span class="i2">For childhood's home! The hist'ry of their tribe</span> +<span class="i2">Was written there on every rock and hill</span> +<span class="i2">That sentinelled the scene, for these had known</span> +<span class="i2">Their deeds of prowess, and their fathers' deeds</span> +<span class="i2">Of valour! And the caverns held the bones</span> +<span class="i2">Of those from whom they'd sprung! Their legends wild,</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">{72}</a></span> +<span class="i2">And weird traditions, chained them to the place,</span> +<span class="i2">And ere they burst those links of love they gave</span> +<span class="i2">A long sad look on each familiar spot</span> +<span class="i2">And wailed above Kawhia's lovely vale:</span><br /> + +<span class="i4">Oh! Kawhia, remain,</span> +<span class="i6">Cavern, gorge, and bay,</span> +<span class="i4">Valley, and hill, and plain—</span> +<span class="i6">We are going away.</span><br /> + +<span class="i4">Oh! Kawhia, remain,</span> +<span class="i6">Take our tears and our sighs;</span> +<span class="i4">Spirits of heroes slain,</span> +<span class="i6">Rise up from Reinga, rise.</span><br /> + +<span class="i4">Oh! Kawhia, remain,</span> +<span class="i6">With thee, Tawhaki, stay;</span> +<span class="i4">Long may he o'er thee reign—</span> +<span class="i6">We are going away."</span> +</div> + +<p>The first stage of the journey ended with the close of the fourth day, +when the <i>pa</i> of Puohoki was reached; and here Te Rauparaha +decided to leave his wife Akau<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_51" id="Ref_51" href="#Foot_51">[51]</a></span> +and a number of the women and +children under a suitable guard, while he and the bulk of the people +pushed on as far as Waitara. Here they were received by the Ngati-Tama +and Ngati-Awa tribes, in whose <i>pas</i> they were quartered for the +season; and, except that a spirit of parsimony seemed to pervade their +welcome, they had every reason to feel rejoiced at the success which +up to this moment had attended their venture.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_52" id="Ref_52" href="#Foot_52">[52]</a></span> +After the lapse of a +brief period spent in perfecting his arrangements, Te Rauparaha +decided to return for his wife and her companions, and on reaching the +<i>pa</i> where they were staying he learned to his great joy that +Akau had borne him a son. This infant lived to be the well-known +missionary chief, Tamihana te Rauparaha. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">{73}</a></span> +Against the advice of his tribe, Rauparaha had only +taken a band of twenty warriors with him, and on the +journey back to Waitara his strategic abilities were tested +to the full to escape annihilation. Three days after his +arrival he left on his return journey, carrying his infant +son in a basket on his back. Knowing that he had left +Kawhia, a party of the restless Ngati-Mania-poto had +crept down the coast in the hope of finding some +stragglers of his party whom they might conveniently +kill. But instead of meeting, as they had expected, a few +irregulars, they came suddenly upon Te Rauparaha himself +near the mouth of the Awakino River. To some +extent the surprise was mutual, but the stress of the +position was all against Te Rauparaha. Supported only +by a limited force and hampered by the women and +children, he was in serious difficulties, as the enemy +might cut off his retreat and then attack him in force. +Suddenly a brilliant idea struck him. Before the enemy +approached within striking distance he ordered twenty of +the most active women to disrobe and don the mats and +headgear of fighting men. Then arming each of them +with a stone club, he placed them under the charge of +Akau, who was a woman of magnificent physique, with +instructions to march in the van brandishing their +weapons after the manner of veteran warriors. The +more helpless women and children were placed in the +centre, while he and his fighting men covered the retreat. +Misled by the stratagem, the Ngati-Mania-poto were +tricked into the belief that the Ngati-Toa force was much +stronger than it really was, and instead of attacking they +began to retire. Observing this, Te Rauparaha immediately +accelerated their panic by charging down upon +them, and in the skirmish which followed Tutakara, their +chief, was killed by Te Rangi-hounga-riri, Te Rauparaha's +eldest son by his child-wife Marore, who was rapidly +making a name for himself as an intrepid warrior. But, +although the position was somewhat relieved, Te Rauparaha +felt that the danger was not yet at an end. He +was experienced enough in native tactics to know that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">{74}</a></span> +the Ngati-Mania-poto would be tempted to return at +nightfall and renew the attack in the hope of avenging +the death of their chief. He therefore could not consider +himself safe until the Mokau River was crossed, +and, unfortunately, when he reached its banks the tide +was full and the river was in flood. Nothing remained +to be done except to wait, but in order still to maintain +the deception twelve large fires were kindled, at each of +which three women and one warrior were stationed, +while the chief and the rest of his followers lay prepared +for emergencies. It was also an injunction to the +sentinels at the fires to address each other occasionally +in the heroic language of the time. "Be strong, O +people, to fight on the morrow if the enemy return. +Take no thought of life. Consider the valour of your +tribe." These stimulating exhortations, which were +intended for the enemy's ears as much as for their own, +were supplemented by fervid speeches from the women, +whose shrill voices were carried out into the night air as +a warning to the enemy that they would not lag behind +their lords in the coming battle.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Te Rauparaha lay waiting for the enemy, who never came. +Either having no stomach for another encounter with so redoubtable a +warrior, or still not understanding the true position, they wisely +declined to provoke a battle, about the result of which they could be +by no means sanguine. At midnight the tide turned, and the river fell +sufficiently to be fordable.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_53" id="Ref_53" href="#Foot_53">[53]</a></span> +Leaving their fires burning, the +Ngati-Toa crept silently down to the bank, and, wading across, made +their way to the <i>pas</i> of their friends, which they reached +amidst general rejoicing. Early next morning the scene of the previous +day's battle was revisited and the bodies of the slain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">{75}</a></span> +enemy recovered to make a feast, at which the sweet +revenge harboured against Ngati-Mania-poto was surfeited.</p> + +<p>While the Ngati-Toa plans were developing in Taranaki, another +misfortune was falling upon the people of the southern districts from +the opposite direction. Towards the middle of 1820 a band of six +hundred warriors, under Apihai Te Kawau, of Ngati-Whatua, Te Kanawa, +and Tu-korehu, of Waikato and Ngati-Mania-poto, and other prominent +chiefs, longing for some new excitement, had journeyed down the east +coast through Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa, for no particular purpose +except to kill, eat, or make slaves of whoever might fall into their +hands. In the course of this pilgrimage of blood they crossed over to +the west, and there attacked in succession the Muaupoko, Rangitane, +and Ngati-Apa tribes, upon whom they inflicted sore and mortal wounds; +and when they retired back to the north they left the conquest of +Kapiti a matter of comparative simplicity to Te Rauparaha. But they +were soon themselves to feel the sting of defeat. Passing into the +Taranaki country on their homeward march, they were set upon by the +Ngati-Awa people, who strenuously opposed their further progress at +Waitara. This was a strange reversal of all previous policy on the +part of Ngati-Awa, who had always been friendly to, and had frequently +co-operated with, the Ngati-Mania-poto and Waikato peoples on similar +raids. By some authorities this new antagonism has been attributed to +the sinister influence of Te Rauparaha, who was still at Ure-nui +waiting to harvest his crops. He had not forgotten the anxious moments +to which he had been subjected on the banks of the Waitara River, and +it would have been more than human on his part had he not sought to +balance accounts now that the opportunity offered. "By means of +plotting and deceit," says one writer, "he succeeded in rousing +Ngati-Awa—or the greater part of them—to take up his quarrel." +Whatever the cause of Ngati-Awa's hostility, the effect was a series +of determined and well-organised attacks upon the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">{76}</a></span> +northern <i>taua</i>, which ultimately drove them to seek +refuge with a friendly section of the Ngati-Awa in the +famous Puke-rangiora <i>pa</i>. Here they were besieged for +seven months, fighting repeatedly, and, towards the end +of that period, suffering intense privations. Frequent +attempts were made to send intelligence of their straits +through the enemy's ranks to their friends; but so close +and vigilant was the investment that their messengers +were invariably captured, and their heads fixed upon +poles and exhibited to the besieged in a spirit of exultant +derision. One, Rahiora, a young man of the Ngati-Mahanga +tribe, did at length succeed in evading detection, +and travelling into the Waikato by Kete-marae and +Whanganui, thence by Taupo and Waipa, was able to +communicate to the great Te Wherowhero the critical +plight of his tribesmen. Te Wherowhero immediately +made his call to arms, and soon a numerous relief party +was on its way to join the force already in the field, +which had vainly endeavoured to cut off Te Rauparaha +at the Mokau. The junction of these forces was successfully +accomplished, and the pride of Waikato's military +strength, under two of the greatest chiefs of that time, Te +Wherowhero and Te Waharoa, marched southward for +the dual purpose of raising the siege of Puke-rangiora +and of attacking Te Rauparaha. Though they failed to +reach within striking distance of the beleaguered <i>pa</i>, their +movement indirectly achieved its object, for the advent of +so large a force lightened the pressure of the siege by +drawing off a considerable number of the besiegers. Of +these Te Rauparaha took command, and to his strategical +genius was due the victory which he ultimately achieved +on the plain of Motu-nui. This plain stretches along the +sea-coast between the Ure-nui and Mimi Rivers. At this +point the shore is bounded by perpendicular cliffs, fully +one hundred and fifty feet high, along which are dotted +several small <i>pas</i>, used as fishing-places in olden times. +Away to the eastward of the plain run the wooded hills, +on the steep sides of which rise the numerous streams +which rush across the plain to the sea. On the southern +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">{77}</a></span> +end of one of the spurs descending from the range was +built the strongly fortified Okoki <i>pa</i>, which was made +the point of assembly by the Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Toa +warriors.</p> + +<p>The Waikato <i>taua</i> came on as far as a place called Waitoetoe on +the southern bank of the Mimi River, and there commenced to make a +camp preparatory to throwing down the gage of battle. To the watchers +in the Okoki <i>pa</i> their fires had been visible for several miles; +and when it was seen that they had determined to pitch camp, there was +a general request that their position should be at once attacked. +Personally, Te Rauparaha preferred to take no risks until the portion +of his force which was still holding Tu-korehu in check at +Puke-rangiora should have come up. He, however, yielded to the +importunities of some of his chiefs, and consented to send out a +<i>hunuhunu</i>, or reconnoitring party, to test the mettle of the +enemy. To meet the possibility of the skirmish developing into a more +serious encounter, he took the precaution of concealing a strong +reserve force, composed of the older men, in the bed of one of the +wooded streams which ran close beneath the <i>pa</i>. Having +instructed Rangiwahia, of Ngati-Mutunga, in whose charge he left these +supports, he took eighty of the younger men with him, and advanced +across the plain by stealthy marches. So secretly was the movement +effected, that they were within a stone's-throw of the Waikato camp, +and had actually commenced the attack upon some of the Waikato +warriors, before their presence was discerned. In the first onset Te +Rauparaha's followers were roughly handled, and, in accordance with +their preconcerted plan, they began rapidly to fall back, sustaining +severe losses the while from the guns of the enemy. Their retirement +soon developed into a general retreat, which might have been much more +disastrous but for a fatal division of opinion which sprang up amongst +the Waikato leaders, as to whether or not the fugitives should be +pursued. Te Wherowhero was content to have repulsed them, and advised +resuming the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">{78}</a></span> +interrupted work of building their shelters; but others, +not so cautious, urged immediate pursuit, and, these +counsels prevailing, the whole Waikato force was soon in +full cry after the retreating scouts. The chase was fierce +and stern, and many a good Taranaki warrior dropped +upon the plain as he sped towards the <i>pa</i>, for the +pursuers kept up as hot a fire as their rapid movements +rendered possible. Seeing the men falling round him, a +chief who was running close to Te Rauparaha repeatedly +urged him to turn and attack the pursuers; but the +crafty general, knowing that the time was not yet, declined +to forestall his prearranged strategy. He held on +his way, only urging his men to faster flight, while Te +Wherowhero incited his marksmen to single out the +Ngati-Awa chiefs for death. Some two miles of the plain +had been covered, and the southern warriors were nearing +their supports. As the foremost reached the wooded +gully, they waited there to recover their breath, and +allowed the pursuers to close in upon them. Weary +and blown with their long and exciting run, the Waikatos +came straggling up, innocent of the trap into which +they had fallen. At the psychological moment Te Rauparaha +gave the signal, and out dashed his veterans, fresh +and eager for the fray, charging down upon the exhausted +and astonished Waikatos. Their chiefs who were in the +forefront of the chase were the first to go down, and their +numbers were perceptibly diminished as they were beaten +back by repeated charges across the blood-stained field. +Te Wherowhero fought through the reverse with +supreme courage, engaging and vanquishing in single +combat no less than five of Taranaki's greatest warriors; +and to his fine defence and heroic example is attributed +the fact that his tribe was not completely annihilated on +the field of Motu-nui. On the other hand, it has been +whispered that his companion in arms, Te Waharoa, did +not bear himself in this fight with his wonted gallantry. +Waikato paid a heavy toll that day. They left one +hundred and fifty men dead on the field, and the slaughter +of chiefs was a conspicuous tribute to their bravery—Te +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">{79}</a></span> +Wherowhero and Te Waharoa being the only leaders of eminence to escape.</p> + +<p>For some inexplicable reason, Te Rauparaha did not pursue his victory +to the bitter end, as was his wont.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_54" id="Ref_54" href="#Foot_54">[54]</a></span> +This forbearance on his part +is especially surprising in view of the fact that Te Wherowhero had +specifically promised to remain neutral during the progress of the +migration. Possibly the consciousness that he would have done the same +thing himself induced him to take a lenient view of his old +antagonist's want of good faith; for there can be no doubt that the +bloody wars which were at this time ravaging the country had +completely sapped the old Maori sense of honour. "At the period in +question, more perhaps than at any other in the history of the race, +moral considerations had but little weight in determining the conduct +of either the individual or the tribe. Even the nearest relatives did +not hesitate to destroy and devour each other." There was thus nothing +unusual about Te Wherowhero's conduct; but his experience of Te +Rauparaha on this occasion was such that from that day onward he left +him severely alone.</p> + +<p>The effect of these successive victories was to enhance enormously the +prestige and power of Te Rauparaha. He began to be regarded with +reverence by Ngati-Awa and with something akin to worship by +Ngati-Toa. As a tangible proof of the gratitude which his hosts felt +for the services which he had rendered them, food, which had been +grudgingly supplied up to this time, was now given in abundance to his +people, and, what was of even greater moment to Te Rauparaha, +adherents began freely to flock to his cause. But, although he had +beaten off both the Ngati-Mania-poto and Waikato tribes, the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">{80}</a></span> +position was still unsatisfactory to him from the point of +view of numbers, and so he resolved to make one more +effort to persuade Ngati-Raukawa to join him. Accordingly +he journeyed back to Opepe, a village on the shores +of Lake Taupo, where he met young Te Whatanui, a +chief destined to become famous in after years as the +protector of the Muaupoko people whom Te Rauparaha +wished to destroy. Upon the assembled tribe, and upon +Te Whatanui in particular, he again impressed the merits +of his scheme, pointing out the altered position occupied +by the tribes who had managed to become possessed of +fire-arms, as compared with those who had only wooden +spears and stone <i>meres</i>. He dwelt upon the fact that +ships were beginning to frequent Kapiti, and that there +they could obtain guns, as Nga-Puhi had done at the Bay +of Islands. He also reiterated all that he had formerly +told them about the fertility of the soil and the ease with +which the country might be conquered: but in vain. Te +Whatanui volunteered no sign of approval. He gave +many presents to Te Rauparaha, as marks of respect from +one warrior to another. He also made him a long +oration, skilfully avoiding the all-important topic upon +which Te Rauparaha had travelled so far to consult him; +nor did the majority of his people conceal their objection +to coming under Te Rauparaha's immediate command, +to the exclusion of their own chiefs. Angered at this +perversity, Te Rauparaha shook the dust of Opepe from +off his feet and proceeded to Rotorua, and as far as +Tauranga, where he sought the aid of the great Te Waru. +But he met with no success, for Te Waru had schemes of +his own which claimed his personal attention. While +resting with the Tu-hou-rangi branch of the Arawa tribe +on his return to Rotorua from Tauranga, Te Rauparaha +(according to accounts) perpetrated an outrage upon +Nga-Puhi which was destined to inspire one of the most +disastrous wars and one of the most daring assaults +known in Maori history. His motive for "sowing the +seeds of evil counsel" is not clear. By some it is alleged +a jealous envy of Nga-Puhi's success in procuring arms, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">{81}</a></span> +while others find it in the consuming desire for revenge +for the death of a young relative killed a few weeks +before at the fall of the Te Totara <i>pa</i> at the Thames. +Whatever the motive, before leaving he took occasion to +recite a <i>karakia</i>, or song, informing the Tu-hou-rangi +that there was a small band of Nga-Puhi travelling about +in their vicinity, and broadly insinuating that "death and +darkness were very good things." This hint, however +enigmatical, was taken and acted upon. When Te Pae-o-te-rangi, +Hongi's nephew, and a company of his Nga-Puhi +followers arrived at the Motu-tawa <i>pa</i>, from which +Te Rauparaha had just departed, they were treacherously +set upon and killed by the Tu-hou-rangi people. It was +to avenge the death of Te Pae-o-te-rangi that Hongi +performed the Herculean task of dragging his canoes +from Waihi, near Maketu, to Lake Rotorua, and on the +island of Mokoia slaughtered the unfortunate Ngati-Whakaue +(Arawas), who had been entirely innocent of +the original crime.</p> + +<p>Before quitting Rotorua, however, Te Rauparaha had the good fortune to +fall in with the Nga-Puhi chief Pomare,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_55" id="Ref_55" href="#Foot_55">[55]</a></span> +who handed over to him a +few of the men who had accompanied him to the Lake district on a mission +of bloodshed. With this small reinforcement Te Rauparaha returned to +Taranaki and prepared to resume his journey southward, having in the +meantime enlisted the services of some four hundred Ngati-Awas under +one of the most famous men of his time, Rere-ta-whangawhanga, father of +Wi Kingi Rangitake.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_56" id="Ref_56" href="#Foot_56">[56]</a></span> +The force at Te Rauparaha's command now +numbered about eight hundred fighting men and their families. With +these he resumed his march in the autumn of 1822, when the kumara had +been gathered in, and advanced without interruption or mishap until he +reached Patea. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">{82}</a></span> +Here a slight skirmish took place, and six of the invaders +were killed, their deaths being immediately avenged by +the slaughter of some Waitotara people. From them +a large canoe was captured, and was employed in the +transportation of some of the women and children by +sea, thus saving them the labour and fatigue involved +in the land journey. Te Rauparaha himself also +travelled by water with the women, but, with the +exception of those required to propel the canoes, the +men continued on foot along the coast, capturing and +killing an occasional straggler who had lingered too +long in the vicinity of the warpath.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the Rangitikei River the canoe was drawn up on the +beach, and the whole party halted for several days. Hearing of their +arrival, the friends of Pikinga came down to the camp to welcome her, +but the remainder of the Ngati-Apa tribe fled to the hills and +concealed themselves amongst the mountain fastnesses. It would +therefore appear that the friendship which they afterwards alleged to +have existed between Te Rauparaha and themselves was not of a very +substantial character.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_57" id="Ref_57" href="#Foot_57">[57]</a></span> +Nor did the marriage of their chieftainess +with Te Rangihaeata avail them much; for while the bulk of his people +rested by the river, odd bands of their fighting men were continually +scouring the country in search of some plump Ngati-Apa who was needed +to keep the ovens fully employed. While the weather continued fine, Te +Rauparaha was anxious to lose no more time than was absolutely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">{83}</a></span> +necessary. So soon, therefore, as his people had been +refreshed by the rest, he pushed on again, making his +next stage the mouth of the Manawatu River, where he +harassed the Rangitane people by the inroads of armed +parties on their settlements. But comparatively few +captures were made, as the <i>pas</i> were deserted immediately +the inhabitants scented the danger.</p> + +<p>The migration which Te Rauparaha was thus conducting had for its +objective a sweet and fertile spot on the banks of the Ohau stream; +and when the remaining portion of the coast had been traversed without +opposition, and the tribe had reached its journey's end in safety, +preparations were at once made to establish them permanently on the +land. A <i>pa</i> was built large enough to accommodate the whole +party, and ground was cleared for cultivations, in which the potato +was planted for the first time on this coast. Their nearest neighbours +were the Ngati-Apa, who held possession of the island of Kapiti, and +the Muaupoko tribe, who were settled round the shores of Lakes +Horowhenua and Papaitonga. In what light the former regarded the +aggression upon their borders it is difficult to say; but the latter +were evidently very ill at ease, for they had a heavy presentiment of +what the ultimate result would be. But how to avert the danger was no +simple problem, as they had learned enough in the stern school of +experience to recognise that victory in open battle was not to be +hoped for. Strategy was therefore determined upon. Learning from two +Whanganui chiefs, who were then on a visit to Horowhenua, that Te +Rauparaha's vulnerable point at this period was his desire to obtain +canoes, they resolved to tempt him with the bait to which he was most +likely to fall a victim. The ease with which the chief fell into the +trap was due to his excessive ambition and the further large schemes +towards which his aspirations soared.</p> + +<p>He had heard strange stories of a treasure-trove of greenstone which +the Ngai-Tahu people had stored in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">{84}</a></span> +their <i>pas</i> over on the Middle Island; and as he stood +on the beach at Ohau and looked across the Strait +towards the hills of Waipounamu, he dreamed of this +wealth and how he could possess himself of it. Without +a fleet of canoes to convey his warriors over the intervening +sea, the project of invasion was visionary; but +even with the frailest vessels he might make it a reality, +and at one bold stroke add to his dominions, gratify his +avarice, and satiate his hate by waging war upon the +southern tribes.</p> + +<p>Of canoes the Muaupoko had many. Residing as they did upon the shores +of two lakes, these vessels were almost as essential to them as +gondolas to the Venetians; and when they learned of Te Rauparaha's +eagerness to obtain what they possessed, a device was cautiously +planned by which they might rid themselves of a neighbour whose coming +they felt boded them no good. Into this conspiracy of murder the +Rangitane people of Manawatu were admitted; and for thus allowing +themselves to be made the cat's-paw of others they paid a bitter +penalty, for they succeeded in nothing except in arousing the eternal +hatred of the great chief, who seemed invulnerable alike to their +cunning and their force. The authors of the scheme were Turoa and +Paetahi, both of the Ngati-Apa tribe; and the willing instrument in +their hands was Toheriri, a leader of the Muaupoko, whose part was, +shortly after the arrival of the Ngati-Toa at Ohau, to send an +invitation to Te Rauparaha and a number of his followers to pay a +friendly visit to his <i>pa</i> at Papaitonga. As already indicated, +the inducement held out to Ngati-Toa was the promise of a gift of +canoes, and, under the circumstances, a more artful pretence could not +have been conceived. "Canoes were at this time his great desire, for +by them only could he cross over to the island of Waipounamu," is the +explanation of the position given by Tamihana Te Rauparaha; and, if +the Muaupoko could gratify that desire, Te Rauparaha was not the man +to refrain from making a convenience of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">{85}</a></span> +enemies, as well as of his friends. Accordingly he +accepted the invitation, notwithstanding the earnest +remonstrances of his nephew and lieutenant, Te +Rangihaeata, who declared his irresistible conviction +that murder, rather than hospitality, was the secret +of the Muaupoko invitation.</p> + +<p>Rauparaha was in no mood to speculate about omens, good or evil. +Canoes he wanted, and canoes he would have, even if the gods or the +devils were against him. His unusual recklessness even carried him so +far that he selected only a few warriors to accompany him, and with +these he arrived, just at the fall of evening, at Papaitonga. The +party was, of course, received with the most profuse expressions of +friendship. Toheriri and his fellow-chief Waraki conducted their +visitors in state to view the canoes which were to be handed over in +the morning; but, on returning to the <i>pa</i>, they were careful to +conduct Te Rauparaha to a house at one end of the settlement, while +his followers were provided for at the opposite end. This fact appears +to have aroused no suspicion in the Ngati-Toa mind; for at night all +slept soundly, until the shouts of the combined Rangitane and Muaupoko +war parties were heard in the early morning as they rushed upon the +slumbering <i>pa</i>.</p> + +<p>The assailants appear to have been too precipitate in their onset. +Instead of first surrounding the <i>whare</i> in which Te Rauparaha +lay, they commenced the massacre of his followers at the other end; +and Toheriri, who was lightly sleeping in the same compartment as Te +Rauparaha, was compelled to go out and direct them to the particular +hut in which their common foe was lying. This delay was fatal to their +design, but fortunate for Te Rauparaha. In the absence of his host, he +stayed not to take his leave, but bursting through the <i>raupo</i> +wall which formed the end of the <i>whare</i>, he slipped away between +the houses; and when the tardy Rangitane rushed up to the hut, their +prey had flown, and nothing remained but to wreak their vengeance upon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">{86}</a></span> +the less distinguished victims, whom they slaughtered +without mercy. Included amongst these victims of +treacherous onslaught were several of Te Rauparaha's +wives and children. Of the latter, however, two were +spared, Te Uira and Hononga, the former of whom was +a daughter of his child-wife Marore. The reason for +this partial clemency is not clear; apparently vengeance +was satisfied by sending them prisoners to the Wairarapa, +where they afterwards became wives of men of renown +in the district.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_58" id="Ref_58" href="#Foot_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Amidst the chaos of treachery which surrounds this incident, it is +pleasant to record an act of chivalry of an heroic type. Amongst those +who accompanied Te Rauparaha on this eventful visit was his son, +Rangi-hounga-riri, who, it will be remembered, had distinguished +himself by slaying Tutakara, the chief of the Ngati-Mania-poto, when +that tribe attacked Ngati-Toa at the Awakino River. He, being strong +of body and lithe of limb, had managed to break through the attacking +cordon, and, had he chosen, might have made his escape. But, as he +hurried away, his ear caught the sound of a girl's piteous crying for +help. He recognised the voice as that of his sister, Uira. Heedless of +consequences he rushed back to the <i>pa</i>, and, forcing his way to +the side of the girl, placed his protecting arm around her, and fought +her assailants until overpowered by superior numbers. By his death, Te +Rauparaha lost one of his most intrepid lieutenants, and the Ngati-Toa +tribe one of its most promising leaders. As chivalrous as he was +brave, he was the type of chief whose nobility lifted the ancient +Maori above the level of the mere savage, and illustrated the manly +qualities which so impressed those early colonists who took the +trouble to understand the people amongst whom they had come. The +qualities are still there, and justify the hope that, by sound laws, +and sanitary and educational reforms, such as are now being +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">{87}</a></span> +effected, it may yet be possible to stay the process of +degeneration which set in as the result of the first +contact of the Maori with the European.</p> + +<p>Te Rauparaha, having slipped from the snare of his enemies, plunged +into the long grass which surrounded the <i>pa</i>, and, in the +semi-darkness, succeeded in eluding his pursuers, eventually reaching +his settlement at Ohau, weary, angry, and almost naked. Bitterly +disappointed at the result of his mission, and deeply enraged at the +treatment he had received, he in his wrath cursed the Rangitane and +Muaupoko peoples, and, calling his tribe around him, he charged his +followers to make it the one special mission of their lives "to kill +them from the dawn of day till the evening." This doctrine of +extermination was not preached to unwilling ears; and from that day +the fixed policy of the Ngati-Toa tribe was to sweep the Muaupoko and +Rangitane from their ancestral lands. In the reprisals which followed +as the result of Rauparaha's vow of eternal vengeance, the former tribe +seems to have suffered most; and there is little room for doubt that +they would have been ultimately uprooted and effaced from amongst the +tribes of New Zealand, but for the kindly offices of that dark-skinned +humanitarian, Te Whatanui, who, years afterwards, took them under his +protecting mantle, and declared, in the now historic phrase, that +"nothing would reach them but the rain from heaven."</p> + +<p>The Rangitane people were more fortunately situated, having the +impassable forests of the Manawatu and its inaccessible mountain +fastnesses to protect them. But they by no means escaped the +bitterness of persecution, as bands of Ngati-Toa were constantly +roaming their country in search of some one to kill and devour. The +constant absence of these parties convinced Rauparaha that the small +band of men whom he had with him was by no means sufficient for the +magnitude of the task which his ambitious mind had conceived, and so +he determined upon doing two things. The first was to strengthen his +position by conquering the island of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">{88}</a></span> +Kapiti, which was still in the possession of a section +of the Ngati-Apa people; the second, once again to +despatch ambassadors to the north, to persuade some +of his former allies to join him in mastering a district +which promised a rich supply of guns and ammunition. +As a preliminary to the former scheme, he extended his +frontier as far as Otaki, from which point he could the +better watch the movements of the islanders and sweep +down upon them at a favourable moment. But the +intervals in which there was lack of vigilance were few +and far between, and consequently the first series of +attacks failed signally. The defenders were strongly +posted and incessantly watchful; so Rauparaha, seeing +that the frontal attack, however well delivered, would +not avail, decided upon a stratagem which, judged by its +success, must have been admirably planned.</p> + +<p>His device was to lull the defenders of the island into a false sense +of security by apparently withdrawing all his forces from Otaki for +the purpose of some larger movement in the north, at the same time +leaving a small band of well-tried men, whose duty it was to make a +dash for the island and seize it before its inhabitants had recovered +from their surprise. He accordingly marshalled his forces one morning, +and, with an amount of ostentatious display which was calculated to +attract the attention of the Ngati-Apa spies, he marched away to the +Manawatu at the head of his warriors. The Ngati-Apa saw this movement, +but did not understand it. Believing that the absence of Te Rauparaha +meant a period of respite, they withdrew their sentries and gave +themselves up to rejoicing. This was precisely what the Ngati-Toa +chief had hoped for and calculated upon. He also had the satisfaction +of knowing that the most critical part of his scheme was in safe +hands. His uncle, Te Pehi Kupe, who was left in charge of the attacking +party, was a tried and grim veteran, and, true to the trust imposed +upon him, he came out of his concealment just before dawn on the +morning after Te Rauparaha had left. Silently the intrepid little band +launched their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">{89}</a></span> +canoes, and as silently they paddled across the intervening +water, reaching the island at the break of day. +They found the inhabitants still sleeping, and unconscious +of any danger until the shouts of their assailants +and the cries of the wounded warned them that some +desperate work was on hand. Not many of them stayed +to fight, and those who were not killed in the first +onslaught scrambled into their canoes and made for the +mainland, thus ingloriously leaving the last independent +stronghold of the Ngati-Apa in the hands of the +invaders.</p> + +<p>It has been charged to the discredit of Te Rauparaha, that, in +planning this attack upon Kapiti, he cherished a guilty hope that Te +Pehi might fall in the assault, and by his death rid him of a powerful +rival in the councils of the tribe. But, while his critics have never +been slow to attribute to him the grossest treachery towards his +enemies and infidelity to his friends, there is absolutely no evidence +that on this occasion he meditated a crime, such as sacred history +imputes to the King of Israel when he placed Uriah the Hittite in the +forefront of the battle. Te Pehi was a great chief. He was Te +Rauparaha's senior in years and his superior in birth. His prowess in +battle was known far and wide, and the circumstances under which he +afterwards emulated the example of Hongi by visiting England, and like +him, subsequently procuring for his tribe, guns and ammunition at +Sydney, stamp him as a man of strong initiative and individuality. But +he did not possess the political genius with which his nephew was +endowed; he lacked the organising power, the tact, and the gift of +inspiring others with his own enthusiasm. While Te Pehi might lead a +charge with brilliancy, Te Rauparaha could often gain more by +diplomacy than he by force of arms; and these statesmanlike qualities +gave the younger chief an influence with the tribe which Te Pehi did +not and never could possess. Indeed, the tragedy associated with his +death at Kaiapoi, in 1828, is sufficient to convince us that he was +strangely lacking in conciliation and tact. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">{90}</a></span> +So far as can be learned, there is nothing to lead us +to suppose that Te Pehi ever questioned his nephew's +superiority in the diplomatic department of his tribal +office; on the contrary, he seems to have cheerfully +accepted a secondary position, and loyally aided Te +Rauparaha in all his projects. Under these circumstances, +it is somewhat difficult to imagine what Te +Rauparaha was to gain by sacrificing so brave an ally. +Moreover, the intense grief which he manifested when +Te Pehi was killed at Kaiapoi, and the signal vengeance +which he took upon the Ngai-Tahu tribe for their act +of treachery, render the suspicion of foul play on his +part utterly improbable. In view of these considerations +he may fairly be exonerated from any criminal intent +towards Te Pehi. It is clear that the seizure of Kapiti +was but an essential move in his policy of conquest, +and that the manner of its seizure was but a cleverly +designed piece of strategy, certainly not unattended by +risk, but affording very reasonable chances of success.</p> + +<p>The capture of this natural fortress did not result in its immediate +occupation, for Te Rauparaha still had abundance of work to do on the +mainland before he could regard the power of the enemy as broken and +the conquest of his new home complete. In pursuance of his policy of +extermination, he had been interspersing his larger movements with +repeated raids upon Rangitane and Muaupoko, in which he invariably +made them feel the sting of his revenge. Finding that these attacks +were becoming more frequent and more vigorous, the chiefs of the +latter tribe conceived a plan by which they hoped to elude the +persistency of their implacable pursuers. Hitherto their <i>pas</i> +had been built on the shores of the picturesque lakes, around which +they had lived since their advent into the district, centuries before. +But they now decided to abandon these strongholds, which were exposed +to every raid of the enemy, and build their dwellings in the centre of +Lakes Horowhenua and Papaitonga. At the cost of an amazing amount of +industry and toil, they constructed artificial islands +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">{91}</a></span> +upon the beds of these lakes at their deepest parts, and +upon these mounds they built a miniature Maori Venice. +The construction of these islands was most ingenious, +and desperate indeed must have been the straits to +which Muaupoko were driven before they imposed upon +themselves so laborious a task.</p> + +<p>Proceeding to the bush, their first operation was to cut down a number +of saplings, which were pointed and then driven into the soft mud, +closely enclosing in rectangular form sufficient space on which to +place the foundations of the houses. Smaller stakes were then driven +into the centre of the enclosure, upon which were spitted those +compact masses of vegetation known as "Maori-heads." A layer of these +gave the builders a solid basis upon which to work, and huge stones, +earth, and gravel were brought in the canoes from the shore, and +poured into the enclosures until the pile of <i>débris</i> rose some +height above the level of the water. Six such islands were formed on +Lake Horowhenua and two on Papaitonga, and on these <i>whares</i> were +erected, which were gradually extended by the addition of platforms +reaching a considerable distance beyond the islands. Round each of +these platforms ran a stout palisade, which served the dual purpose of +preventing the very young children from falling into the water and +offering a formidable barrier to the assaults of the enemy. As the +only means of communication with these islands was by canoe, and as it +was well known to the Muaupoko people that Te Rauparaha had few such +vessels, they felt comparatively secure from attack so soon as they +had transferred themselves to their new retreat.</p> + +<p>But they little reckoned on the kind of man with whom they had to +deal, when they imagined that a placid sheet of water could interpose +between Te Rauparaha and his enemies. Canoes he had not, but strong +swimmers he had; and it is a fine tribute to their daring that, on a +dark and gloomy night, a small band of these undertook to swim off to +one of the Horowhenua <i>pas</i> and attack its sleeping inhabitants. +With their weapons +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">{92}</a></span> +lashed to their wrists, they silently entered the water, +and by swift side strokes reached the walls of Waipata, +the <i>pa</i> which they had chosen for their attempt, and +were swarming over the palisades before a note of warning +could be sounded. Taken at such a disadvantage, +it was not to be expected that the Muaupoko resistance +would be effective, for they were both stunned by +surprise and paralysed by fear at the awful suddenness +of the attack. Flight was their first thought, and such +as were not slain in their sleep or caught in their attempt +to escape, plunged into the lake and made for the nearest +shelter. In this endeavour to escape death all were not +successful, and it is estimated that, between the killed +and drowned, the attack upon Waipata cost the Muaupoko +several hundred lives, besides adding to their +misfortune by shattering utterly their belief in the inaccessibility +of their island <i>pas</i>. The adjoining <i>pas</i> upon +the lake, warned of the impending danger by the tumult +at Waipata, at once prepared for a stubborn defence; +but the attacking party, feeling themselves unequal to +the task of a second assault, discreetly withdrew to the +mainland before it was yet daylight, and at once made +preparations for another attack upon a more extensive +scale. But both prudence and necessity dictated the +wisdom of delay; it was wiser to wait until Muaupoko +had relapsed into their former state of confidence, and, +moreover, the plan upon which it was proposed to +make the attack required time for its development.</p> + +<p>Recognising the strength of the Waikiekie <i>pa</i>, against which the +energies of his tribe were next to be directed, Te Rauparaha saw that +success was not to be expected unless he could attack it in force. +This involved the transportation of a large body of men over the +waters of the lake, which could only be effected by means of canoes. +These he did not possess in numbers, and, even if he had, he must +still devise means of conveying them to the lake, which was several +miles from the coast. His ingenious mind, however, soon discovered an +escape from these perplexities, and he at once decided upon a plan, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">{93}</a></span> +which was not without precedent in European warfare +or imitation in subsequent Maori history. His scheme +involved the haulage of his canoes over the belt of land +which separated the lake from the sea, and the enterprise +seems to have been as cleverly executed as it was daringly +designed. Out of the lake runs an insignificant stream, +which slowly meanders over shallows and between narrow +banks down to the ocean; and to the mouth of this +creek were brought such canoes as had fallen into Te +Rauparaha's hands at the taking of Kapiti, and a larger +one which had been procured from his friends at +Whanganui-a-Tara.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_59" id="Ref_59" href="#Foot_59">[59]</a></span> +Where the water was deep +enough, or the reaches straight enough, the canoes +were floated up the bed of the stream; but as this +was possible only at rare intervals, the greater part of +the distance was covered by dragging the vessels over +the grassy flats and ferny undulations. Such a task +would be laborious enough under any circumstances; +but on this occasion it was rendered even more wearisome +by the necessity for conducting it in absolute silence. +As the success of the expedition depended mainly upon +the completeness of the surprise, it was essential that +no note of warning should be given, and therefore it +was impossible to encourage the workers to greater +exertions by song or speech; but so heartily did they +bend themselves to their monotonous task, that the three +miles of toilsome road were traversed before the break +of day.</p> + +<p>The outflow of the lake was hidden by a clump of trees which grew +close to the water's edge, and behind this natural screen the canoes +were concealed, and the men lay down to rest until the moment came to +strike. At the first appearance of dawn, the canoes were shot into the +lake, and before the inhabitants of Waikiekie had shaken slumber from +their eyes, the shaft was on its way that would send many of them to +their last long sleep. The <i>pa</i> was attacked on every side, and +with a vigour which left little chance of escape. Such resistance +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">{94}</a></span> +as was possible in such a situation was offered by the +drowsy defenders. But the mortal fear with which they +had come to regard the Ngati-Toa, together with the +fury of the onslaught and the completeness of the +surprise, spread panic amongst them, and the resistance +was soon left to a desperate few. Their valiant efforts +brought them nothing but the glory which attends the +death of the brave. They were quickly borne down +before the onrush of the assailants, whose shouts of +triumph, joined with the terrified cries of the fugitives, +filled the morning air. Large numbers, who looked +to discretion rather than valour, plunged into the lake, +and by swimming, diving, and dodging, a few managed +to elude both capture and death. But many were slain +as they swam, and, while their bodies sank to the bottom, +their blood mingled with the waters of the lake, until +it lay crimson beneath the rising sun. Warriors and +women, old men and children, to the number of two +hundred, we are told, perished on that fateful morning, +which saw the Muaupoko tribe driven from Horowhenua, +and the epoch of their greatness brought to a close. +A mere remnant of the tribe escaped, and made their +way through the forests and mountain fastnesses towards +the south, where, within the space of another year, they +were again pursued, hunted, and slaughtered, with all the +old relentless hatred of their destroyer.</p> + +<p>Having inflicted this crushing blow upon Muaupoko, and feeling +convinced that they could never again be a serious menace to +Ngati-Toa, the section of the Ngati-Awa tribe who, under +Rere-ta-whangawhanga and other chiefs, had accompanied Te Rauparaha +from Taranaki, now determined to return to their own country at +Waitara;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_60" id="Ref_60" href="#Foot_60">[60]</a></span> +and it was this decision which made it imperative that +the Ngati-Toa leader should seek efficient aid from some other +quarter. He accordingly, without delay, despatched +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">{95}</a></span> +messengers to the north, once again to invite his kinsmen +of the Ngati-Raukawa tribe to come and join him. These +emissaries, having arrived at Taupo, learned that an +attempt to reach Kapiti by way of the east coast had +already been made by Te Whatanui, but without success, +as he had been defeated by a Hawke's Bay tribe and +driven back. This experience had somewhat cooled +his ardour; but when Te Rauparaha's messengers +came with the news that Kapiti had been taken, and +told of his marvellous success at Waipata and Waikiekie, +interest in the project at once revived. Especially was +a young chief, named Te Ahu-karamu, fired with its +romantic prospects, and he immediately organised a +force of one hundred and twenty men and set off for +the land of promise.</p> + +<p>Almost simultaneously with the arrival of these reinforcements, +additional strength was gained by the accession of another band of +Ngati-Awa from Taranaki; and, with these additions to his ranks, Te +Rauparaha felt himself strong enough to resume once more active +operations in the field. He accordingly moved upon a skilfully built +<i>pa</i> situated at Paekakariki, some miles to the southward of +Kapiti, whither the escaping Muaupoko had fled and taken refuge. In +this adventure a larger force than usual was employed; for not only +were the new arrivals keen for a brush with the enemy, but the natural +strength of the <i>pa</i> was such that Rauparaha knew it would be +useless to approach it without a force of adequate proportions. In +these anticipations his judgment was correct, as usual, for the +struggle proved to be an exceedingly obstinate one and the death-roll +on both sides considerable. After some days of incessant attack, in +which the few muskets possessed by Ngati-Toa played their fatal part, +the Muaupoko defence was pierced, and the victory was sealed with all +the atrocities associated with the savage warfare of the ancient Maori.</p> + +<p>The capture of this <i>pa</i> proved to be a rich prize for Rauparaha. +Not only did it uproot the last stronghold of the Muaupoko people, but +it brought a substantial +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">{96}</a></span> +addition to his supplies. Large quantities of provisions +were discovered within the stockade, evidently collected +in anticipation of a lengthy siege. So provident, in fact, +had the inhabitants of the Paekakariki fort been in this +respect, that the large attacking force spent the succeeding +two months feasting upon the captured stores, interspersed +with an occasional cannibal repast. This period +of rest the visitors were prepared to enjoy to the full; for +after a battle nothing was more congenial to Maori +warriors than to lie idly about the sunny places in the +<i>pa</i>, and discuss in every detail the stirring incidents +of the fight.</p> + +<p>It was while thus basking in fancied security that the tables were +suddenly turned upon them, and from a most unexpected quarter. Hearing +from some of the fugitives of the capture of the Paekakariki +<i>pa</i>, and burning to avenge the raid which Ngati-Toa had +previously made into the Wairarapa, the members of the Ngati-Kahungunu +tribe residing at Wairarapa and near Wellington believed that this was +their golden opportunity. Secretly collecting a fighting force of +considerable strength, they made their way through the bush to +Paekakariki, and there fell upon the unwary and self-indulgent +invaders. To them it was something of a novel experience to be thus +repaid in their own tactics; but the swiftness and audacity with which +the blow was delivered completely demoralised them, and the erstwhile +assailants suffered the humiliation of being beaten back upon Waikanae +with inglorious precipitancy. The whole procedure necessarily involved +considerable loss on the part of Ngati-Toa and their allies, and the +bitterness of the reverse was especially galling because it was the +first occasion on which they had been worsted in arms since their +occupation of the country had commenced. The closeness of the pursuit +did not slacken until the fugitives had reached Waikanae; but beyond +this point Ngati-Kahungunu did not press their advantage. They were +now rushing into touch with Rauparaha's permanent settlements, from +which the echoes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">{97}</a></span> +of the strife might draw reinforcements at any moment. +Unwilling to overrun their victory, the men from Whanganui-a-Tara +withdrew to the south, well pleased with +their achievement, which was not without its lesson for +Te Rauparaha.</p> + +<p>The chief saw that the time had not yet arrived when he could relax +his life-long vigilance. Heavy as had been the defeats which he had +inflicted upon the resident people, he saw that their spirit had not +yet been completely crushed. Brave as his own followers were, he saw +that they were not proof against the panic which often springs from a +surprise attack. The thing, however, which caused him most concern was +the hostile attitude which was now being adopted towards him by the +Ngati-Kahungunu people. Hitherto this powerful tribe, whose domain was +a wide and populous one on the eastern coast, had remained +comparatively neutral in the contest for supremacy in the west. But +now this attitude was abandoned, and under the encouragement afforded +by this prospect of protection, the displaced tribes were gradually +venturing back to their deserted settlements. Should an effective +alliance be formed between his enemies on the two coasts, the position +would at once become so charged with danger that his comparatively +small force would find itself in a most critical situation. It was, +then, the threatening attitude of his neighbours which caused the +Ngati-Toa chief to decide finally upon the abandonment of the mainland +and the transference of the whole of his people to Kapiti, there to +await the result of his mission to his friends at Maungatautari. In +the meantime three strongly fortified <i>pas</i> were built upon the +island, and every preparation made against possible attack. These +<i>pas</i>, situated one at either end, and the third in the centre of +the island, were designed with as keen an eye for trade as for the +purposes of defence. Te Rauparaha had not lost sight of the main +purpose of his conquest, which was to bring himself into close +association with the whalers, from whom he hoped to obtain, by +purchase, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">{98}</a></span> +barter, or bullying, additions to his store of guns +and ammunition. For this purpose Kapiti was easily +the key to the position. Favoured by deep water and +safe anchorage, it afforded the securest of shelter to +vessels seeking to escape from the dirty weather which +comes whistling through the Strait. Boats lying snugly +at anchor under the lee of the land would have opportunities +for trade from which all others would be cut +off; and there is little doubt that this commercial advantage +was coolly calculated upon when the <i>pas</i> on the +mainland were evacuated and those on the island were +occupied. This much at least is certain, that, whether +part of a premeditated scheme or otherwise, the move +proved to be a masterstroke, for it gave to Te Rauparaha +a virtual monopoly of the white man's patronage, +a privilege which for years he guarded with jealous +exclusiveness.</p> + +<p>When it became known that Te Rauparaha had retired to Kapiti, and +there seemed less danger of immediate molestation, the Rangitane +people again began to collect in force near their old home at Hotuiti. +They built a strong <i>pa</i> near the present town of Foxton, and +here they were joined by a number of Ngati-Apa chiefs and people from +Rangitikei. This proceeding Te Rauparaha regarded as a danger and a +menace to his safety; for he had no reason to believe that he enjoyed +their friendship, and no means of ascertaining when they might think +fit to wreak their vengeance upon him. He therefore decided to take +the initiative and attack them. Accordingly, with Rangihaeata and his +Ngati-Apa wife Pikinga, he marched his war party up the coast and at +once invested the place. The method by which he sought to reduce the +<i>pa</i> to submission was a clever stratagem—perfectly honourable, +perhaps, according to the Maori code of warfare—but utterly repulsive +to civilised ideas; and, to those who judge him by the latter +standard, it lowers Te Rauparaha from the high plane of a classic +warrior to the level of a cunning and unscrupulous savage. His first +act of generalship +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">{99}</a></span> +aimed at separating the two tribes, a step which has been +attributed by some to a desire to spare the Ngati-Apa, +because of their relationship with Pikinga. Others, +however, can see in it nothing but a clever ruse to divide +the defending force, so that he might the more easily +attack and defeat them singly. He therefore sent Pikinga +to the Ngati-Apa chiefs with a request that they would +withdraw to their own territory beyond the Rangitikei +River. Probably he promised them safe-conduct on +their journey; but, if he did, it was of no avail, for they +firmly refused to evacuate the Hotuiti <i>pa</i>, and doggedly +remained where they were. Feigning, then, to abandon +his campaign, Te Rauparaha sent to the Rangitane chiefs, +inviting them to come to him and negotiate terms of +peace.</p> + +<p>In view of their past experiences it might have been expected that +such a request would be scornfully declined; but after long and +anxious debate it was decided—mainly, it is said, on the advice of +the Ngati-Apa chiefs—that the leading Rangitane warriors should meet +the Ngati-Toa leader and make the best terms possible with him. The +result was, of course, the old story: the ruthless slaughter of the +confiding ambassadors, who found that Te Rauparaha had come, not with +peace, but unrelenting war. Treachery was no more suspected inside the +<i>pa</i> than out of it; and while the people were deluded into the +belief that the war-clouds had passed away, they were being secretly +and silently surrounded. At a given signal the walls were stormed and +a bloody massacre followed, from which the Ngati-Toa warriors emerged +sated with gruesome triumph. The slain were eaten on the spot, and the +prisoners were taken to Waikanae, there to await the returning +appetite of their captors.</p> + +<p>So dastardly an attack upon their friends and so gross an insult to +their tribal pride could not be ignored; and although time might +elapse before the Ngati-Apa peoples would be able to strike an +avenging blow, it was quite certain that so soon as the favourable +moment arrived +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">{100}</a></span> +the Ngati-Toa would have to pay the penalty of their +treachery. But Te Rauparaha never dreamed that they +would have the temerity to attack him upon his own +land, and while he was lying in fancied security at +Waikanae, the storm suddenly burst upon him. The +Ngati-Apa, under Te Hakeke, had hurriedly collected +their war party, and obtaining reinforcements from the +fugitives who had escaped from the massacre at Hotuiti, +came by stealthy marches down the coast and fell upon +the unsuspecting Ngati-Toa in the dead of night. Next +morning the camp was in ruins, Te Rauparaha's force +was in flight, and sixty of his followers, including four +of Te Pehi's daughters, were lying dead amongst the +<i>débris</i>. The balance of battle honours having been thus +somewhat adjusted, the aggressors retired, well satisfied +with the result. They were allowed to depart without +a resumption of hostilities, for the supports who had +come over from Kapiti were either not strong enough, +or not keen enough, to pursue them.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_61" id="Ref_61" href="#Foot_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>Whatever may have been Te Rauparaha's previous disposition towards +Ngati-Apa, whether he was genuinely disposed to befriend them or +whether he was merely playing on their credulity, is of no further +importance, for from that day he took on an attitude of undisguised +hostility towards them, revoking all promises of peace, stated or +implied, and becoming, in the characteristic language of +Matene-te-Whiwhi, "dark in his heart in regard to Ngati-Apa." The +shield of friendship having been removed, this unfortunate tribe was +now exposed to all the fury of the most ruthless man in New Zealand; +and in the raids which his warriors made against them, neither man nor +woman was spared who was unfortunate enough to fall into his hands. +These misfortunes created a bond of sympathy between Ngati-Apa and +their neighbours, the Rangitane and Muaupoko, and paved the way for an +alliance against the common enemy. Although banished from Horowhenua +and wandering about the solitary places +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">{101}</a></span> +of the coast, a broken and shattered people, there was +still sufficient energy and hatred remaining in one of the +Muaupoko chiefs to make a final effort to recover their +departed <i>mana</i>.</p> + +<p>Te Raki, who had suffered captivity at the hands of Te Pehi, aspiring, +after his escape, to be the regenerator of his tribe, became the +active apostle of a federation which was to embrace the tribes who had +felt the weight of the Ngati-Toa hand. From Waitotara in the north to +Arapawa and Massacre Bay in the south, and Wairarapa in the east, he +organised an alliance which could hurl two thousand fighting men +against their redoubtable adversary. Canoes from far and near brought +this host to the appointed rendezvous, the northerners assembling at +Otaki and the southerners at Waikanae. From these two points this army +converged upon Kapiti, their canoes "darkening the sea" as they went. +The magnitude of the armada, however, was greater than its discipline, +and before it had proceeded far its movements were discovered. The +noise of the paddles, as the canoes approached the island in the early +morning, caught the keen ear of Nopera, and when the right wing landed +at Rangatira Point, they were opposed by the people whom they had +expected to surprise. The attack was fierce and desperate, and when +Pokaitara, the Ngati-Toa commander, found himself being driven back +towards Waiorua, he astutely proposed a truce. It would give him a +welcome respite while it lasted, and perhaps some advantage in the +first moment of its violation. Ignorant of the fact that a message had +been sent to Te Rauparaha, who happened to be at the centre of the +island, and hoping for the speedy arrival of his own laggard +reinforcements, who were still at sea, Rangi-maire-hau, the Ngati-Apa +chief from Turakina, in a weak moment, agreed to a suspension of +hostilities. Scarcely had this been arranged, when Te Rauparaha, with +the major part of his people, arrived upon the scene, and repudiating +the agreement to which his lieutenant had committed himself, he +recommenced the sanguinary work, and fought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">{102}</a></span> +to such purpose that the issue was soon placed beyond +doubt. With one hundred and seventy of their tribesmen +slain, the Ngati-Apa attack began to slacken. Presently +their ranks were seen to waver, and an impetuous +charge at this decisive moment drove into rout what had +hitherto been an impenetrable front. The slaughter of +pursuit was scarcely less than that of resistance. Dead +and dying lay on every side, and many found a watery +grave in their vain effort to swim to the canoes, which +had not yet reached the shore.</p> + +<p>News that disaster had overtaken the advance guard quickly spread to +the other sections of the allied forces; and, without attempting to +retrieve the fortunes of the day, they turned and precipitately fled +in whichever direction safety seemed to lie. When he realised that his +host had been worsted in the battle, Rangi-maire-hau disdained to fly, +but threw himself upon the mercy of Te Rangihaeata, who had borne +himself with conspicuous bravery throughout the attack. That haughty +chief, however, saw no reason why he should spread his protecting +mantle over his would-be exterminator, even though the appeal was +founded on the bond of relationship with his Ngati-Apa wife; and, +steeling his heart against every entreaty, he ordered +Rangi-maire-hau's immediate death. With this exception, it is recorded +to the credit of Ngati-Toa that they used their victory with unusual +moderation. Thus, the largest force which had ever been marshalled +during the Maori wars along this coast was defeated by one of the +smallest; the organisation of two years was dissipated in as many +hours; and the invaders were only the more firmly established in the +land by this futile attempt to uproot them. This great victory, which +settled for ever the question of supremacy, was duly celebrated by +feasting and dancing, during which Te Rauparaha chanted a song of +triumph, which was especially offensive to his enemies, taunting them, +as it did, with a lack of courage, and foretelling even greater +misfortunes that were yet to befall them:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">{103}</a></span> +<span class="i2q">"When will your anger dare?</span> +<span class="i2">When will your power arise?</span> +<span class="i2">Salute your child with your nose.</span> +<span class="i2">But how salute him now?</span> +<span class="i2">You will see the rejoicing tide</span> +<span class="i2">Of the warrior's coming glee,</span> +<span class="i2">And the departure of Rongo-ma-whiti."</span> +</div> + +<p>While Te Rauparaha was enjoying the fruits of his victory, his forces +received welcome reinforcements from two quarters. The news of battles +fought and laurels won had reached Taranaki, where the Ngati-Tama +chief, Te Puoho, and some of his followers, whose curiosity had been +aroused by the tales told by their returned tribesmen, came down to +learn the truth of the matter for themselves. Close upon their heels +came the long-hoped-for band of Ngati-Raukawa, who signalised their +advent by at once attacking the settlements in the Rangitikei and +Manawatu districts. While one party skirted the coast,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_62" id="Ref_62" href="#Foot_62">[62]</a></span> +the other +struck inland, and under their chiefs, Te Whatu and Te Whetu, +surrounded and captured a Ngati-Apa <i>pa</i> at Rangiure, and then +proceeded to Pikitane, where they killed a number of the resident +people and made the rest prisoners. These two settlements had been +taken completely by surprise, their people little dreaming that a war +party was marching through the land. No better prepared were the +Ngati-Apa then living at Awahuri, who were next attacked, and their +chief, named Te Aonui, was added to the train of captives. The +invaders then pushed their victorious march down the course of the +Oroua River, as far as its junction with the Manawatu. Here they +crossed the larger stream, and immediately attacked the <i>pa</i> at +Te Whakatipua. This assault was stoutly resisted by the chiefs, +Kaihinu and Piropiro, who paid the penalty with their lives, but the +remainder of the people who were not shot by the invaders were spared +on proffering a humble +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">{104}</a></span> +submission. This was practically the only discreet +course open to them. Not only were they placed at a +serious disadvantage, away from their fighting <i>pas</i>, but +many of the Ngati-Raukawa were armed with guns, while +the Rangitane people had not as yet been able to discard +the wooden spears and stone clubs of their forefathers.</p> + +<p>The rapid movements of the Ngati-Raukawa, and the completeness of +their captures, had prevented the news of their presence being +despatched to the adjoining settlements; and, as a consequence, when +they ascended the Manawatu and came upon the little <i>pa</i> at +Rotoatane, situated not far from Tiakitahuna,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_63" id="Ref_63" href="#Foot_63">[63]</a></span> +they were able to attack and capture it almost before the people could be summoned from +the fields. Not that it was a bloodless victory. A Rangitane chief, +named Tina, fought with desperation, and, before he was overpowered by +superior numbers, three of the assailants were stretched dead at his +feet. Once more the advance was sounded, the objective this time being +the <i>pa</i> at Tiakitahuna itself. This settlement was under the +chieftainship of Toringa and Tamati Panau, the latter being the father +of the chief Kerei te Panau,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_64" id="Ref_64" href="#Foot_64">[64]</a></span> +who until recently lived at Awapuni. +These men were evidently more alert than their neighbours, for no +sooner did the <i>taua</i> come in sight than they took to their +canoes and paddled across to the opposite bank of the river. While the +two tribes were thus ranged on opposite sides of the stream, the +Rangitane had time to consider the position. Tamati Panau was the +first to seek an explanation, by calling out to Te Whatu, "Where is +the war party from?" Clear and quick came the answer back, "From the +north." That was sufficient for Toringa, who had already tested the +mettle of the northerners, and he at once sent a curse across the +water, hurled at the heads of the invaders with all the venom that +tribal hatred and a sense of injured +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">{105}</a></span> +vanity could instil. Whether it was the dread of +Toringa's denunciation, or whether the Ngati-Raukawa +were satisfied with their unbroken course of victory, is +not clear to the present-day historian; but the Rangitane +traditions relate that, after firing a single shot from one +of their muskets, the invaders retired from the district, +taking their prisoners with them, and made their way +south to join Te Rauparaha, who was anxiously awaiting +their coming.</p> + +<p>The prospect opened up to these new-comers was far beyond anything +that they had dreamed. In fact, so fascinated was Te Ahu-karamu with +the new and beautiful country which his great kinsman had conquered +that, after a reasonable rest, he returned to Taupo for the purpose of +bringing the whole of his people away from a position which was daily +becoming more exposed to the aggression of the Waikato tribes. But his +designs in this direction were nearly thwarted by the persistency with +which the tribe clung to their northern home, even in defiance of his +threat to invoke the wrath of his <i>atua</i><span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_65" id="Ref_65" href="#Foot_65">[65]</a></span> +if they dared to +question the command of their chief. Finding that the terrors of his +god had no influence upon them, Karamu adopted an instrument of the +devil, and, taking a torch in his hand, brought his obdurate tribesmen +to their senses by burning every house in the <i>pa</i> to the ground. +Rendered thus houseless and homeless, there was nothing for the +dejected people to do but to follow their imperious leader. In his +journey back to Kapiti he was joined by two of the most famous chiefs +of that day—Te Whatanui and Te Heuheu, the former of whom was +destined to become the patriarch of Horowhenua and the protector of +its persecuted people. Collecting a strong retinue of followers, the +three chiefs set off in 1825 by the same route which Karamu had +previously travelled down the valley of the Rangitikei, varying the +monotony of the journey<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_66" id="Ref_66" href="#Foot_66">[66]</a></span> +through the Ngati-Apa +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">{106}</a></span> +country by occasionally chasing frightened fugitives, +in order to gratify their pride and glut their appetite.</p> + +<p>Upon their arrival at Kapiti long and anxious consultations followed +between the chiefs, the result of which was that Te Whatanui at last +consented to migrate<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_67" id="Ref_67" href="#Foot_67">[67]</a></span> +and throw in his fortunes with Te Rauparaha. +This was eventually accomplished in 1828-29, the consolidation of the +Ngati-Toa and Ngati-Raukawa tribes making their future absolutely +secure and bringing Te Rauparaha's wildest dreams of conquest within +measurable distance of accomplishment. His broadened aspirations had +long before this extended across the Strait; and, next to the conquest +of the coast on which he was now operating, it had become his greatest +ambition to measure his strength against the natives of the Middle +Island. Their reputed wealth in greenstone had aroused his avarice, +while +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">{107}</a></span> +the prospect of acquiring additional territory appealed +strongly to his love of power.</p> + +<p>But before he was able to perfect his plans for carrying into effect +this new stroke of aggression, an event occurred which was destined to +have important results. It will be remembered that the crowning +circumstance which had induced Te Rauparaha to leave Kawhia was the +sight of a vessel beating through Cook Strait. He had there and then +settled in his mind that this part of the coast was soon to become an +important rendezvous for whalers, &c., and already his anticipations +were being realised with an amazing rapidity. The whalers were now +frequent visitors to Kapiti, and many were the marvels which they +brought in their train. But most of all were the natives absorbed in +the prospect of securing from these rough seafarers guns and +ammunition, steel tomahawks, and other weapons, which would give them +an advantage over their enemies in the only business then worth +consideration—the business of war. Many of these ships, however, had +not come prepared for this traffic,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_68" id="Ref_68" href="#Foot_68">[68]</a></span> +and the lack of guns, rather +than any hesitation to part with them, made the process of arming a +tribe a slow one. It had at least proved much too slow for some of the +more restless spirits of the race; and impatience, added to a natural +love of adventure, had led some of them to ship to Sydney, and even to +England, in the hope of bringing back with them the means of +accelerating their enemies' destruction. Of these latter Hongi had +been a conspicuous example, and the success which had attended his +mission to England roused a spirit of emulation in the breasts of +other chiefs, who were only waiting the opportunity of following his +example. Of these, Te Pehi Kupe, the conqueror of Kapiti, was one of +the few who were signally successful. Knowing no language but his own, +having only the vaguest notions of what a voyage to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">{108}</a></span> +England meant, and a very precarious prospect of ever +being brought back, this man had thrown himself on +board an English whaler, and, resolute against all dissuasions, +and even against physical force, had insisted +upon being carried to a country of which he had but +two ideas—King George, of whom he had heard, and +guns, which he had seen and hoped to possess.</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that, while the ship <i>Urania</i> was lying +becalmed in Cook Strait, about five or six miles from the land, on +February 26, 1824, Captain Reynolds perceived three large canoes, +fully manned, approaching the vessel. Doubtful what such a +demonstration might portend, Captain Reynolds put his ship in a +condition to resist an attack if necessary; and when the canoes were +within hail, he, by word and sign, endeavoured to warn them off. Had +he chosen, he might easily have sent the frail-looking barques to the +bottom by a single shot from the ship's guns; but, unlike many another +skipper of those days, Captain Reynolds was a man actuated by +considerations which went beyond himself, and the thought of the +retaliation which might fall upon other mariners coming to the shores +of New Zealand restrained him from committing any such act of +brutality. Fortunately there was no need for drastic action, and the +behaviour of the natives was such as to leave no doubt in the mind of +the captain that their intentions were of a peaceable character. Te +Pehi boldly directed his crew to paddle alongside the ship, and, +divesting himself of all his clothing except a mat which was slung +across his shoulders, he, with the swiftness of an athlete, climbed on +board. When he reached the deck, he endeavoured by signs and gestures +to convey to Captain Reynolds that what he wanted was arms and +ammunition, and, on being informed that the ship had none to spare, he +coolly indicated that, such being the case, he had decided to remain +on board and proceed to Europe<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_69" id="Ref_69" href="#Foot_69">[69]</a></span> +to see King George. These words +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">{109}</a></span> +he had evidently learned from some of Captain Reynolds' +predecessors, for he was able to pronounce them with +sufficient distinctness to be clearly understood. The +audacity of this proposal completely staggered the master +of the <i>Urania</i>, and he at once tried to nip such ambitious +hopes in the bud by peremptorily ordering the chief +back to his canoe. Te Pehi, however, met this direction +by calling to his men to move the canoe away from the +ship, and the captain next sought to give his command +practical force by throwing the chief overboard, in the +hope and belief that the canoes would pick him up out +of the sea. But in this he was again checkmated. The +chief threw himself down on the deck and seized hold +of two ring-bolts, with so powerful a grip that it was +impossible to tear him away without such violence as the +humanity of Captain Reynolds would not permit. At +this critical juncture a light breeze sprang up, and Te +Pehi improved the favourable circumstance by ordering +his men to paddle to the shore, as he was going to see +King George, and that he would soon return. This +command was at once obeyed, and the breeze carrying +the <i>Urania</i> off the land, Captain Reynolds was reluctantly +compelled to keep the chief on board that night. But, +far from satisfied with his self-constituted passenger, he +next day made another effort to force Te Pehi on shore, +and nearly lost his ship in the attempt. This narrow +escape, and the favourable conditions for getting away +from New Zealand, to some extent reconciled the captain +to an acceptance of the situation; but his chagrin was as +great as was the delight of the chief, when it was found +that there was no option but to keep him on board for +the remainder of the voyage.</p> + +<p>With more intimate acquaintance, the relations +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">{110}</a></span> +between the captain and chief grew to be of the most +friendly nature, and they lived together, both on shipboard +and on shore, the captain taking a kindly interest in +explaining to his protégé the mysteries of the great world +upon which he was entering, while the native clung to +his new-found friend with a confiding affection.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_70" id="Ref_70" href="#Foot_70">[70]</a></span> +The <i>Urania</i> ultimately reached Liverpool, where Te Pehi was +the subject of much public attention. He was shown +over the principal manufactories in Manchester and +London, his great anxiety to see King George was +gratified, and, although he was subject to a good deal +of sickness, yet, thanks to the care of Captain Reynolds, +he made an excellent recovery. After about a year's +residence in England, he was placed on board H.M. +ship <i>The Thames</i>, and in October, 1825, he sailed for +his native land, loaded with presents of clothing and +agricultural implements, which were given him by +benevolently minded people in the hope that, combined +with the knowledge of their use and blessing, which +he had acquired in England, they would exercise an +elevating influence upon his countrymen when he +should return amongst them. Vain hope; for on his +arrival at Sydney, Te Pehi reversed the beautiful biblical +allegory, and turned his pruning hooks into spears and +his ploughshares into guns and ammunition, to aid in the +work of waging eternal warfare against the enemies of +his tribe.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_71" id="Ref_71" href="#Foot_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Early in the year 1824, and immediately after Te Pehi's departure for +England, Te Rauparaha found that, in consequence of the many recent +additions to his forces, the number of natives who had placed +themselves under +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">{111}</a></span> +his command was then sufficient to enable him to begin +the main purpose of his conquest, namely, the systematic +occupation of the land.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_72" id="Ref_72" href="#Foot_72">[72]</a></span> +He and his own immediate +tribe having decided to occupy the island of Kapiti, +where they could be in closer touch with the whalers, he +now proceeded to partition the country along the coast +amongst the new arrivals. The first division led to civil +war and domestic feuds between a section of Ngati-Raukawa +and the Ngati-Tama from Taranaki, under Te +Puoho, which at one time threatened to destroy all that +he had already accomplished; and it was not until a new +allotment was agreed upon, by which Ngati-Awa, to +whom Ngati-Tama were closely related, were given +exclusive possession of the country south of the +Kukutauaki stream, and the Ngati-Raukawa sole dominion +over the district northward of that boundary as far as +the Wangaehu River, that his power to resist his enemies +was restored by the restoration of harmony amongst his +friends. Not that there was any immediate danger of +attack; for his incessant raids upon the Ngati-Apa and +Muaupoko tribes had reduced them to the condition +of a shattered and fugitive remnant, incapable alike of +organised attack or organised defence.</p> + +<p>It was probably one of the proudest days of Te Rauparaha's life when, +standing on Kapiti, he formally transferred the whole of the coast to +his followers by right of conquest, than which no Maori could hope for +a better title, and proclaimed to the assembled people the precise +districts which were to be their future homes, where they were to +cultivate, to catch +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">{112}</a></span> +eels, to snare and spear birds. These dispositions, however, +did not imply that he was prepared to surrender +his supreme authority over the lands, and the fact that +he desired to, and intended to, retain his right of +suzerainty was made abundantly clear. "The lands I +now give you are in our joint rule, but I shall be greater +in power than you individually"; such were the terms +in which the transfer was made, and the people acquiesced +in a unanimous "It is right, O Raha! it is as +you say." But Ngati-Toa, Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Awa +were commissioned to do something more than merely +occupy the land. In imperious tones the great chief +commanded them: "Clear the weeds from off my field." +In other and less figurative words, they were to kill and +persecute the conquered peoples without pity and without +mercy; and perhaps it would have been well for +Ngati-Raukawa had they more faithfully obeyed his instructions, +instead of extending a sheltering arm to Ngati-Apa +and Muaupoko, both of whom subsequently proved +themselves so unworthy of this clemency.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_73" id="Ref_73" href="#Foot_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Under the arrangement thus determined upon at Kapiti the country round +the beautiful lake at Horowhenua was taken possession of by that grand +old member of a magnificent race, Te Whatanui, and those people who +had come from the north with him. The district now known as Lower +Manawatu was occupied by another section of the Ngati-Raukawa people, +under Te Whetu, and, still higher up, Rangitikei came under the +dominion of Nepia Taratoa, a chief who seems to have been as generous +to Ngati-Apa as Whatanui was to Muaupoko. Southward of Horowhenua, as +far as the present harbour of Wellington, the country was subsequently +given over to Ngati-Awa, who were in settled possession when the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">{113}</a></span> +first European colonists arrived. Here in 1825-26 +Pomare, their chief, led the Ngati-Mutunga <i>hapu</i> of the +Ngati-Awa people, who forcibly occupied the shores of +the great bay, where they hoped to cultivate the friendship +of the whalers,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_74" id="Ref_74" href="#Foot_74">[74]</a></span> +whose commerce was so profitable to +them. Their tenure, however, was not an undisputed +one. They were subjected to frequent raids and incessant +harassment from the Wairarapa tribe, whom they +had displaced, and who deeply resented being thus deprived +of their one avenue of communication with the +<i>pakeha</i>. This tribe, though powerless to retrieve the +aggression of Ngati-Awa, missed no opportunity of +irritating them, and Pomare was not reluctant to hand +over his trust to some other chief, so soon as he could be +honourably relieved of it. This opportunity came when, +after the fall of the Puke-rangiora <i>pa</i> in 1831, the survivors +of that (for Ngati-Awa) disastrous day, together with +the flower of their tribe from their other settlements, +abandoned Taranaki, and came down, a fugitive host, to +shelter under the protecting wing of Te Rauparaha.</p> + +<p>With Te Puni, Wi Tako, and Wharepouri, an arrangement was entered into +in 1834, whereby the land round the harbour and the right to contest +the ownership of the territory with the unexterminated portion of the +Ngati-Kahungunu were to be ceded to them for the consideration of a +greenstone <i>mere</i>. Pomare was perhaps the more ready to relinquish +possession of what is now amongst the most valuable land in the +Dominion, because he had become possessed of information which seemed +to open up a much more agreeable prospect than resisting the +inconvenient incursions of his Wairarapa enemies. One of the young men +of his tribe, Paka-whara, who had shipped on board a whaler, had just +returned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">{114}</a></span> +from a southern cruise, with the intelligence that the +Chatham Islands were populated by a sleek and inoffensive +people, who might be expected to fall an easy +prey to such hardened veterans in war as Ngati-Awa +could now furnish. Pomare at once acted upon the +inspiration; and chartering, partly by payment and +partly by intimidation, the British brig <i>Rodney</i>, he sailed +with his followers in November, 1835, for the Chathams, +where, by a fearful destruction of human life, the well-conditioned, +unwarlike Morioris were reduced within +the short space of two years to a remnant of two hundred +souls.</p> + +<p>Whether the allocation of these districts to these particular chiefs +was due to their own choice or to the will of Te Rauparaha is not +known; but in the case of Te Whetu the former appears to have been the +fact. During the raid which he made upon Manawatu while migrating to +Kapiti, he had secured amongst his captives a handsome young Rangitane +woman named Hinetiti, whose charms so pleased him that when he reached +Kapiti he made her his wife. Hine's gentleness moved her lord and +master in a way that sterner methods would not, and she soon obtained +such an influence over him that her will became his desire. Doubtless +the memory of her old home was ever present with her, even amongst the +beauties of Kapiti; and, when the partition of the country was being +spoken of in the <i>kaingas</i>, she urged Te Whetu to take her back +to the banks of the Manawatu, where she might be once more with her +friends and relatives. In deference to this wish, Te Whetu brought her +to a little settlement named Te Iwi te Kari, near Foxton. With them +came the Ngati-Wehiwehi <i>hapu</i>, bringing the prisoners whom they +had taken eighteen months before, and together they occupied the +district around Matai-Kona.</p> + +<p>The Manawatu was still well stocked with Rangitane, for many of their +larger settlements in the upper portion of the district had not been +so completely depopulated as some of the more southern <i>pas</i> by +the captures and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">{115}</a></span> +slaughters of the marauding northerners. The presence +of the Ngati-Raukawa in the midst of their country put +no check upon their freedom, and, according to their +ancient custom, they moved about from one <i>kainga</i> to +another at their pleasure. Indeed, the relations between +the Rangitane and Ngati-Raukawa appear to have been +of the most friendly nature after the return of the captives +from Kapiti, a fact which the former attribute to the +marriage of Te Whetu with their chieftainess, but which +in reality was due to the generosity of the Ngati-Raukawa, +who, had they chosen, might have left nothing but +smoking ruins and bleaching bones to tell of the Rangitane's +former existence.</p> + +<p>The feeling, however, was not so cordial between the Rangitane and the +natives immediately under the leadership of Te Rauparaha, who allowed +no circumstance to mitigate his extreme desire for revenge; and, +although no pitched battles took place, there were occasional +skirmishes and massacres which served to keep alive the fires of hate. +In like manner he constantly harried the Muaupoko and such members of +the Ngati-Apa tribe as he now and then fell in with, until these +people, feeling life to be unbearable if they were to be hunted like +beasts of prey, decided to place themselves beyond the reach of so +relentless a tormentor. They accordingly, to the number of three +hundred souls, including women and children, determined upon flight +into the Wairarapa; and there they threw themselves upon the mercy of +the Ngati-Kahungunu, who might be expected to display some sympathy +for other victims of the suffering from which they themselves had not +escaped. But here again the hapless people were doomed to a bitter +experience. Instead of being received with the open arms of welcome, +they were cruelly set upon and driven back over the Tararua Ranges, +because of some old and unavenged act of violence which their friends +had committed, but of which they had probably never heard.</p> + +<p>Spurned from the only asylum which appeared to be open to them, +Ngati-Apa returned to Rangitikei and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">{116}</a></span> +sought the protection of Rangihaeata and Nepia Taratoa, +to both of whom they paid tribute for the right to live. +Muaupoko placed themselves under the protecting arm +of a Ngati-Raukawa chief named Tuahine, whose heart +was touched by their destitute and defenceless condition. +But his intervention was of little avail. However willing +he might have been—and there is no reason to doubt +his sincerity—he proved quite unable to shield them +against the never-dying wrath of Te Rauparaha. Hearing +from some of the Ngati-Raukawa people that the +remnant of the Muaupoko tribe was once more beginning +to gather round the Horowhenua and Papaitonga lakes, he +organised a force of Ngati-Toa, Ngati-Huia and Ngati-Tama +warriors, and marched upon Papaitonga in defiance +of the vehement protests of Tuahine and many other +Ngati-Raukawa chiefs, who wished to have done with this +incessant slaughter. This lake, which covers an area of +about one hundred and twenty-five acres, lies a few miles +to the southward of Horowhenua. From time immemorial +it had been the home of the Muaupoko tribe, by whom it +was originally called Waiwiri, but in more recent days +the name of the larger of the two gem-like islands encircled +by its waters has been applied to the whole lake. +Papaitonga, which signifies, "the islet of the South," is +a name which reveals in bright relief the poetic fancy of +the Maori; for, even now, when its scenic charms have +to some extent succumbed to the demands of settlement, +the lake and its surroundings still present one of the +most charming beauty spots in the whole Dominion. A +deep fringe of tree-ferns and underwood, backed by a +dense forest of native bush, skirts its north and northeast +shores. Southward, through occasional breaches in +the woods, can be seen the open undulating ground, +gradually rising until it reaches the foot of the Tararuas, +whose snow-capped peaks seem to touch the azure sky. +Westward, stretching away to the sea, are the low flats +over which meanders the slow-winding Waiwiri stream, +which forms the outlet of the lake. Here the visitor is +indeed on classic ground, for there is scarcely a feature +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">{117}</a></span> +of the landscape which has not, for the Maori, some +historic association, some tragic story, some deepening +memory of the hoary past. To this day the island of +Papaitonga, so restful with its luxuriant crown of soft +foliage, but which in the days of old was a sanguinary +battle-ground, remains "a perfect necropolis of human +bones," lying concealed beneath a living shroud of +vegetation, which has silently risen to obscure from +human sight the gruesome evidence of human savagery.</p> + +<p>It was to this spot that Te Rauparaha now, in 1827-28, led his +warriors, arriving there late in the afternoon. His first care was +effectually to surround the lake. This he did by posting strong +detachments of men at various points, the reason for this disposition +being a doubt as to which direction the fugitives would take in their +flight, which rendered it expedient to intercept them at every +possible avenue of escape. Ten men were then left in concealment near +the canoe-landing, the smallness of the number being designed to +deceive the inhabitants of the island, who at this time numbered +several hundred. It was arranged that these men should, in the early +morning, call to the people on the island to bring them a canoe, the +intention being to create the impression in the minds of the islanders +that they were a party of friends. Accordingly, when those in the +<i>pa</i> began to be astir, Te Riu called out to Kahurangi:—</p> + +<p class="block">"<i>E Kahu, e! Hoea mai te waka ki au. Ko tou tangata tenei.</i>" (O +Kahu, bring over a canoe for me, I am your man.)</p> + +<p>Either the call was not heard, or a lurking suspicion forbade a ready +compliance with the request, for no movement was made by the islanders +in the direction desired until Te Riu had called again:—</p> + +<p class="block">"<i>Hoea mai te waka, kia maua ko to tangata. Ko Te Ruru tenei.</i>" +(Send a canoe for me and your friend. Te Ruru is here.)</p> + +<p>This last appeal was not without avail. A chief named Takare ordered +two men to paddle a canoe across and bring Te Ruru to the island, at +the same time impressing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">{118}</a></span> +upon them the need of keeping a sharp lookout +on shore to prevent unpleasant surprises. No sooner +had the canoe put off than two of the Ngati-Toa divested +themselves of their clothing, and waded out amongst the +<i>raupo</i> flags which grew near the landing, keeping only +their heads above the water. One was armed with a +tomahawk, and the other with a stone club known as an +onewa, and their mission was to prevent the return of the +canoe, should the men who brought it refuse to take +the party on board. On came the canoe; but when +passing the bulrushes, the rowers, who were peering +cautiously about, detected the heads of the two men +amongst the <i>raupo</i>, and in an instant the conviction +of treachery flashed upon them. The man in the +stern of the canoe excitedly called to his companion to +shove off; but Whakatupu, the Ngati-Toa, was too quick +for him. Springing from his concealment, he laid hold +of the bow of the canoe and began to haul it towards +the landing. The Muaupoko nearest to him made a +lunge at his head with the paddle, but Whakatupu skilfully +parried the thrust with his short-handled axe, and then, +turning upon his assailant, with an unerring blow cleft +his skull, and sent the lifeless body reeling back into the +water. When the man in the stern of the canoe saw the +fate of his companion, he immediately leaped overboard, +and dived, coming to the surface again well out of the +reach of the enemy. By diving and swimming, he at +length succeeded in reaching the shore, where he concealed +himself amongst some low brushwood, only to +find that he had been tracked, and that it was his fate +to be shot by Aperahama.</p> + +<p>The report of the gun, echoing through the silent bush and across the +face of the placid lake, was the signal to the concealed warriors that +the day's work had commenced, and to the unhappy islanders the +announcement that the dogs of war had again been let loose upon them. +They instantly prepared for flight, for to men without guns resistance +was hopeless, even had it been possible. While they were swarming into +their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">{119}</a></span> +canoes, their panic was considerably accelerated by the +sight of a Ngati-Huia warrior swimming towards the +island discharging his musket as he swam. He had tied +his cartouche box round his neck, and with his hands +he loaded and re-loaded his gun, while he propelled +himself through the water by his legs. When he +reached the island, the inhabitants had already left, and +were making for the shore. Here they were met by a +deadly fusilade from one of Te Rauparaha's detachments, +who were quietly waiting for them. They then +turned their canoes, and made an effort to land at +another point, only to be driven back by a second attack +as disastrous as the first. Attempt after attempt was +made to land, and here and there a strong swimmer +or a swift runner succeeded in escaping; but the +harvest of death was heavy, the bulk of the people, +including all the chiefs, being shot. "As for the few +who escaped," says a native account, "some took refuge +at Horowhenua, and others fled to the mountains. +After the fall of Papaitonga, the war party went on to +Horowhenua, where there was more killing. Driven +from there, the Muaupoko fugitives crossed over to +Weraroa and fled to the hills. Then the war party +returned to Papaitonga. What followed was according +to Maori custom, but who would care to tell of it? I +have a horror of that part of the story. If you want to +know, ask the old men of the Ngati-Toa—Ngahuku, +Tungia, and the others. That is all." Amongst those +who were slain in this fight was Toheriri,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_75" id="Ref_75" href="#Foot_75">[75]</a></span> +a Muaupoko +chief, whose wife was inspired by the occasion to +compose a lament in which she mourned the death of +her husband, and implied that Tuahine had broken his +pledge by exposing her people to the raid. But, in +justice to that chief, it has to be admitted that he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">{120}</a></span> +entirely powerless to interpose on their behalf; while, on +the other hand, the whole incident serves to show how +ruthlessly Te Rauparaha cherished his desire for revenge, +and how inadequate he considered the lapse of time and +the slaughter of hundreds to satisfy the <i>manes</i> of his +children murdered by Muaupoko at Papaitonga.</p> + +<p>So Muaupoko died—or what was left of them lived, and were suffered to +retain some of their lands around Horowhenua Lake. Pathetic laments +for their lost lands and their departed <i>mana</i> have been +composed, and are still sung amongst them. One chanted by Taitoko in a +lamentation over the dead of his tribe is universally known and sung +by the Maoris of the coast:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"The sun is setting,</span> +<span class="i2">Drawn to his ocean cave—</span> +<span class="i2">Sinking o'er the peak of Pukehinau.</span> +<span class="i2">Here wild with grief am I,</span> +<span class="i2">Lonely as the bird in the</span> +<span class="i2">Great waste of waters.</span> +<span class="i2">Wait, wait awhile, O Sun,</span> +<span class="i2">And we'll go down together."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_48" id="Foot_48" href="#Ref_48">[48]</a> +"It is not unusual for the natural <i>ariki</i>, or chief of a +<i>hapu</i>, to be, in some respects, supplanted by an inferior chief, +unless the hereditary power of the former happens to be accompanied by +intellect and bravery" (<i>Travers</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_49" id="Foot_49" href="#Ref_49">[49]</a> +I have here followed the narrative of Travers; but, in his +<i>History and Traditions of the Taranaki Coast</i> Mr. Percy Smith +makes it appear that at the moment of migration Te Ariwi was being +besieged; that the exodus was not premeditated, but was suggested to +Te Rauparaha by a Waikato chief as the only means of escape, and that +the evacuation of the <i>pa</i> was carried out at night. As affording +an interesting sidelight upon the diversity of opinion which prevails +as to the cause of Te Rauparaha's migration, I here append the +following note which I have received from Mr. H. M. Stowell, a +descendant of the great Hongi. "There is one striking Rauparaha fact +which has not yet been properly given: Rauparaha had become a pest +among his own people, and they warned him to beware—this at his +Kawhia home. Consequently, when the <i>taua</i>, or war party, of my +people, under Waka Nene and his brother Patuone, arrived at Kawhia on +their way south, and invited Te Rauparaha to join them, he was only +too willing. He was in personal danger at home, and he could only lose +his life, at the worst, by coming south. He therefore came. When the +war parties returned to Kawhia, Rauparaha at once gave out to his +people that he intended to move south permanently. This being so, his +people did not take any steps to molest him, and in due course he came +south. These facts are important, as showing that his coming south was +not a mere whim or accident; on the contrary, it was imperative, +because he had made himself obnoxious to his own people."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_50" id="Foot_50" href="#Ref_50">[50]</a> +John White, <i>Ancient History of the Maori</i>.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_51" id="Foot_51" href="#Ref_51">[51]</a> +This woman was one of the wives whom Te Rauparaha had taken over +after the death of Hape Taurangi at Maungatautari.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_52" id="Foot_52" href="#Ref_52">[52]</a> +On the way down one disaster overtook the party. In the passage +of the Mokau a canoe capsized and the only child of Te Rangihaeata was +drowned. It was due to this circumstance that Rangihaeata in after +years sometimes adopted the name of Mokau.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_53" id="Foot_53" href="#Ref_53">[53]</a> +During the night a peculiar incident, illustrative of Maori life +at this period, occurred. One of the women, the wife of a chief, had a +child with her, which, in its restlessness, began to cry. Te Rauparaha, +fearing that his stratagem would be betrayed by the wailing of the +child, told its mother to choke it, saying, "I am that child." The +parents at once obeyed the command, and strangled the child.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_54" id="Foot_54" href="#Ref_54">[54]</a> +As illustrating the peculiar methods of Maori warfare, it is said +that during the night following this battle Te Wherowhero came close +to the Ngati-Toa camp and called out: "Oh Raha, how am I and my people +to be saved?" To which Te Rauparaha replied: "You must go away this +very night. Do not remain. Go; make haste." Following this advice, the +Waikatos left the field, leaving their fires burning, and when the +Ngati-Awa reinforcements arrived in the morning, no enemy was to be +seen.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_55" id="Foot_55" href="#Ref_55">[55]</a> +This is according to Travers's account. Some authorities say that +Pomare could not have been there at that time.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_56" id="Foot_56" href="#Ref_56">[56]</a> +Afterwards a thorn in Te Rauparaha's side: the saviour of +Wellington in 1843, and the honourable opponent of the British forces +in the Waitara war in 1860.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_57" id="Foot_57" href="#Ref_57">[57]</a> +Between the years 1863-69 a violent dispute raged between the +Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Apa tribes as to their respective rights to +sell a valuable block of land known as Rangitikei-Manawatu to the +Provincial Government. Ngati-Raukawa claimed the land on the ground of +conquest, while Ngati-Apa urged that the marriage of Pikinga, their +chieftainess, with Rangihaeata was a bond between them and Te +Rauparaha, which induced him to protect rather than to destroy them. +Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata were furious when they heard of these +pretensions, and severely upbraided Ngati-Raukawa for not having +permitted them to exterminate Ngati-Apa, whom they described as "the +remnant of their meal."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_58" id="Foot_58" href="#Ref_58">[58]</a> +Te Uira was at this time the wife of Te Poa, who was killed at +this massacre. Hononga was Te Rauparaha's daughter by his second wife, +Kahui-rangi.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_59" id="Foot_59" href="#Ref_59">[59]</a> +Now Wellington.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_60" id="Foot_60" href="#Ref_60">[60]</a> +This decision, it is said, was taken partly because they took +umbrage at Te Rauparaha's overbearing manner, and partly because they +had heard that another Waikato raid upon Taranaki was imminent. This +was in the year 1823.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_61" id="Foot_61" href="#Ref_61">[61]</a> +This would be about the year 1824.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_62" id="Foot_62" href="#Ref_62">[62]</a> +This force, to the number of 120, was led by Te Ahu-karamu, a +chief who afterwards became a prominent and progressive leader of the +Maori people on the west coast.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_63" id="Foot_63" href="#Ref_63">[63]</a> +Called by the early European settlers "Jackeytown."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_64" id="Foot_64" href="#Ref_64">[64]</a> +Kerei te Panau was at this time a lad of about ten years of age, +and probably owes the fact that he lived to be about ninety-four years +of age to this flight across the river in the canoes.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_65" id="Foot_65" href="#Ref_65">[65]</a> +<i>Atua</i>—a god.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_66" id="Foot_66" href="#Ref_66">[66]</a> +This migration is known to the Ngati-Raukawa tribe as the <i>Heke +Whirinui</i>, owing to the fact that the <i>whiri</i>, or plaited +collars of their mats, were made very large for the journey.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_67" id="Foot_67" href="#Ref_67">[67]</a> +For this purpose, he and Te Heuheu returned to Taupo, some of the +party passing across the Manawatu block, so as to strike the +Rangitikei River inland, whilst the others travelled along the beach +to the mouth of that river, intending to join the inland party some +distance up. The inland party rested at Rangataua, where a female +relative of Te Heuheu, famed for her extreme beauty, died of wounds +inflicted upon her during the journey by a stray band of Ngati-Apa. A +great <i>tangi</i> was held over her remains, and Te Heuheu caused her +head to be preserved, he himself calcining her brains and strewing the +ashes over the ground, which he declared to be for ever <i>tapu</i>. +His people were joined by the party from the beach road at the +junction of the Waituna with the Rangitikei, where the chief was +presented with three Ngati-Apa prisoners. These were immediately +sacrificed, and then the whole party resumed the journey to Taupo. +Amongst the special events which occurred on the march was the capture +of a Ngati-Apa woman and two children on the south side of the +Rangitikei River. The unfortunate children were sacrificed during the +performance of some solemn religious rite, and the woman, though in +the first instance saved by Te Heuheu, who wished to keep her as a +slave, was killed and eaten by Tangaru, one of the Ngati-Raukawa +leaders. Shortly after this, Te Whiro, one of the greatest of the +Ngati-Apa chiefs, with two women, were taken prisoners, and the former +was put to death with great ceremony and cruelty, as <i>utu</i> for +the loss of some of Te Heuheu's people who had been killed by +Ngati-Apa long before, but the women were saved (<i>Travers</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_68" id="Foot_68" href="#Ref_68">[68]</a> +The native trade consisted of dressed flax and various kinds of +fresh provisions, including potatoes, which, prior to the advent of +the Ngati-Toa tribe, had not been planted on the west coast of the +North Island.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_69" id="Foot_69" href="#Ref_69">[69]</a> +The words which Te Pehi is reported to have used were "Go Europe, +see King Georgi." Dr. John Savage in his <i>Account of New Zealand</i>, +refers to the apparent preference which the natives had for the word +Europe over that of England. He says of a native whom he took to +London with him, from the Bay of Islands: "I never could make +Mayhanger pronounce the word England, therefore I was content to allow +him to make use of Europe instead, which he pronounced without +difficulty." Possibly Te Pehi experienced the same difficulty of +pronunciation.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_70" id="Foot_70" href="#Ref_70">[70]</a> +The Maori became popular in the <i>Urania</i>, and at Monte Video +plunged into the sea and rescued the drowning captain, who had fallen +overboard (<i>Rusden</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_71" id="Foot_71" href="#Ref_71">[71]</a> +Captain Reynolds was allowed a sum of £200 by the British +Government as compensation for the trouble and expense to which he had +been put by his enforced alliance with Te Pehi (see <i>N.Z. Historical +Records</i>). The account of the chief's visit to England will be +found in the volume of The <i>Library of Entertaining Knowledge</i> for +1830.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_72" id="Foot_72" href="#Ref_72">[72]</a> +One of the migrations which took place about this time consisted +of 140 Ngati-Raukawa men under the leadership of Nepia Taratoa. It is +known in history as the <i>Heke Kariritahi</i>, from the fact that +those warriors who were armed with muskets had hit upon the shrewd +plan of enlarging the touch-holes of their guns, in order to save the +time which otherwise would be occupied in priming. They were thus able +to keep up a much more rapid fire upon the enemy. Te Whatanui came +down with this <i>heke</i>, to consult further with Te Rauparaha, but +finding him absent from Kapiti, he returned to Taupo to prepare for +the migration of his own people.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_73" id="Foot_73" href="#Ref_73">[73]</a> +During the hearing by the Native Land Court in 1869 of the +dispute which arose between the Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Apa tribes as +to the right to sell the Rangitikei-Manawatu block of land to the +Provincial Government of Wellington, Chief Judge Fenton remarked to +Mr. Travers, who was appearing for Ngati-Raukawa, "The fact is, Mr. +Travers, it appears to me that the flaw in your clients' title is that +they did not kill and eat all these people."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_74" id="Foot_74" href="#Ref_74">[74]</a> +At times there were many whalers there—as many as a hundred—of +various nations. Here they stayed while whales came near the coast: +but when these ceased to come near the coast, the whalers went out on +the ocean, and the ships which were full of oil went each to its own +land, and Rauparaha went back to his people and home at Kapiti +(<i>Ngati-Toa account</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_75" id="Foot_75" href="#Ref_75">[75]</a> +Toheriri was prominent in the conspiracy of 1822 in connection +with the gift of canoes. After that event, he, with his particular +<i>hapu</i>, went to the Wairarapa for two years, and then returned to +Papaitonga, where he was killed on this occasion, it is said, with +great barbarity.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">{121}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER V</span><br /><span +class="size070">THE SOUTHERN RAIDS</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">The</span> +events just narrated have brought us in point of time to early in +the year 1828, by which period Te Rauparaha was unquestionably master +of the whole coast from Whanganui to Wellington. Not only was his +supremacy indisputable in that he had completely silenced his enemies, +but success had brought its natural result in the shape of numerous +reinforcements, which had come from the shores of Taupo to share in +his adventurous cause. Thus he was both free and able to give his +undivided attention to the realisation of a dream which he had long +cherished, and which he one day hoped to realise. This was no less +ambitious a scheme than the invasion and conquest of the Middle +Island, the forest-clad hills and snow-capped mountains of which were +plainly discernible as he gazed wistfully across the broken waters of +Raukawa (Cook's Strait). But it was not the scenic beauties of the +island which attracted the keen eye of Te Rauparaha, for these alone +would have no charm for him. His mind was cast in the material rather +than in the æsthetic mould; his thoughts ran to practical rather than +to artistic ends, and the real magnet which attracted him southward +was the hope of possessing himself of the large store of greenstone +which, according to report, the Ngai-Tahu people had collected at +Kaikoura as the result of their periodical excursions to the west +coast, where alone this valuable jade could be obtained.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_76" id="Ref_76" href="#Foot_76">[76]</a></span> +Avarice and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">{122}</a></span> +love of conquest were driving forces in his plans, but +there was yet another motive operating to impel him +onward. If the reader will recall the circumstances +attending the battle of Waiorua, it will be remembered +that the host which on that occasion invaded Kapiti had +been collected from far and near. Some among them +had even come from the tribe of Ngai-Tahu, which was +then the most powerful branch of the Maori race occupying +the Middle Island, of which they had dispossessed the +Ngati-Mamoe some two hundred years before. One of +the principal <i>pas</i> of these people in the northern end of +the island was situated on a high cliff overlooking the bay +of Kaikoura, which at this time was estimated to contain +between three and four thousand souls, living under the +direction of a chief named Rerewaka. When the fugitives +from Kapiti reached their settlements on the Middle +Island, and carried with them marvellous tales of Te +Rauparaha's prowess in battle, these stories only tended +to intensify the feelings of hatred and envy already +cherished by the southern chiefs. Their impotent rage +found expression in a vain and unfortunate boast made +by Rerewaka, which supplied Te Rauparaha with the +strongest of all incentives to a Maori raid—the desire for +revenge. Rerewaka had not himself been present at the +battle of Waiorua, otherwise he might have been more +modest in his language towards the invincible Te Rauparaha. +But he had had friends with the allies, and the +chagrin felt at their annihilation, and the taunting song +of triumph chanted by the victorious Ngati-Toa, in which +the subjection of the Ngai-Tahu was hinted at, provoked +him to declare in an unguarded moment that "if ever Te +Rauparaha dared to set foot on his land, he would rip his +belly open with a <i>niho mango</i>."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_77" id="Ref_77" href="#Foot_77">[77]</a></span> +This oral indiscretion +was overheard by a slave standing by, who shortly afterwards, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">{123}</a></span> +making his escape, reported Rerewaka's boast to +Rauparaha. The chief of the Ngati-Toa heard with placid +countenance of his threatened fate, and in answer merely +remarked, "So he has said," the apparent unconcern of +his reply justifying the native proverb concerning him: +"<i>Ko te uri o kapu manawa whiti</i>" (No one knew his +thoughts, whether they were good or evil). He was really +glad at heart of this further pretext for attacking and +conquering the tribes of the Middle Island.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_78" id="Ref_78" href="#Foot_78">[78]</a></span> +But while +he had his mind bent upon revenge and his eyes fixed +upon the treasure of greenstone, he was in no haste to +put his design into execution. Leisurely action would +enable him to mobilise his own forces, and serve to wrap +his enemies in imagined security; and so for two +years he waited patiently, keeping his warriors in fighting +trim by repeated skirmishes with the shattered remnants +of the Muaupoko and other northern tribes. But now +his plans had fully matured, and by this time he had +succeeded in gathering a large quantity of arms and +ammunition from the Europeans, who, having learnt its +advantages, were making Kapiti a frequent port of call +and a place of some importance in the whaling industry. +With these weapons he equipped his chosen men, who, +when fighting with their native <i>meres</i>, were superior even +to the best of the Ngai-Tahu or Rangitane, but, when +armed with the more modern implements of the <i>pakeha</i>, +became simply invincible. His fleet of canoes<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_79" id="Ref_79" href="#Foot_79">[79]</a></span> also had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">{124}</a></span> +been strengthened by the captures he had made after the +battle of Waiorua, so that he had ample accommodation +for the three hundred and forty men who comprised his +expeditionary force. With this force, the most perfectly +equipped that he had yet commanded, Rauparaha crossed +the Strait, making Rangitoto (D'Urville Island) his first +place of call. Here he found a section of the Rangitane +tribe, the descendants of the people whom Captain Cook +had first met at Ship Cove, who had now become powerful +in the sense of being numerous. But where the odds +of skill and arms were against them, numbers only +supplied more victims for the cannibal feast which +followed the battle. Everywhere the islanders were +defeated and put to rout, many of them being eaten on +the spot, and as many more carried back to Kapiti, there +to await the dictates of their captors' appetites. Or, if +they were fortunate enough to have their lives spared, the +reprieve only enhanced their misfortune by carrying +slavery and degradation with it.</p> + +<p>Rauparaha on this occasion swept like a withering blast over the whole +of the northern portion of the Marlborough Province, neither the +seclusion of the Pelorus Sound nor the inaccessibility of the Wairau +and Awatere Valleys protecting the inhabitants from the rapacity of +his warriors. Deflecting their course from D'Urville Island, they next +proceeded to the point known in Maori legend as "Kupe's spear," but +more recently styled Jackson's Head. Here a temporary division of +their forces took place, the Ngati-Awa allies proceeding up Queen +Charlotte Sound as far as Waitohi, the Pelorus Sound being the +objective of Te Rauparaha. The tribe who occupied the shores of this +great waterway was the Ngati-Kuia, an offshoot of Ngati-Apa, who were +famed for their skill as fishermen, but who did little cultivation. +Their principal <i>pa</i>, a semi-fortified village called Hikapu, +stood at the junction of the Pelorus and Kenepuru reaches; and, when +the fleet of northern canoes was seen sweeping up the Sound, the cry +was raised "<i>Te Iwi hou e!</i>" (The newcomers! the new +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">{125}</a></span> +people!) That their coming boded them no good, +Ngati-Kuia knew, and those who could, disappeared into +the forest, while those who could not stayed to fight +for the <i>mana</i> of their tribe and the honour of their +ancestral home. For them the battle was one against +fearful odds; for, this being their first acquaintance with +firearms, they were seized with panic, and the fight soon +degenerated into a massacre. "What are those lights +and the smoke we see at the village?" inquired a boy as +he was being hurried through the bush by his fugitive +father. "That," replied the sobbing parent—"that is +Ngati-Toa burning your ancestors' and our houses."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_80" id="Ref_80" href="#Foot_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>Whatever hesitation Te Rauparaha may have had about raiding the Wairau +during this campaign, was dispelled on its being reported to him that +the Rangitane chief of the valley, Te Rua-Oneone, whose <i>pa</i>, +called Kowhai, was situated near the mouth of the Wairau River, had +heaped a curse upon his head, an insult which called for prompt and +vigorous action. As yet the Wairau natives had had no experience of +Rauparaha's qualities as a fighting chief. But they had heard rumours, +and had listened to tales of his doings on the other island, which, +although painted in glowing colours, had nevertheless been regarded +with contempt by many of the leading chiefs. Amongst these incredulous +persons was Te Rua-Oneone, who treated the matter so lightly as to +remark that "Te Rauparaha's head would one day be beaten with a +fern-root pounder." According to the Maori code, there was but one way +of dealing with a scoffer who could speak so contemptuously of a +chief; and therefore, when the natives of Pelorus, D'Urville Island, +and Totaranui had been hopelessly beaten, the canoes were ordered to +the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">{126}</a></span> +Wairau, where the boastful Te Rua-Oneone had direct +experience of what manner of man Te Rauparaha was. +The fight, which took place on the land now enclosed +within Bank Farm, was soon over, and could only have +one result. The Rangitane were brave men, but their +stone and wooden weapons were useless against the +muskets of the Ngati-Toa. Te Rua-Oneone was captured +and carried as a slave to Kapiti, where he had time and +opportunity to reflect upon his defeat, which Rauparaha, +with appropriate sarcasm, called <i>tuki tuki patu aruhe</i>, +which signifies "beaten with a fern-root pounder."</p> + +<p>Nor was this merely a raid of bloodshed. Rauparaha sought territorial +aggrandisement, and adopted the Roman principle of securing the fruits +of his conquest by planting a colony of his tribe at every centre +along the route of his victorious march. In each case the newcomers +made slaves of the strong amongst the men and the beautiful amongst +the women of the people whom they vanquished.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_81" id="Ref_81" href="#Foot_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>No sooner had this shattering blow been delivered against the fortunes +of Ngai-Tahu than Te Rauparaha gave his attention to a matter which +from force of circumstances had been neglected for many months. At the +earnest solicitation of Ngati-Raukawa, he now agreed to march against +the Whanganui people, who, it will be remembered, were responsible for +the destruction of one of the several Ngati-Raukawa migrations prior +to the first visit to the South Island. A force which, it is said, +numbered nearly a thousand fighting men, led by the most distinguished +chiefs of the allied tribes, with Te Rauparaha in supreme command, +proceeded up the coast and attacked the Putikiwharanui <i>pa</i>, +which was defended by a garrison almost twice as numerous as the +assailants. Though not protracted, the struggle was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">{127}</a></span> +fierce. The defenders made many desperate sorties, +fighting with great determination and affording a fine +example of courage, during the two months over which +the investment extended. The damage, however, which +they were able to inflict had no effect in causing the +forces of Te Rauparaha to relinquish their grip. After a +spirited defence of eight weeks, the assailants succeeded +in carrying the place by storm, and the inhabitants +suffered so severely that they were never afterwards able +to seek the satisfaction of retaliation.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_82" id="Ref_82" href="#Foot_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>While the Ngati-Toa were engaged in these minor operations, an event +occurred which increased the <i>mana</i> of their chief amongst his +own people and added considerably to his reputation abroad. This was +the opportune arrival of his uncle and former comrade, Te Pehi Kupe, +who, laden with the store of weapons which he had procured in Sydney, +was brought back to New Zealand at this critical juncture in the +history of the tribe.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_83" id="Ref_83" href="#Foot_83">[83]</a></span> +The jubilation at such an event was +necessarily great; not so much, perhaps, because of the wanderer's +return, as because of what he had brought with him. There is at least +no denying the fact that Te Pehi soon forgot what little of +civilisation he had learned, except in so far as it enabled him to +become a more destructive savage. He at once coalesced with his former +leader; and with this valuable addition to his staff of councillors, +and the enhancement of his munitions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">{128}</a></span> +of war, Te Rauparaha felt more than equal to +the task of carrying the battle to the gates of Kaikoura.</p> + +<p>Out of this extreme confidence grew a further development of the +Ngati-Toa scheme of conquest. Their forces were now divided into two +sections, the one proceeding to the great bays on the Nelson Coast, +where they intended forcibly establishing themselves, while the +remainder, under their old leader, aided by Te Pehi and a staff of +other warriors, prepared to test the merits of Rerewaka's boast. It +was a fateful day in the summer of 1829 when the canoes with three +hundred men left D'Urville Island and turned their prows to the south. +Although few in numbers compared with the enemy they were going to +meet, they knew that the advantage of arms was with them, almost every +man being provided with a musket. Moreover, they were full of the +animation which is born of complete confidence in one's leader, and +which, in this case, almost amounted to a superstition. No war party +with Rauparaha at its head ever took failure into account, some of the +warriors even going so far as to declare that "it was only necessary +to strike the enemy with the handles of their paddles in order to +secure a victory."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 400px"> + <br /> + <a name="kaiapoi" id="kaiapoi"> + <img width="400" height="575" alt="kaiapoi" src="images/155-kaiapoi.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">THE TIKI, KAIAPOI.<br /> + Erected on the site of the old Kaiapoi Pa.</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Thus, well-armed and confident, the Ngati-Toa proceeded down the +coast, resting the first day at Cloudy Bay, and subsequently at +various other points, and arriving off Kaikoura before dawn on the +fourth day. Not knowing what the exact disposition of the enemy's +forces might be, and not being disposed for risks, Rauparaha anchored +his canoes under the shadow of the peninsula, and then waited for the +light. In this decision his characteristic good fortune did not desert +him. It so happened that the Kaikoura natives were at that very time +expecting a visit from some of their tribesmen in the south; and, when +the first glimmering of dawn revealed a fleet of canoes on the bay +below, there being nothing to indicate the direction from which they +had come, the unsuspecting Ngai-Tahu assumed that their anticipated +visitors had arrived. The early risers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">{129}</a></span> +in the <i>pa</i> set up the song of welcome—<i>Haere-mai, +Haere-mai</i>—and soon the whole settlement throbbed +with life and activity, indicative of the jubilant expectation +of a reunion of friends. Whilst the elders busied +themselves with preparations for the hospitable entertainment +of the strangers, the younger people rushed, +shouting gaily, down to the beach, to escort the guests +back to the <i>pa</i>. The quick eye of Te Rauparaha at once +saw the trap into which his enemy had fallen; and, +elated at his amazing good fortune, he ordered the +advance of the canoes, which, with a few sweeping +strokes of the paddles, were driven swiftly across the +intervening water. Before the unwary victims had +recognised their mistake or recovered from their +surprise, the Ngati-Toa warriors were amongst them, +dealing death-blows on every hand. As might have +been expected, the Ngai-Tahu, being totally unarmed +and unprepared for the attack, were slaughtered without +remorse or resistance, and, as their only safety lay in +flight, they beat a breathless retreat towards the <i>pa</i>, +where for a time the semblance of a stand was made. +But the muskets of their assailants were now doing their +work of death, while their ruthless charges increased the +havoc. Before long Rerewaka was a prisoner, over a +thousand of his people were slain, and his stronghold +was in the hands of his most detested enemies.</p> + +<p>This decisive achievement was fully celebrated during the next ten +days, with all the atrocities peculiar to cannibal feasts; and after +the savage appetites of the victors had been surfeited with the flesh +of their victims, and the nephritic treasures of the <i>pa</i> had +been collected, the war party returned to Kapiti, carrying Rerewaka +and four hundred additional prisoners with them, to be killed and +eaten at the leisure of their conquerors. The majority of them in due +course met this fate, Rerewaka himself being killed with especial +marks of cruelty and indignity, because of the insulting nature of his +language towards the Ngati-Toa chief.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_84" id="Ref_84" href="#Foot_84">[84]</a></span> +In consideration of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">{130}</a></span> +circumstances which led to this attack upon Kaikoura, +the victory has ever since been known as <i>Niho Mango</i>, +or "the battle of the shark's tooth."</p> + +<p>After the humiliation of Rerewaka and his people at Kaikoura, +Rauparaha's greatest ambition was to pit himself in battle against +that section of the Ngai-Tahu tribe who, under Tamaiharanui, +Rongotara, and other powerful chiefs, held the strongly fortified +<i>pa</i> at Kaiapohia. But before he had a reasonable excuse for +picking a quarrel with the people of Kaiapoi, and so attacking them in +a manner that would be strictly <i>tika</i>, or proper, he had another +opportunity of returning to Kaikoura, to retrieve the dignity of +himself and his friends. The cause of this second invasion, like the +previous one, was somewhat remote; but, unlike it, it arose out of a +superabundance of love rather than of hate. The offence complained of +was not committed against Te Rauparaha, but against his nephew, +Rangihaeata. Rangihaeata was at this time rapidly rising into fame as +a daring and successful warrior, and his place in the tribe naturally +demanded that much of his time should be given up to the business of +war, with the result that his functions as the head of his household +were much neglected. During one of these prolonged periods of absence, +his <i>pa</i> at Porirua was visited by a chief of the Ngati-Ira (a +branch of the Ngati-Kahungunu) tribe, named Kekerengu. According to +tradition, this Kekerengu was a man of remarkable beauty of figure and +grace of deportment. Tall and stalwart of frame, easy of carriage, and +engaging in manner, his personal charm was still further enhanced in +Maori estimation by a particularly artistic <i>moko</i>, or tattoo +decoration. The introduction of this social lion +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">{131}</a></span> +into Rangihaeata's family circle was the cause of all the +trouble. Kekerengu had so insinuated himself into the +affections of the warrior's wives, that when Rangihaeata +returned from the wars, the breath of scandal was busy +with the proceedings of his family circle during his +absence. The anger of the chief, on learning what had +occurred, knew no bounds. Forthwith he sent the fiery +cross from <i>pa</i> to <i>pa</i>, and in a short space of time a force +sufficient for his purpose was enrolled. Te Rauparaha, +to whom the scent of battle was sweet, at once espoused +the cause of his injured relative, and together they set +out in search of the destroyer of Te Rangihaeata's +domestic happiness.</p> + +<p>Kekerengu knew that, as the result of his indiscreet conduct, +retribution would in some form follow him; but, in order to delay the +evil day, he judiciously took to his canoe, and with a few of his +followers crossed the Strait and sought refuge amongst the Ngai-Tahu +of Kaikoura.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_85" id="Ref_85" href="#Foot_85">[85]</a></span> +Thither Te Rauparaha tracked him; but the inhabitants +of the <i>pa</i> were not to be taken by surprise a second time. +Knowing that they were no match for the force they saw approaching, +they at once abandoned their settlement and flew down the coast, +through the Amuri, towards Kaiapoi. But this escapade was not to stand +between the Ngati-Toa and their revenge. When they arrived and found +the <i>pa</i> empty, they at once decided to go in pursuit. The march +was swift and forced, and the invaders soon fell in with the +fugitives, as they were camped at the Omihi stream. Here the unhappy +wretches were attacked and routed with great slaughter, the few who +escaped death or capture flying in precipitate haste into the bush, +through which they made their way to the minor settlements further +south. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">{132}</a></span> +Kekerengu's guilt<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_86" id="Ref_86" href="#Foot_86">[86]</a></span> +was now expiated in his own blood +and that of his hosts, and therefore Ngati-Toa might +have returned to their homes fully satisfied with the +results of their expedition. But the opportunity was so +favourable for carrying out the long-cherished design of +attacking Kaiapoi, that Te Pehi strenuously counselled +going on. Te Rauparaha, it is said, was seized by some +dark foreboding that Fate was trifling with him, and +endeavoured to argue his lieutenant out of his warlike +enthusiasm, but without avail. Te Pehi was bent upon +storming Kaiapoi, and for once Te Rauparaha allowed +himself to be overruled by his less cautious comrade. +To facilitate the movements of the war party, which +numbered about one hundred men, all encumbrances in +the shape of prisoners were left in charge of a detachment +at Omihi, and the canoes, which had been brought +round from Kaikoura, were manned and taken as far +down the coast as the Waipara River. There the force +disembarked, and hauling the canoes beyond the reach +of the tide, pushed on across the plains towards the +southern stronghold.</p> + +<p>Kaiapoi was one of the oldest of the Ngai-Tahu <i>pas</i>, as it was +admittedly one of their strongest fortresses. It had been built by Tu +Rakautahi in 1700 A.D., at the close of the thirty years' war, which +had resulted in the expulsion and the almost total annihilation of the +Ngati-Mamoe people. Its position had been selected with some strategic +skill, for it stood on a narrow tongue of land about five acres in +extent, which ran out into the Tairutu lagoon, and was surrounded on +three sides by the dark waters of that extensive swamp, which +stretched for several miles to the north and the south. On the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">{133}</a></span> +landward side it was protected by a wide and deep +ditch, which in peaceful times was bridged over, while +its double row of palisades, erected upon massive earthworks +and surmounted by curiously carved figures +representing gods and ancestors, rendered it so impregnable +in the popular estimation that it was sometimes +compared to "the inaccessible cliff of God," which +none had dared to scale. The internal arrangements +were in keeping with the importance of the <i>pa</i> as the +social and military centre of the tribe. Its population +was numerous, wealthy, and distinctly aristocratic, and +therefore the domains of the <i>rangatiras</i> and the commonalty +were well defined. The dwellings of the chiefs +were large and commodious structures, "ornamented +inside and out with carving and scroll work." There +were storehouses for the man physical, shrines for the +man spiritual, playing grounds for old and young, and +a burial-place for both when their earthly sojourn was +over. The commerce of the <i>pa</i> was conducted through +three gates, two of which, Kaitangata and Hiaka-rere, +faced the deep moat, and the third, Huirapa, the lagoon +on the western side, being connected with the opposite +shore by a light wooden footway. But with all its +vaunted strength, the <i>pa</i> had, according to critics, a +fatal weakness, in that, if subjected to a close investment, +it was liable to have its food supply cut off owing +to its semi-insularity. Its builder had been twitted with +this supposed defect when he determined upon the site +of his stronghold, and he silenced his critics more by +his ready wit than by the soundness of his military +judgment. For he said "<i>Kai</i>" must be "<i>poi</i>," or food +must be swung to the spot. "Potted birds from the +forests of Kaikoura, fish and mutton birds from the south, +<i>kiore</i> and <i>weka</i> from the plains and the mountain ranges"; +and so down through the century or more which had +passed since then it had been an essential part of the +policy of those in authority at the <i>pa</i> to see that its +commissariat was not neglected, and that its <i>whatas</i> were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">{134}</a></span> +always full against the day when its gates might have +to be barred to a troublesome enemy.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_87" id="Ref_87" href="#Foot_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>Such was the place which, in the opening months of 1829, the northern +force marched to assault; but they had sadly misjudged the position if +they imagined that they could take it by surprise. Ngai-Tahu had +warning enough to enable them to gather their people within the +palisades, to cut away their bridges, and to stand upon the alert at +all the most vulnerable points. When, therefore, Te Rauparaha arrived +under the walls of the <i>pa</i>, he adopted the most diplomatic +course open to him, and made a virtue of necessity by feigning that he +had come only with the most peaceful intent. His first care was to +select a suitable site for his camp; he fixed it upon the +south-western side of the lagoon, and there calmly sat down to await +developments. Nor had he long to wait. Tamaiharanui, the high priest +and leading chief of the Ngai-Tahu tribe, accompanied by a native +named Hakitara, proceeded under commission from the people in the +<i>pa</i> to inquire the purpose of so unexpected a visit. Hakitara +was a Nga-Puhi native, having come originally from the northern +portion of the Auckland Province. When Te Rauparaha had exchanged +salutations with him and the venerable Tamaiharanui, he proceeded to +furnish the explanation which they had come to seek. In the course of +his oration he recited a <i>tau</i>, or war song, the idiom of which +was more apparent to the Nga-Puhi than to his companion, who was less +learned in northern lore. This battle chant conveyed a message to +Hakitara +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">{135}</a></span> +which was sinister and disturbing. The protestations +of Te Rauparaha were most ardent in the direction of +peace, and his declarations full of the promise of +friendship; but the words of his song had been so +suspiciously indicative of evil intent, that Hakitara felt +it incumbent upon him to advise the immediate return +of Tamaiharanui to the <i>pa</i>, while he himself remained +in the Ngati-Toa camp to pick up what scraps of useful +information might drop from the lips of incautious +retainers. By dint of sedulous inquiry, particularly +amongst the slaves, he gleaned enough to stimulate his +suspicions, which were more than confirmed when he +heard that the northerners had desecrated a newly made +grave which they had passed on the march to the <i>pa</i>. +Such an outrage to the dead of Ngai-Tahu was not the +act of friends; and now the living witnesses of Te +Rauparaha's hostility began to pour into Kaiapoi, viz., +the fugitives who had escaped from the slaughter at +Omihi. For days they had wandered in the bush and +in the by-paths of the open lands, hoping to evade the +clutch of their pursuers; and when they arrived with +their tale of terror, something more than fair words +were needed to convince the inhabitants of the semi-beleaguered +<i>pa</i> that Ngati-Toa had come so far south on +a mission of peaceful commerce, and not of resentful +war. Te Rauparaha, with his usual clarity of vision, +saw the predicament in which the inopportune arrival +of the fugitives had placed him, and promptly determined +upon a desperate expedient, which, he hoped, would +allay the dark suspicion which he hourly saw growing +up around him, and which, if unchecked, would +assuredly frustrate his enterprise. Not only did he +feel it necessary to reiterate his assurances that nothing +but a desire to trade for greenstone had brought him +to Kaiapoi, but he did more. With a recklessness +which only a critical situation could justify, he permitted +his principal lieutenants—a liberty hitherto denied them—to +freely enter the enemy's <i>pa</i>, and carry on, with +well-simulated earnestness, negotiations for the exchange +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">{136}</a></span> +of greenstone for their own ancient fire-arms and doubtful powder.</p> + +<p>Amongst the first of the Ngati-Toa chiefs to avail himself of this +permission was Te Pehi,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_88" id="Ref_88" href="#Foot_88">[88]</a></span> +who, it will be remembered, had, with +fatal enthusiasm, inspired the raid, and urged it upon an unwilling +leader. Together with Pokaitara, Te Aratangata, Te Kohua, Te Hua Piko, +and several other chiefs equally renowned in Ngati-Toa warfare, Te +Pehi continued to visit and revisit the <i>pa</i> for several days, +carrying on a brisk trade, and incidentally noting the interior +arrangements of the fortress, its people, and the chances of its +speedy capture. Meanwhile, the Ngai-Tahu agent in Te Rauparaha's camp +was not idle, and not the least of Hakitara's successes was the fact +that he had been able to ingratiate himself into the good opinion of +Te Rauparaha. That astute personage, usually so keen a judge of +character, was completely deceived by the clever Nga-Puhi, whom he had +hopes of weaning from the Ngai-Tahu cause. To this end he presented +him with one of the most attractive of his slaves, a lady named Te +Aka, whose charms it was hoped would prove sufficiently strong to draw +the Nga-Puhi warrior back to the north. But Te Rauparaha's cold +calculations were soon set at naught by the warmth of a human heart. +Te Aka was not a free woman. She was a slave, whose <i>pa</i> and +whose people had been overrun and destroyed by the ruthless invader, +and within her breast there burned the undying desire and hope for +revenge. Therefore, when she and Hakitara came to understand each +other, there was soon a joint wit at work to worst the man who fondly +believed that the human passions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">{137}</a></span> +were being harnessed to his political schemes. So confident +was he that he would win Hakitara over, that he +neglected even ordinary prudence in discussing his plans +within his hearing. To such excess was this overconfidence +carried, that one night he called his chiefs +together to a council of war, which was held under +the eaves of the <i>whare</i> which Hakitara occupied, where +every word could be heard by the occupants. Here +the whole scheme of the capture of Kaiapoi was discussed +and decided upon; and so hopeful was Te +Rauparaha of success, that he boastingly remarked to +Te Rangihaeata, "Soon we shall have our <i>pa</i>." "Beware +of the Nga-Puhi man," was Rangihaeata's whispered +advice; but Rauparaha dismissed the warning by an +impatient gesture and a petulant remark that nothing +was to be feared from that quarter. Hakitara had, +however, been greedily listening to all that had passed, +and when the council broke up he was in possession +of every detail of the tactics by which the <i>pa</i> was to +be assaulted on the morrow.</p> + +<p>As might be surmised, sleep came but fitfully to the faithful Hakitara +that night, and just as the first silver ray of dawn was breaking in +the east, he rose, and, wrapping himself in a large dog-skin mat, +crept out of the hut into the grey morning, determined to warn his +friends in the <i>pa</i>, if fortune did not desert him. The Maori +system of warfare, though quaint in many respects, was practical +enough to include the posting of sentries round the camps; and, even +if they were not invariably vigilant, there was always the risk that +one might happen to be watchful at an awkward moment. This fear +haunted Hakitara as, with beating heart, he wormed his way between the +huts and through the tufts of waving tussock grass. Tradition records +that he was successful in eluding a direct challenge; and when he was +well beyond the circuit of the sentries, he rose to his feet and ran +with all his speed to the nearest gate of the <i>pa</i>. The gate was +instantly opened to him, and in a hurried whisper he bade the keeper +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">{138}</a></span> +summon the chiefs to a conference in a neighbouring +house. When the warriors were assembled, he disclosed +to them in hot, hurried words all that he knew of +Ngati-Toa's intentions, which, in remembrance of a +treaty negotiated only the previous day, could be regarded +in no other light than as a shameless breach of faith. +The council decided that they would not wait for the +blow to fall upon them from outside, but would forestall +the northerners in their own methods. They knew that +some of the Ngati-Toa chiefs would, in keeping with +the custom of the past few days, visit them again for +the purpose of trade; and they were hopeful that, by +a special effort, they might be able to induce the great +Te Rauparaha himself to come within the gates. It +was agreed that the chiefs, once within the walls, should +be attacked and killed, and that then a sortie should be +made upon the unsuspecting camp outside. Scarcely had +this decision been arrived at, when Te Pehi and several +of his fellow-chiefs entered the <i>pa</i> and began to mix +with the populace, who were now busy preparing for the +business of the day, and were in total ignorance of the +decision of their leaders or the circumstances which had +dictated it. There was thus no change in the demeanour +of the people to excite uneasiness in the minds of Te +Pehi and his friends. They, on the other hand, knowing +that their plans were nearing fruition, and believing that +the <i>pa</i> was virtually in the hollow of their hands, adopted +a more insolent air, and were at no pains to conceal the +contempt with which they regarded the rights of Ngai-Tahu +property. Thus, Te Pehi boldly entered one of the +houses, and seizing a large block of greenstone, attached +to it a rope of flax, and proceeded to drag it towards the +Hiaka-rere gate, evidently intending to carry it into the +northern camp.</p> + +<p>The <i>pa</i> was now alive with men and women, for the day was well +on, and the audacious cupidity of Te Pehi aroused both astonishment +and anger. As he strode towards the gate, he had to pass a group of +excited onlookers sitting in the <i>marae</i>, or open space which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">{139}</a></span> +served the purpose of a sports ground. One of these, +Moimoi, rose and challenged Te Pehi's right to purloin +his greenstone in that unceremonious fashion. With +scorn unspeakable, Te Pehi turned upon his interrogator, +and in tones of bitter contempt inquired by what right +he, a menial, dared to call in question the actions of +a chief. "You of the crooked tattoo, what use would +your ugly head be to me if I were to carry it back with +me to Kapiti? It would be worth nothing towards +the purchase of a musket. But," said he, turning to a +stalwart native standing near by, "here is a man whose +head would be worth the taking, but you with the worthless +head, how dare you cavil at the actions of the great +Te Pehi?" The slighting reference to the inartistic +facial decoration of Moimoi was intended to be particularly +insulting, for every native was wont to pride +himself upon the completeness of his <i>moko</i>, and Te Pehi +had good reason to regard himself as something of an +authority upon this branch of Maori art, for his own +tattoo was more than usually elaborate. But the most +alarming portion of his taunt was his thinly-veiled +reference to the sale of Moimoi's head. Every one knew +that at this period a considerable traffic had sprung up +in native heads,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_89" id="Ref_89" href="#Foot_89">[89]</a></span> +which were preserved by a crude +process and traded away to Europeans in exchange for +muskets. Te Pehi's reference to the matter could, then, +only be taken as an indication that during his visits +to the <i>pa</i> he had lent his eye to business, and, in this +connection, business meant the assault and sacking of +the fortress. The full force of this indiscreet admission +had flashed upon the astonished listeners; but, before +they could reply, their attention was diverted from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">{140}</a></span> +arrogance of Te Pehi by another incident which had +occurred at the Hiaka-rere gate. Pokaitara, one of Te +Rauparaha's most intrepid lieutenants, had approached +this entrance, and was seeking admission to the <i>pa</i>, +which was being denied him. Observing who the visitor +was, Rongotara, the superior resident chief of Kaiapoi, +ordered the keeper of the gate to admit him, exclaiming +as he did so, "Welcome my younger brother's lord," +a reference to the fact that Rongotara's brother had +been made a prisoner at Omihi by Pokaitara, and was +at that moment in his keeping. The gate was immediately +thrown open; but the Ngati-Toa had no sooner bent +his head beneath the portal than Rongotara dealt him +a crushing blow with his <i>miti</i>, or stone club, which he +was carrying in his hand, and the lifeless body fell with +a heavy thud to the ground.</p> + +<p>It was this opening episode in the Ngai-Tahu policy of checkmate which +had suddenly diverted attention from Te Pehi. But the incident had +been as visible to him as to those around him, and the moment he saw +it, the critical nature of his own position dawned upon him, and, +taking no further thought of the greenstone, he sprang with the +agility of a tiger towards the south-western angle of the palisading, +and commenced to scramble up the wall by clutching the vines which +bound the upright posts together. His plunge for safety would probably +have proved successful—for several shots which were fired at him flew +wide of the mark—had not Tangatahara, a Ngai-Tahu warrior of great +strength and personal courage, closed with him, and, pulling him to +the ground, despatched him with a blow from his tomahawk.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_90" id="Ref_90" href="#Foot_90">[90]</a></span> +The other northern chiefs who were in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">{141}</a></span> +<i>pa</i> were apprised of the mêlée which was proceeding by +the sound of the fire-arms discharged against Te Pehi, +and were not slow to grasp the situation. Realising that +they had been trapped, they knew that it would be of +little use attempting to escape by the regular gateways, +which were all securely guarded; and, with one exception, +those who were free to do so flew to the walls, +hoping to scale them, and so get safely to their camp. +But they were for the most part either overpowered by +numbers and tomahawked on the spot, or were shot +while scrambling up the <i>aka</i> vines. The exception +referred to was Te Aratangata, who happened to be at +the northern end of the <i>pa</i>, and was at this juncture +bargaining to secure a famous greenstone <i>mere</i> called by +the Ngai-Tahu people "Te Rau-hikihiki." The moment +he saw what was happening, he dashed toward the gate +Huirapa, hoping to force his way past the guard, who, +he supposed, could offer but feeble resistance to his own +exceptional strength, courage, and skill.</p> + +<p>There is every reason to believe that Rongotara rather precipitated +matters by killing Pokaitara at the gate, as it had been decided that +an attempt should first be made to induce the great Te Rauparaha +himself to enter the <i>pa</i>, in the hope of including him in the +holocaust. Still, the plans of the Kaiapoi chiefs were sufficiently +mature to meet the emergency when it suddenly arose; and so Te +Aratangata discovered to his alarm that, although he was at the +further end of the <i>pa</i> from that at which Te Pehi had been +attacked, he was just as closely surrounded by enemies. When he +started for the gate, he had virtually to fight every inch of the way. +He had little difficulty in disposing of the first few who intercepted +his path; but, as he drew nearer to the gate, his assailants +increased, and before he had struggled on many yards he was attacked +by over twenty persons armed with all manner of weapons. Against those +who ventured at close quarters he valiantly defended himself with his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">{142}</a></span> +<i>mere</i>, all the time pressing on towards the gate. A gun-shot +wound temporarily checked his onward course, and he +was soon further handicapped by several spear-thrusts, +which left the spears dangling in the fleshy parts of his +body, and from which he found it impossible to disengage +himself, pressed as he was on every side. These +difficulties perceptibly weakened his defence, but he was +still able to fight on, keeping his opponents at bay by +swift and desperate blows with his <i>mere</i>, which, up to +this moment, had accounted for all who had ventured +within his reach. The brave Ngati-Toa had now reached +within a few paces of the gate, and may have even yet +had dreams of escape, when the crowning disaster came +in the breaking of his <i>mere</i>. A shot, which had been +intended for his body, struck the greenstone blade, and +shattered the faithful weapon into a hundred fragments, +leaving only the butt in Aratangata's hand. Now utterly +defenceless, weakened by his wounds, and hampered by +the dragging spears, the undaunted chief turned upon +his assailants, and, with his last strength, grappled with +those who came within his reach. The unequal struggle +could not, however, be long maintained. Emboldened +by his helpless condition, his pursuers pressed in upon +him with angry tumult, and he was borne to the ground +by Te Koreke, who finished the deadly work with a +succession of blows with his tomahawk upon the prostrate +warrior's head and neck.</p> + +<p>So fell Te Aratangata, and so fell the flower of the Ngati-Toa tribe +that day. In all, eight great chiefs<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_91" id="Ref_91" href="#Foot_91">[91]</a></span> +were killed, who, by their +heroism on the field and their sagacity in council, had materially +aided Te Rauparaha in all his great achievements. They had added +brilliancy to his battles, lustre to his victories, and had lent a wisdom +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">{143}</a></span> +to his administration, whereby the fruits of his enterprise +had not been wasted by internecine strife. So dire +a tragedy as the death of the princes of his tribe was +a great blow to Te Rauparaha. But it is doubtful +whether the sacrifice of so much mental and physical +fibre was more keenly felt by the Ngati-Toa chief than +the loss of prestige and damage to his reputation, which +he might reasonably apprehend from his being outwitted +at his own game, and that, too, by a people whom he had +hitherto despised as opponents. That they would turn +upon him in what he chose to regard as an unprovoked +attack was something which was not reckoned upon in +his philosophy, for he had trusted to his blandishments to +soothe away their suspicions, or to his great name and +reputation to awe them into submission. And when the +blow fell, and he saw his patiently laid plans tumbling +about his ears, he received the result with mingled +feelings of surprise, indignation, and something akin to +dismay. In this frame of mind he deemed it expedient +to anticipate any further unexpected eventualities by +withdrawing his force and making good his retreat with +as little delay as possible. Consequently his camp was +at once broken up, and the little army made its dejected +way across the plain to Double Corner, where the canoes +had been left, and next day Te Rauparaha set sail for +Omihi and Kapiti, having, as the result of his first raid +upon Kaiapoi,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_92" id="Ref_92" href="#Foot_92">[92]</a></span> +added neither greenstone to his treasure +nor glory to his reputation as a warrior.</p> + +<p>For the better part of two years Te Rauparaha nursed his wrath against +Ngai-Tahu, and spent the intervening time in devising schemes whereby +he might secure a vengeance commensurate with the disgrace of his +repulse and the death of his well-loved friends. One thing on which he +had fully determined was that Ngai-Tahu should pay for their temerity +with the purest of their blood, for he would take no plebeian in +payment for so royal a soul as Te Pehi. His schemes were therefore +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">{144}</a></span> +directed against the life of Tamaiharanui,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_93" id="Ref_93" href="#Foot_93">[93]</a></span> +who has +already been described as the embodiment of spiritual +and temporal power in the southern tribe. He was the +hereditary representative of all that stood for nobility +amongst the sons of Tahu. His person was regarded as +so sacred that the common people scarcely dared to look +upon his face. He could only be addressed by his +fellow-chiefs with the greatest deference and in the most +reverential language; and if, while passing through the +congested streets of a village, his shadow should fall upon +a <i>whata</i> or a <i>rua</i>, the storehouse and its contents would +be immediately destroyed, to prevent the sacrilege of a +tribesman consuming food upon which even the shade of +so sacred a personage had lighted. Indeed, so sanctified +and ceremonious an individual was he, that his presence +was sometimes oppressive to those who were not accustomed +to live in an atmosphere of ritual; for the +slightest disregard of what was due to one so endowed +with the spirit of the gods might involve them at any +moment in the loss of possessions, and even of life.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 535px"> + <br /> + <a name="gillett" id="gillett"> + <img width="535" height="400" alt="gillett" src="images/173-gillett.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">GILLETT's WHALING STATION, KAPITI, 1842.<br /> + From a sketch by Gilfillan, by kind permission of Miss Gilfillan.</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>To secure so eminent a scion of Ngai-Tahu aristocracy would be a +trophy indeed; but Te Rauparaha knew that it was no ordinary task that +he was contemplating. An attack upon regular lines might easily defeat +its own purpose, for a chief so sacred to the tribe as Tamaiharanui +would scarcely be permitted to sacrifice himself upon the field of +battle, even if his own inclinations impelled him to lead his people, +a point of personal courage by no means too well established.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_94" id="Ref_94" href="#Foot_94">[94]</a></span> +Strategy must therefore be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">{145}</a></span> +employed, and it must be strategy of the most delicate +kind, for, in the naïve language of the younger Te +Rauparaha, "the chief must be enticed, even as the +<i>kaka</i> is enticed." For the scheme which was finally +adopted it has been claimed that Te Rauparaha was not +originally responsible, but that the idea was first conceived +by a relative of his, named Hohepa Tama-i-hengia, +who had been working on board a whaler in the southern +latitudes, and heard the story of Te Pehi's death on the +ship calling in at a bay on the coast of Otago. Hohepa, +who, in his contact with the European, had lost none of +that eternal thirst for revenge which marked the ancient +Maori, at once besought the captain to employ his vessel +in the capture of Tamaiharanui, promising a large reward +from Te Rauparaha on his handing over the prisoner +at Kapiti. The captain, however, was discouraged in the +idea by the rest of the ship's company, who were eager +to reach Queen Charlotte Sound, there to resume their +whaling operations; and thus the execution of the +brilliant suggestion had perforce to be suspended until +the ingenious author of it himself reached Kapiti. There +the daring plan was laid before the fighting chiefs of the +tribe, who were readily convinced of its practicability.</p> + +<p>Their first overtures were made to Captain Briggs, whose ship, the +<i>Dragon</i>, was then lying at Kapiti. This seaman has, with a +frankness amounting to brutality, explained that he ultimately +declined their proposals, not because the enterprise was repugnant to +him, but because Te Rauparaha insisted upon taking more men with him +than he deemed it prudent to carry in his ship. The manner in which +the captain of the <i>Dragon</i> was approached was diplomatic in the +extreme. The chiefs explained to him that Te Pehi had been to England, +and that, as a mark of gratitude for his generous treatment there, he +had always been the friend of the English. Tamaiharanui, on the other +hand, had killed more white men than any other chief in New Zealand, +from which fact they adroitly argued that they and Captain Briggs had +a mutual interest in compassing his death. Briggs +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">{146}</a></span> +seems to have been convinced that Tamaiharanui was a +"monster," whose death would be a distinct benefit to +society, and he unhesitatingly offered to take Te Rauparaha +and two of his best men to Akaroa to effect the capture. +Te Rauparaha and Te Hiko, however, stipulated for +twenty men; but, as the cautious Briggs considered +that "this would have given the chiefs more power in +the vessel than he cared to part with," he declined further +discussion. This rebuff delayed, but did not extinguish, +the purpose of the chiefs. They still hoped that other +captains would be more amenable to persuasion or more +susceptible to reward. There was thus considerable +excitement at Kapiti on a certain day towards the close +of the year 1830, when a vessel was seen rounding the +Taheke Point, and the cry of "A ship, a ship!" was raised +from every corner of the settlement. Rauparaha immediately +ordered out his canoe, and, putting off with +Te Hiko and a full crew, boarded the stranger, which +proved to be the British brig <i>Elizabeth</i> of 236 tons, +commanded by Captain Stewart.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_95" id="Ref_95" href="#Foot_95">[95]</a></span> +The chiefs were +fortunate in the type of man with whom they had come +to negotiate. Stewart was one of the semi-buccaneer +breed, who, at this period, were all too common in these +waters, and whose depredations have contributed so +many of the ugly pages of our country's history. Nor +was this case to be an exception. Before committing +himself, however, Stewart took the precaution of consulting +Captain Briggs, who advised him not to undertake +to carry more natives on board than he could safely +control. But this counsel<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_96" id="Ref_96" href="#Foot_96">[96]</a></span> +was not followed, and a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">{147}</a></span> +bargain was eventually struck, whereby it was agreed +that the captain was to carry the chiefs and their party to +Whanga-roa (now Akaroa) Harbour in Banks's Peninsula, +in consideration for which he was to receive fifty tons +of dressed flax—valued roughly at £1,200—immediately +upon his return to Kapiti. The conclusion of this contract +gave intense satisfaction to the chiefs, and according +to his son, "the heart of Te Rauparaha lived in joy."</p> + +<p>Some of the apologists for Captain Stewart have endeavoured to show +that he was not made fully aware of the real intentions of the chiefs, +and that, when the savage purpose of the voyage was borne in upon him, +he was then powerless to avert the tragic scenes which were afterwards +enacted. It has been further urged in extenuation of his crime that, +when he arrived on the coast of New Zealand, he discovered to his +dismay that his cargo was totally unsuitable to excite trade with the +natives, and that he was, therefore, constrained, in the interests of +his employers, to accept a charter against which there was no law, and +which promised a rich and speedy remuneration. What measure of truth +there may be in the former defence it is now difficult to determine. +It is possible that events developed in a manner and to an extent that +had not been contemplated by Stewart; but it must be remembered that +he had discussed with due deliberation the whole project with his +friend Captain Briggs, and that, if he afterwards found himself +powerless to control the passions of his charterers, the blame was +entirely his own for disdaining the advice of his fellow captain +regarding a limitation of numbers. As to the unmarketable nature of +his cargo, that specious plea is flatly disproved by the ship's +manifest. So far from the goods carried being unsuitable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">{148}</a></span> +for trade, there was scarcely anything brought in the +<i>Elizabeth</i> for which the natives were not eagerly +craving. Indeed, there is no room to doubt that, had +Captain Stewart chosen to confine himself to legitimate +commerce, he could have easily bartered his guns and +his powder, his flints and his tobacco, for a cargo which +would have given his employers an adequate return, +without requiring his zeal in their behalf to outrage the +feelings of humanity. Similarly, it is scarcely to be +supposed that Stewart's knowledge of the law was so +wide that he was aware there was no statutory decree +prohibiting his entering into this unholy compact. He +was clearly just as indifferent to its moral aspect as he +was unaware of its legal bearing. Otherwise he would +have known that, viewed from this standpoint, there +was no distinction between a crime committed against +a savage and that perpetrated upon a civilised being. +The absence of any law regulating the conduct of individuals +placed in such circumstances is no palliation +for the outrage which he committed; and, so far from +his being unwittingly led into an error of judgment, +his treatment of Tamaiharanui after his capture dispels +any supposition that he had repented of his bargain, +or that he was in the least degree revolted by the excesses +of the natives. Having regard to these facts, the impression +conveyed by a study of the general character of +the man, as revealed by his actions, is, that the purpose +of the voyage would not have caused him much scruple, +so long as the reward was ample and easily obtained. +Howbeit, a few days after the bargain was struck, he +received on board his vessel Te Rauparaha and one +hundred and seventy of his followers, accompanied by +five of his remaining lieutenants—Te Rangihaeata, Te +Hiko, Tungia, and Tama-i-hengia, and on October 29th +set sail for Banks's Peninsula.</p> + +<p>The voyage appears to have been propitious enough, for, in due course, +the vessel arrived at Whanga-roa Harbour, on the shores of which then +stood the Takapuneke <i>pa</i>, and now nestles the sequestered town of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">{149}</a></span> +Akaroa.<span class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_97" id="Ref_97" href="#Foot_97">[97]</a></span> +The coming of a ship was an event much +more rare at Akaroa than it was at Kapiti, and, consequently, +the natives of the <i>pa</i> were stirred to the +highest pitch of excitement, and desired to enter into +immediate trade with the vessel, which they misjudged +to be an honest whaler.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_98" id="Ref_98" href="#Foot_98">[98]</a></span> +Meanwhile Te Rauparaha had +carefully concealed all his men beneath the hatches, +and enjoined upon them the strictest seclusion; for +the success of his scheme altogether depended upon +the concealment of the fact that a force of natives was +on board. Acting under instructions from the chief, +Captain Stewart, through his interpreter, forbade any +of the resident natives to board the <i>Elizabeth</i> until +Tamaiharanui had returned; for it so happened that, +at the time of the brig's arrival at Akaroa, that chief +was absent from his <i>pa</i>, superintending the preparation +of a cargo of flax which he had sold to an English +captain. A message was accordingly despatched to +Wairewa, urging him to come and see a <i>pakeha</i> who +was eager to trade. It was not, however, till the eighth +day that Tama arrived, and, during all that time, the +Ngati-Toa warriors had been cooped up under the +hatches, being permitted only a few minutes on deck +under the cover of darkness. These precautions prevented +any suspicion reaching the shore; and yet some +doubt seems to have lurked in the minds of the resident +people, for they eagerly inquired of Cowell, the interpreter, +whether there were any natives on board, and +were put off with the laughing assurance that such was +impossible, as the vessel had just come down from +Sydney. This statement was seemingly fair enough; +but, if Sydney was the last port of call, how came those +<i>hutiwai</i> burrs clinging to the clothes of some of the crew, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">{150}</a></span> +which a keen-eyed native had just espied? <i>Hutiwai</i> burrs +do not grow in Sydney, nor upon the broad ocean. +Then the lie that came handiest was that on the way +down they had called at the Bay of Islands, and the +sailors had probably picked up the burrs while carousing +on shore. The evasion, however palpable, was at least +successful in silencing the doubts which were just growing +to dangerous proportions in the minds of Tamaiharanui's +people, and the incident had no influence in +cooling their ardour for trade, for further messengers +were shortly afterwards despatched to hasten their chief's +coming. When Tamaiharanui came, he brought with +him his wife, Te Whe, his sister, and his little daughter +Ngaroimata,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_99" id="Ref_99" href="#Foot_99">[99]</a></span> +a name full of pathetic suggestion. He +was cordially welcomed by the captain, who invited +him to his cabin below with every show of courtesy +and hospitality. But no sooner was the chief seated +than the door opened, and, to his intense amazement, +his mortal enemies, Te Rauparaha and Te Hiko, +stood before him. To overpower and bind him was +the work of but a few moments, and then the Ngati-Toa +let loose upon him the full flood of their invective, +taunting him in bitter scorn with his infantile simplicity +in falling so easily into their trap. Te Hiko added insult +to injury by advancing and drawing back the captive's +upper lip, sneeringly remarking, "So these are the teeth +which ate my father."</p> + +<p>In all innocence of what was passing within the cabin, the followers +of Tamaiharanui swarmed round the ship's side in their canoes, +clamouring for admission, so that they might trade for the needful +guns and casks of powder. This permission was granted to a few at a +time, who, immediately they reached the deck, were conducted by the +crew to the open hatchway and promptly shoved headlong into the hold, +where they were secured by Te Rauparaha's men and made prisoners as +easily and as simply as their chief had been. The failure of these +people to return to the shore evidently did not excite +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">{151}</a></span> +any uneasiness. It was no uncommon thing for natives +visiting a ship in the offing to remain for several days, +or even longer, if their presence could be tolerated. +Events were thus playing into the hands of Te Rauparaha +more effectually even than he might have reasonably +expected; and so, on the evening of the second +day after the capture of Tamaiharanui, having secured +all the visitors to the ship, he was now in a position +to deal with those who had remained on land. Boats +were accordingly got out some hours after nightfall, +and a strong and well-armed party was sent ashore to +attack the Takapuneke <i>pa</i>. Ngai-Tahu accounts of this +fight would have us believe that an heroic resistance +was offered to a cyclonic assault; but the circumstances +render such an account most improbable. The place +was not a fighting <i>pa</i>, and for the purposes of war +was practically defenceless. The people, too, were +awakened from their sleep by the tumult of the attack, +and, shorn as they were of their leaders and their +warriors, there was little hope of any organised defence +being made. The attack therefore became a rout, and +the rout a massacre; and before morning broke the +people of Akaroa were either helpless captives, bound +in the evil-smelling hold of a ship, fugitives flying for +dear life, or lying dead amongst the smoking ruins of +their ancestral home.</p> + +<p>Having achieved a complete success, Te Rauparaha collected a quantity +of human flesh for consumption on the voyage, and set sail for Kapiti, +where the final scene in the tragedy was to be enacted. Tamaiharanui +and his family were housed in one of the fore cabins, and apparently +some degree of liberty was permitted him, for on the first night out +from Akaroa,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_100" id="Ref_100" href="#Foot_100">[100]</a></span> +he, after consultation with his wife, seized a +favourable opportunity to strangle his little daughter as she lay +asleep, and afterwards cast the lifeless body into the sea. This +extreme course he justified to his conscience as averting +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">{152}</a></span> +the eternal disgrace of her ever becoming the wife of +one of his enemies. His unnatural action, however, had +the effect of rousing the fury of his captors.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_101" id="Ref_101" href="#Foot_101">[101]</a></span> +Fearing +that his next step would be to take his own life, and +so deprive them of the legitimate fruits of their mission, +they took immediate and adequate precautions by pinioning +him fast in a position which caused him exquisite +torture, and his sufferings they watched with intense +delight. On the voyage northward high revels were +kept by the natives, who, if the interpreter's testimony +is to be credited, were even permitted to cook the flesh +of their victims in the ship's coppers, without protest +from the captain or any of his equally degenerate crew.</p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the <i>Elizabeth</i> at Kapiti, on the 11th of +November, the <i>pas</i> were almost deserted, the majority of the +people being absent in the swamps and on the hill-sides, preparing the +flax which was to be Captain Stewart's payment. The news, however, +soon spread that the great Ngai-Tahu chief was a captive on board, and +crowds came flocking from the mainland to verify the reported triumph +of their leader. The major part of the prisoners were landed on the +12th of November, and the natives now expected that Tamaiharanui would +also be handed over to them at once, to be disposed of in their own +fashion. But on this point Captain Stewart was obdurate, for he +probably saw but little prospect of securing his flax if once the +prisoner passed beyond his keeping. He therefore resisted the tribe's +demands for this species of <i>habeas corpus</i>, and detained the +chief, heaping upon him the additional pain and ignominy of keeping +him in irons until he could be redeemed by the fulfilment of Te +Rauparaha's promise. Either this was no simple matter, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">{153}</a></span> +or, more likely still, his followers, having to some extent +satisfied their craving for excitement and revenge, relaxed +their efforts in the fields, preferring to discuss in the +<i>kaingas</i> the strange adventures of their comrades at +Akaroa. From whatever cause, there was a distinct +failure on their part to complete the contract. Day after +day went past, and still a residue of the flax was wanting. +At the end of six weeks, Captain Stewart was persuaded +that it was hopeless to wait longer, and, probably wishing +himself well out of the whole business, he handed +Tamaiharanui over to Te Rauparaha, and made his +course with all speed to Sydney, arriving on January 14, +1831.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_102" id="Ref_102" href="#Foot_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>The prisoner was taken on shore in Rauparaha's canoe, and, at a great +feast held in honour of the occasion, was surrendered to the wives of +Te Pehi to do with him as they pleased. A final appeal for life was +made to his captor by Tama; but Te Rauparaha took high ground, and +replied that if it was a matter that rested with himself, he would +most certainly spare him, but the death of Te Pehi was a calamity +which affected the whole tribe of Ngati-Toa, and hence the final +decision must rest with them. About the precise time and mode<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_103" id="Ref_103" href="#Foot_103">[103]</a></span> +of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">{154}</a></span> +unfortunate chief's death there is much doubt, for +scarcely any two accounts agree, except in the central +fact that Tamaiharanui subsequently met his fate at the +hands of Tiaia, Te Pehi's principal widow. The most +favourable view of this lady's conduct in revenging the +death of her lamented husband is given us by her own +tribe, who have averred that "on landing, the chief was +given up to the widow of Te Pehi, who took him and +his wife to her own house, giving up half to their use. +They talked like friends to each other, and the widow +behaved so kindly to him, that a stranger would have +taken them for man and wife, rather than a doomed +captive and his implacable enemy. She used even to +clothe him in her finest garments and deck his head +with choice feathers. This continued for about two +weeks, until she had assembled her friends, or thought +her victim sufficiently fat to kill.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_104" id="Ref_104" href="#Foot_104">[104]</a></span> +She then suddenly +caused him to be seized and bound, with his arms +stretched to a tree, and whilst he was in this position +she took a long iron spear, with which she stabbed him +in the jugular artery, and drank his warm blood as it +gushed forth."</p> + +<p>Harrowing as this spectacle must have been, and awful as it is to +contemplate, it must be remembered that the manner of Tamaiharanui's +death was not more savage +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">{155}</a></span> +than that of many another leader of men, perpetrated in +Christian countries and in the name of a higher cause. +By the Maori code the death of the Akaroa chief was not +only justified, but necessary to appease the spirit of the +departed Te Pehi, and the more humiliating his death, +the more adequate the compensation to the dead. +A student<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_105" id="Ref_105" href="#Foot_105">[105]</a></span> +of Maori life and character, than whom +perhaps none have had better opportunities of mastering +Ngai-Tahu history, and who, from his calling, could +scarcely be accused of callousness towards Tamaiharanui's +sufferings, has given it as his mature opinion +that, "base as the means adopted for his capture were, +and cruel as his fate was, it is impossible to feel much +pity for Tamaiharanui. His punishment was hardly +more than he deserved. The treatment he received at +the hands of Ngati-Toa was little more than a repetition +of the cruelties which he had himself inflicted upon +members of his own tribe." Possibly the knowledge +that he would not have acted differently himself assisted +the unhappy captive to resign himself to his fate. For, +although he has been described as both cruel and +cowardly, by one whose verdict it is not easy to +challenge, this much must be laid to his credit: that +neither the mental nor the physical torture invented +for him by his barbarous enemies was sufficient to +break down his rugged fortitude or to tame his defiant +spirit.</p> + +<p>When the <i>Elizabeth</i> reached Sydney, the circumstances attending +the death of the Akaroa chief were reported to Governor Darling by Mr. +Gordon Browne, and the Governor, with commendable promptitude, ordered +the arrest of Stewart and proceeded to put him on his trial. The +depositions were referred to the Crown Solicitor on February 17, but +that official expressed doubts as to the statutory power of the colony +to bring the offender to justice, it not being clear whether offences +committed in New Zealand against New Zealanders were punishable under +the laws of New +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">{156}</a></span> +South Wales.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_106" id="Ref_106" href="#Foot_106">[106]</a></span> +Darling was in no way disconcerted by +this legal difficulty, but urged with some vehemence +that the point should be tested, holding that it was +"a case in which the character of the nation was +implicated, and that every possible exertion should be +used to bring the offenders to justice." Stewart retained +Dr. Wardell, a lawyer eminent in his day, for his defence, +and while the officers of the Crown were seeking to +make good their ground, the delay was utilised to spirit +away the witnesses whose testimony might be fatal to +Stewart. Meanwhile, the <i>Elizabeth</i> was allowed to put +to sea under another captain, and Stewart was held +on bail, notwithstanding the strenuous protests of his +counsel. With the witnesses out of the way, Dr. Wardell +became more confident, and boldly demanded the release +of his client. But the Governor could not but be +influenced by the prayer of the more honourably +disposed white residents of New Zealand, who expressed +the fear that their "lives would be made answerable for +the proceedings of their countrymen," or by the touching +appeal of the natives, who came personally to plead +that speedy steps might be taken by England to put a +curb upon the unbridled behaviour of her degenerate +sons. The curb which Darling proposed to apply was to +appoint a resident representative of the colony in New +Zealand, and he suggested to the Secretary of State for +the Colonies that Captain Sturt<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_107" id="Ref_107" href="#Foot_107">[107]</a></span> +should be employed in +this capacity. The carrying out of this scheme was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">{157}</a></span> +delayed by the recall of the Governor, and the appointment +of Sir Richard Bourke as his successor, to whom +Darling deemed it prudent to leave the initiation of a +system which it would be his lot to administer.</p> + +<p>All this time justice was tardily picking her way amongst the +complicated meshes of the law, and it was not until the 21st of May +that Stewart was called upon to face his trial. Even then the Crown +Solicitor was not prepared to proceed upon the main indictment, but +sought to get a conviction upon a minor offence, to which course Dr. +Wardell took the strongest exception, and warmly demanded the +discharge of Stewart's recognisances. The Crown justified its action +on the ground that its witnesses were not forthcoming, for great +remissness had been shown in letting them depart; and, notwithstanding +Dr. Wardell's protest that it was unfair "to hold Stewart to bail in a +sum of £2,000 for an indefinite period," the Chief Justice decided to +adjourn the matter, and allow it to come up for consideration on a +future day. When that day arrived, the Crown Solicitor was still +unready, and applied for leave to abandon the charge of misdemeanour, +and proceed upon the main information so soon as his witnesses were +available. But his witnesses were the same intangible quantity that +they had been ever since they had first vanished, and there was not +the remotest prospect of their appearing. Dr. Wardell knew this, and +bantered his learned friend upon his unfortunate predicament, in which +he was compelled to "skip from a charge of murder to a misdemeanour, +and then to murder back again." He earnestly pleaded the hardship +imposed upon Stewart by these delays, for which he was in no way +responsible, and claimed either instant dismissal or immediate trial +for his client, who, he believed, or affected to believe, was the +unhappy victim of circumstances.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_108" id="Ref_108" href="#Foot_108">[108]</a></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">{158}</a></span> +To all this the Crown might have justly retorted that +the disability placed upon Stewart was gentleness itself +compared with his own conduct towards his fettered +captive. Possibly this view was influencing the Court, +for it still refused to take the responsibility at that stage +of discharging the prisoner, but appointed the 20th June +as the day on which Dr. Wardell might make application +for the discharge of Stewart's recognisances. But when, +after further adjournments, that application was argued +on June 30th, the Crown was unable to convince the +Court that the accused man should be indefinitely +detained, and the Bench, reluctantly, no doubt, +announced that he must be "discharged on his own +recognisances in the sum of £1,000." So ended +Governor Darling's sincere endeavour to make national +reparation for one of the blackest crimes which have ever +dishonoured the relations of the white man with the +Maori, a deed which must be counted dark even at a +time when the spirit of humanity seemed to slumber. +Whatever palliation the apologist may find for the rough +sea captain, whose occupation and environment were +not conducive to the gentler qualities, it is not to the +credit of a civilised community that its public opinion +was apathetic in the presence of such an atrocity as +that in which Captain Stewart had steeped his hands. +It is to be feared that the Governor failed to receive +the support from his officers, or from the community, +which a jealousy for the national honour might have +demanded;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_109" id="Ref_109" href="#Foot_109">[109]</a></span> +while it is equally true that active sympathy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">{159}</a></span> +with Stewart was largely responsible for the ease with +which the witnesses were got out of the way. It was, +perhaps, due to the fact that he was never brought to +trial, rather than to any other cause, that no jury of +Sydneyites acquitted Stewart.</p> + +<p>The tidings of Te Rauparaha's successes in the south were rapidly +filtering to the ears of his friends in the north, by the agency of +the devoted messengers who were repeatedly travelling backwards to +their old home. With each fresh tale of victory told by ardent tongues +to wondering ears, some new hope or ambition was awakened in the +breast of the Ngati-Raukawa who still lingered in their settlements +round Lake Taupo. Apart from the larger migrations which from time to +time came down to join Te Rauparaha, less important bands were +continually being attracted by the glory of Ngati-Toa's splendid +achievements. Many of these soldiers of fortune reached Otaki and +Kapiti with little adventure; for there was no inclination on the part +of the subdued remnant of the Ngati-Apa to risk a conflict with these +fiery spirits as they pushed across the ferny hills of Rangitikei. But +one small company, travelling further to the northward than was +customary, came into conflict with, and met disaster at the hands of, +the Whanganui people, who secured the momentary advantage of a +victory. From out of this defeat, two young men, Te Puke and his +brother, Te Ao, succeeded in making their way to Kapiti, where the +story of their misfortune made a deep impression upon chiefs and +people alike. But matters more urgent and nearer home were pressing in +upon the chief, and because of lack of opportunity, rather than of +desire, the day of reckoning with Whanganui must be indefinitely +postponed.</p> + +<p>The business which thus preoccupied the mind of Te Rauparaha was the +need of adjusting the differences and unravelling the complications, +which were daily accumulating, as the result of accretions to his +forces. With the arrival of every new contingent of warriors, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">{160}</a></span> +provision had to be made for their immediate entertainment, +and for their ultimate settlement on the land, in +order to leave them comfortable and contented. This +their mutual jealousies made somewhat difficult, and no +small measure of diplomacy was needed to avert civil +ruptures, such as afterwards threatened to destroy all +that unity and unquestioning devotion to his authority +had accomplished. Though there was this simmering +of discontent between the men of Ngati-Raukawa and +Ngati-Awa, fortunately for Te Rauparaha no crisis +occurred, and any ill-feeling that might lead to such +an event was soon forgotten in the thrilling announcement +that another attempt was about to be made to +capture the great <i>pa</i> at Kaiapoi. This decision was, we +are led to understand, arrived at somewhat hurriedly, +and was largely accelerated because of a vision seen by +a hoary seer of the tribe, who had interpreted the +manifestation as a mandate to go forward to the attack. +His <i>mata</i>, or prophecy, has been preserved amongst +the oral treasures of Ngati-Toa, and has been freely +translated as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"What is the wind?</span> +<span class="i2">It is north-east, it is south.</span> +<span class="i2">It is east in the offing, oh!</span> +<span class="i2">Come then, O Raha!</span> +<span class="i2">That you may see the fire</span> +<span class="i2">On the crimson flat of Kaiapohia.</span> +<span class="i2">By the prow of the canoe,</span> +<span class="i2">By the handle of the paddle,</span> +<span class="i2">The hold of the canoe of Maui</span> +<span class="i2">May be overturned to cover it.</span> +<span class="i2">Then pound, pound the sea!</span> +<span class="i2">And stir it with your paddles.</span> +<span class="i2">Behold my flock of curlews</span> +<span class="i2">Hovering over the backwater</span> +<span class="i2">Of that Waipara there.</span> +<span class="i2">The fight will be on the other side;</span> +<span class="i2">Embrace it, get closer and closer.</span> +<span class="i2">Fierce will rage the fight."</span> +</div> + +<p class="nodent">It might be supposed that, with the capture and death +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">{161}</a></span> +of Tamaiharanui, and all the carnage that had followed +upon the Akaroa raid, Te Rauparaha would have felt +that he had taken sufficient vengeance upon Ngai-Tahu +for the slaying of Te Pehi and his comrades in arms. +We are, however, assured by an authority deeply versed +in the intricacies of Maori etiquette that no such limit +was placed upon his actions, and that, so far from his +proposal to again attack Kaiapoi being anything but +strictly "correct," no alternative course would have +adequately met the exigencies of the case. No sooner, +therefore, was the chief's decision to obey the <i>tohunga's</i> call +to arms publicly proclaimed, than preparatory measures +on an exceptional scale were commenced with alacrity +and enthusiasm. There was to be no trifling with the +occasion, which, it was generally understood, would be +pregnant with the fate of tribes; for Te Rauparaha +had determined that as the result of this priest-ordained +raid either Ngati-Toa or Ngai-Tahu would be for ever +humbled in the dust. The force to be raised was to +consist of seven hundred and fifty warriors, and only the +pick of the men were to be taken—the Ngati-Toa, the +Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Awa tribes contributing their +quota in nearly equal proportions. The traffic in arms +and ammunition had now become so lucrative at Kapiti +that there was no difficulty in arming every man with +a musket more or less serviceable. Food was also +abundant, for so rich had been the harvest of captives +that at this time, it is said, Te Rauparaha had upwards +of two thousand slaves constantly employed in planting +or reaping the crops, which grew abundantly on the +alluvial flats along the mainland coast. The question +of transport presented greater difficulty. The conveyance +of so large a force across the rough waters of Cook +Strait was a serious problem, as there was no adequate +supply of canoes for the purpose. This perplexity was, +however, solved by the decision to transport the force +in sections. The first division was to be landed at the +Wairau, with instructions to march over the inland track, +which led through the wild and picturesque Wairau +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">{162}</a></span> +Gorge, and over the Hanmer Plains, to a rendezvous +appointed for them at the mouth of the Waipara River. +While this detour was being made purely in the interests +of adventure, the remainder of the warriors were to +embark at Kapiti, and make their way by slow stages +down the coast, until they should unite with the inland +party at the Waipara. Here the canoes were to be +beached, and the whole force was then to march rapidly +upon the doomed <i>pa</i>, in the hope of surprising the +inhabitants and carrying the fortress by one swift and +resolute stroke.</p> + +<p>So soon as the summer of 1831 was sufficiently advanced,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_110" id="Ref_110" href="#Foot_110">[110]</a></span> +these +plans were put into execution, and, as far as is known, were carried +out with admirable precision. The two sections of the allied forces +met at the appointed place, and, with as little delay as was +permissible, set off in good order across the plain. But their +movements had not been so secretly conducted as could have been +wished; for the fleet of canoes had been espied coming down the coast, +and a breathless messenger had carried the startling intelligence to +the people in the <i>pa</i>. The first impulse of the latter was to +gather all the people in from the fields and out-stations, and then to +consult the patron deity of the tribe, and endeavour to ascertain by a +process of revelation what the issue of the invasion was to be. The +Rev. Canon Stack has left on record a description of the elaborate but +idolatrous ceremonial by which the movements of a wooden image, +dangled in the hands of a shrieking priest, were to reveal the future. +The consultation of the <i>atua</i> was most piously performed at a +spot outside the <i>pa</i>, consecrated for the purpose of this and +similar religious rites. There the prescribed questions were put to +the nodding image, in the presence of a trembling people, and the +answer, as read by the priests, was that there was to be one defeat. +This prophecy they immediately interpreted as foretelling the ultimate +repulse and humiliation of the approaching +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">{163}</a></span> +enemy. So satisfactory a termination to the toro was received +with much congratulation, and served instantly to +revive the drooping spirits of the people, who returned in +jubilant procession to the <i>pa</i>. But the gates were scarcely +closed before the muskets of Te Rauparaha's men were +heard snapping in the distance, as they kept up a running +fire upon some belated stragglers.</p> + +<p>That the <i>pa</i> was surprised is now a matter of history, but +fortunately for its slender garrison, Te Rauparaha did not realise how +hopelessly unprepared they were. During the year or more which had +elapsed since his raid upon Akaroa, the people of Kaiapoi had been +deeply immersed in the endeavour to cultivate a trade with the +itinerant whalers who paid their fitful visits to Whangaraupo<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_111" id="Ref_111" href="#Foot_111">[111]</a></span> +and +other parts of Banks's Peninsula. In their anxiety to make the utmost +of these infrequent opportunities, they had lost sight of the +probability of another attack upon their settlement, and this unwary +attitude had been encouraged by the fond belief that the difficulties +of transporting from Kapiti a force large enough to assault the +<i>pa</i> with any prospect of success were so formidable that even Te +Rauparaha would never seriously contemplate such an undertaking. How +illusory these dreams of safety were, and how little they understood +the dogged spirit of the man against whom they were called upon to +contend, they now realised to their cost. At the moment of Te +Rauparaha's arrival the <i>pa</i> was deserted, except for a guard of +old people and a number of women and children. The greater part of the +population had only a few days before gone off to Whangaraupo, in +company with the influential Otago chief Taiaroa, who had been paying +a friendly visit to Kaiapoi. Some had gone merely to bid their great +kinsman farewell; and so remote was the need of strong arms and stout +hearts at home considered that many of the younger men were purposing +to travel southward with him to Otakou.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_112" id="Ref_112" href="#Foot_112">[112]</a></span> +Kaiapoi was thus +practically denuded of its fighting men, and it says much for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">{164}</a></span> +courage and ingenuity of those who were left that, in this +sudden emergency, they were able to make so brave a +show along its ramparts as to utterly deceive the northern +leader. Had the <i>pa</i> been attacked promptly and vigorously, +there is no room to doubt that it would have fallen, +for its thin veneer of resistance must soon have been +pierced; but this was one of the few occasions on which +the Ngati-Toa chief's clearness of perception and promptness +of decision failed him, and the price of his vacillation +was a long weary siege, and the loss, to him, of many +valuable lives.</p> + +<p>As a preliminary step in the defence of the <i>pa</i>, the Kaiapoi +people had hurriedly removed the few temporary houses and fences which +had been erected immediately in front of the landward approach, and +which would have afforded some degree of shelter to the approaching +enemy. Their destruction left not only an unbroken view of the +movements of the enemy, but deprived them of every vestige of cover, +so that, in rushing to the assault, they had to pass over ground +exposed to the pitiless fire of the defenders. For this reason, the +first attack was repulsed with considerable loss, as was also a +second, which was delivered with some additional energy. The defenders +had entrenched themselves behind the first line of palisades, and, +with their bodies protected by the deep ditch which ran the whole +width of the narrow isthmus between the converging swamps, they were +able to concentrate their fire upon the advancing warriors with so +deadly an effect that Te Rauparaha was led to believe the defence to +be much more formidable than it really was. Surprised that his coming +had been so evidently anticipated and so amply provided against, and +irritated to find himself baffled in his hope of snatching a victory +from a napping victim, he retired beyond the range of the Ngai-Tahu +guns to deliberate on his next move. As the result of a consultation +with Rangihaeata, Te Hiko, and his other lieutenants, it was agreed +that all hope of carrying the fortress by a <i>coup de main</i> must +now be abandoned, and it was decided to adopt the more prosaic +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">{165}</a></span> +course of investing the <i>pa</i> and subjecting it to the annoyance +and humiliation of a regular siege.</p> + +<p>A camp was formed immediately in front of the <i>pa</i>, and so placed +as to intercept the path which led to its main entrance. A wing of +this camp stretched round amongst the sand-hills to the westward, so +as to command the approach to the Huirapa gate. In these quarters +Ngati-Toa and their allies sat down in patience, to tempt the enemy to +a sortie, but ever ready to profit by any momentary looseness or +indiscretion on the part of the defenders. Meantime a few of the +residents of Kaiapoi who had been shut out when its gates were closed, +but had succeeded in evading capture by their superior knowledge of +the surrounding maze of swamps, had fled southward to carry the news +of the invasion to their friends who had gone to Whangaraupo with +Taiaroa. These messengers were fortunate in intercepting their +tribesmen before they had departed for the south, and, at the earnest +solicitation of his Kaiapoi relations, Taiaroa agreed to return and +lead the defence of their fortress. All possible reinforcements were +speedily gathered from the Peninsula <i>pas</i>, and the combined +forces set off along the coast to endeavour to raise the siege. Their +march to the Waimakariri River was rapidly executed; but here some +delay was occasioned, owing to the difficulty in getting the people +across the broad and rapid stream. At the cost of much labour, a +<i>mokihi</i> flotilla was constructed, on which they crossed to the +northern bank; and then, fearing that their movements might be +discovered if they approached nearer to the <i>pa</i> before darkness +set in, they lay down to await the fall of evening. Under the cover of +darkness they resumed their march, which was still conducted with the +utmost caution, more especially as they approached the vicinity of the +besieged <i>pa</i>. By the glowing watch-fires which they saw in the +distance they knew that the enemy was sleeplessly alert, and that any +impetuosity on their part might easily prove fatal to themselves, and +equally disastrous to their friends watching and waiting their coming. +It had been decided that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">{166}</a></span> +attempt to enter the <i>pa</i> should be made on the western +side, where the swamp which fringed the fortress was +narrowest, and where they could be admitted by the +Huirapa gate. It is probable that when Taiaroa came to +this determination he was not aware that he must pass +near to a section of the enemy's camp. But here fortune +favoured him, for the high wind which was blowing at +the time drove those of the besiegers who were keeping +watch to crouch closely over their fires, and, by agitating +the surrounding foliage, aided materially in concealing +the movements of the warriors as they crept cautiously +through the long and waving grass. By adroitly advancing +when the breeze blew with greatest violence, and +throwing themselves flat upon the ground when it lulled, +they drew so near to the Ngati-Toa lines that they could +plainly hear the sentries conversing amongst themselves. +Their position at this juncture was most critical, and in +the intensity of their excitement they scarcely dared to +breathe. Nothing, however, occurred to betray their +presence,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_113" id="Ref_113" href="#Foot_113">[113]</a></span> +and, at a preconcerted signal, every man rose +from his concealment, and shouting, "Taiaroa to the +rescue! Taiaroa to the rescue!" plunged into the dark +waters of the swamp and swam towards the <i>pa</i>.</p> + +<p>It is doubtful whether the surprise of the Ngati-Toa sentries or of +the defenders was the greater, as they were suddenly aroused by the +tumult of the struggling horde which had swept in upon the scene. The +first thought of the defenders was that a clever ruse to gain +admission to the <i>pa</i> was being practised by Te Rauparaha, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">{167}</a></span> +and they at once lined the walls, and began a +brisk fusilade upon the splashing forms in the water +below. Darkness, uncertainty, and excitement, however, +made their aim extremely erratic, and no damage of any +consequence was done before the voices of the leaders +were recognised, and what had seemed a daring and +ingenious assault was discovered to be the eagerly-looked-for +succour. The firing instantly ceased, and +the Huirapa gate was thrown open to the dripping +warriors, who, as they emerged from the water, were +received in the warm embraces of their grateful friends.</p> + +<p>With the arrival of Taiaroa and of the Kaiapoi chiefs whom he had +brought with him, a new spirit animated the population of the <i>pa</i>, +and its defence was organised upon a more systematic plan than before. +To Whakauira was entrusted the defence of the Kaitangata gate, and +Weka was given a similar responsibility over Hiaka-rere. Other +vulnerable points were similarly entrusted to the personal care of the +best and bravest of the chiefs, who were not only to defend their +particular positions against attack, but were to lead all sorties made +by their own companies. In guarding against surprises, the garrison +were greatly aided by a watch-tower, which stood close to the +Kaitangata gate. This tower was no pillar of masonry, such as a Norman +of old would have attached to his castle, but was merely the tall +trunk of a totara tree, firmly set in the ground, on the top of which +was perched a little wooden hutch, after the form of a native +<i>whata</i>.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_114" id="Ref_114" href="#Foot_114">[114]</a></span> +The sides of this cabin were constructed of thick +wooden slabs which had been carefully tested, and demonstrated to be +proof against any bullet fired from the nearest point to which an +enemy could safely come. Before daylight every morning a faithful +watcher crept into this elevated cabin, and, peering through slits cut +in the sides, was able to command a view of all that was passing +within the enemy's camp, and communicate the results of his +observation to those +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">{168}</a></span> +within. In this way the defenders were able to anticipate +and successfully counteract the tactics of Te +Rauparaha, who, much to his chagrin, found all his +movements checked. But the rôle of attack was not +confined to the Ngati-Toa; for, in the early stages of +the siege, frequent sorties were made by the defenders, +though, it must be admitted, with but doubtful success. +Their fighting was of a more emotional order than that +of the northern men, who were desperate fellows, and +just as willing to submit to punishment as they were +to administer it. Their tenacity of purpose, combined +with the fact that they were led by the most skilful +native tactician of his day, gave them an undoubted +superiority in these hand-to-hand contests; and the +Ngai-Tahu defenders derived but little comfort from +their spasmodic efforts to disperse the enemy's camp. +One excursion of this kind, however, was more than +usually heroic. Intelligence having been brought that +Te Rauparaha had moved his canoes down the coast +from Double Corner, where they had been left when +he first landed, to the mouth of the Ashley River, +Taiaroa, on a dark and stormy night, took a few men +with him, and, swimming and wading through the +swamps, succeeded in reaching the spot where the +fleet was lying securely beached. The purpose of the +sortie was to destroy the canoes. But here was furnished +an example of that want of forethought which is to +be so frequently noted in Ngai-Tahu warfare, and which +stood in such marked contrast to the methods of Te +Rauparaha. The expedition had armed itself with only +light hatchets, which proved to be quite incapable of +making any material impression upon the heavy hulls +of the canoes. Consequently, Taiaroa and his men had +to content themselves with merely slashing at the lighter +timbers and severing the cordage which lashed the +thwarts and side boards, which would, at least, render +the vessels unseaworthy until repaired. Finding it impossible +to achieve their object with the axe, an attempt +was made to burn the canoes; but the blinding rain-storm +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">{169}</a></span> +which was raging at the time rendered futile +every effort in this direction, and the bold little band +was compelled to return to the <i>pa</i>, having succeeded +in nothing beyond risking their own lives and imposing +a passing inconvenience upon the besiegers.</p> + +<p>Three anxious months had now passed since the siege began, without +anything decisive having been accomplished on either side. Te +Rauparaha had hoped that hunger and the losses they had suffered would +have sapped the strength of the defence; but in this he was mistaken, +for events were proving that the old idea, that the <i>pa</i> could be +starved into submission, was a delusion. As a matter of fact, the +defenders were well supplied with food, their storehouses having been +filled with the fruits of the early crops, while the surrounding +swamps provided them with an abundant supply of eels. On the other +hand, Te Rauparaha was frequently hard pressed for supplies; while, on +the score of losses, he had fared rather worse than the defenders. +Finding that he was making no progress along the orthodox lines of +attack, he now decided to revolutionise his methods. He recalled to +mind the words in the song of the seer Kukurarangi, "Embrace it, get +closer and closer"; and, acting upon this prophetic injunction, he +conceived the idea of sapping<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_115" id="Ref_115" href="#Foot_115">[115]</a></span> +up to the walls of the <i>pa</i> +and demolishing the palisades by fire. He accordingly ordered three +trenches to be dug, one by the Ngati-Toa, one by the Ngati-Raukawa, +and the third by Ngati-Awa, no doubt relying upon a spirit of friendly +rivalry between the tribes to accelerate the work. At first they +suffered considerably, for the men working in the open trenches +offered a conspicuous mark to the riflemen concealed behind the +outworks of the <i>pa</i>. The casualties were, however, sensibly +reduced when Te Rauparaha ingeniously deflected the line of the sap +and carried the trenches forward in a zigzag direction. The spademen +were thus protected by the angle at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">{170}</a></span> +which they worked, and additional security was given +them by the placing of slabs of wood across the top +of the open sap. These precautions almost entirely +neutralised the efforts of the sharpshooters, and the +sap proceeded rapidly, and with a regularity and precision +which excited the admiration of those early +colonists who saw the trenches before their symmetry +had been destroyed.</p> + +<p>These proceedings were naturally viewed with considerable alarm by the +garrison, and frequent sorties were resorted to for the purpose of +putting a check upon the progress of the work. These excursions, +whether unskilfully conducted or badly executed, may have hindered the +operations of the sappers, but they certainly failed to compel the +abandonment of the sap. As an answer, the besiegers occasionally +delivered a surprise attack, and it was in repulsing one of these that +Te Ata-o-tu fought with such heroic courage that by his signal bravery +he has helped to redeem the general ineptitude of the defence. The +story of how "Old Jacob" (for as such he was known to the early +Canterbury colonists) slew Pehi Tahau has been worthily told in the +warrior's own words:—</p> + +<p class="block">"Towards the close of the siege, after standing sentry at the foot of +the watch-tower all one stormy night, during which heavy showers of +rain had fallen, and being very wet and very sleepy, I was dozing with +my head resting upon my hands, which were supported by the barrel of +my gun, when I was roused by a hand on my shoulder and a voice +whispering in my ear, 'Are you asleep?' I confessed I was, and asked +if anything was the matter. My questioner, who was one of our bravest +leaders, said: 'Yes; the enemy have planned an attack, and I wish a +sortie to be made at once to repel it: will you take command?' I +readily consented on condition that I should choose my own men. He +agreed; and I picked out six of the bravest men I knew, and got them +to the gate without arousing the rest of our people. I told my men to +wait while +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">{171}</a></span> +I and another reconnoitred. We entered the sap and +approached the shed where the attacking party, numbering +about two hundred, were sleeping, awaiting the dawn. +They were lying all close together like herrings in a +shoal. I motioned to my men to come on. Just at +that moment one of them who had gone down another +trench called out: 'Let us go back; I have taken spoil—a +club, a belt, and a cartouche box.' The result of this +injudicious outcry was very different from what might +have been anticipated. Startled by the sound of his +voice, our sleeping foes sprang to their feet and immediately +bolted panic-struck in the direction of their +main camp. The coast was now quite clear for me, +and, emerging from the trench, I proceeded cautiously +in the direction taken by the runaways. I had not gone +far before I noticed the figure of a man a short distance +in front of me. He had nothing on but a small waist-mat, +and was armed with a fowling-piece; and walking +beside him was a woman, who, from the way he kept +pushing her forward, seemed unwilling to accompany +him. Happening to look round, he caught sight of me, +and immediately cried out to his fleeing companions: +'Come back! come back and catch this man; he is all +alone!' But as no one did come back in answer to his +appeal, and as I heard no answering call made, I felt +confident that I had nothing to fear at the moment +from his comrades, who were not likely to come to +his aid till it was quite light; and that if I could only +close with him, I might overcome him, and have the +satisfaction of carrying his dead body back with me +into the <i>pa</i>. I determined therefore to try and force +an encounter at close quarters, my only fear being that +he might shoot me before I could grapple with him.</p> + +<p class="block">"I had only a tomahawk on a long handle, having left my own gun behind +because the charge in it was wet from the previous night's rain. The +ground we were passing over was covered with large tufts of tussock +grass, and I leapt from one to another to deaden the sound of my +footsteps, squatting down whenever I saw +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">{172}</a></span> +the man turning round to look at me. I kept following +him in this way for several hundred yards; fortunately +he did not keep moving towards Rauparaha's camp, but +in a different direction. By dint of great agility and +caution, I got within a few feet of him, when he turned +suddenly round and pushed the woman between us, and +instantly fired. It seemed to me at that moment as if +I were looking down the barrel of his gun. I squatted +as quickly as I could on the ground: fortunately there +was a slight depression of the surface where I stood, and +that saved my life. The flame of the charge set fire to +my hair, and the ball grazed my scalp: for a moment +I felt stunned, and thought I was mortally wounded. +My opponent kept shouting for assistance, which never +came: for his panic-stricken companions, I afterwards +learnt, were at the very time up to their necks in water +in an adjoining swamp, clinging in their terror to the +nigger-heads for support, their fears having magnified my +little party of followers into an army. The shouts of my +opponent recalled me to my senses, and, recovering from +the shock I had received, I made a second attempt to +grapple with him, but without success: as before, he +slipped behind the woman again, and aimed his gun +at me; I stooped and the bullet flew over my shoulder. +We were now on equal terms, and I had no longer to +exercise such excessive caution in attacking him. I +struck at him with my hatchet; he tried to parry the +blow with the butt-end of his gun, but failed, and I +buried my weapon in his neck near the collar-bone. +He fell forward at once, and I seized him by the legs and +lifted him on to my shoulder, intending to carry him out +of the reach of rescue by his own people. It was now +quite light enough to see what was going on, and I could +not expect to escape much longer the notice of the +sentries guarding Rauparaha's camp. Just then one of +my companions, who had mustered sufficient courage +to follow me, came up to where I was, and, seeing signs +of life in the body I was carrying, ran it through with +his spear; and at the same time drew my attention to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">{173}</a></span> +movements of a party of the enemy, who were evidently +trying to intercept our return to the <i>pa</i>. Hampered by +the weight of my prize, I could not get over the ground +as quickly as our pursuers, but I was loath to lose the +opportunity of presenting to my superior officers such +unmistakable evidence of my prowess as a warrior, and +I struggled on with my burden till I saw it was hopeless +to think of reaching the <i>pa</i> with it, when I threw it on +the ground, contenting myself with the waist-belt, gun, +and ear ornaments of my conquered foe, and made the +best of my way into the fortress, where I was received +with shouts of welcome from the people, and very +complimentary acknowledgments of my courage from +my commanders. I owed my life at the fall of Kaiapoi +to that morning's encounter. For, when I was lying +bound hand and foot along with a crowd of other +prisoners after the capture of the <i>pa</i>, Rauparaha strolled +amongst us inquiring whether the man who killed the +chief Pehi Tahau was amongst our number. On my +being pointed out to him as the person he was in search +of, instead of handing me over, as I fully expected he +was going to do, to the relatives of my late foe, to be +tortured and put to death by them, he addressed me in +most complimentary terms, saying I was too brave a +man to be put to death in the general massacre which +was taking place, that I had fought fairly and won the +victory, and that he meant to spare my life, and hoped +that I would, in time to come, render him as a return +for his clemency some good service on the battlefields +of the North Island."</p> + +<p>At the end of the fourth month the trenches had, by dint of incessant +labour, and in the face of repeated attacks, been brought to within a +few feet of the wall, and then Te Rauparaha was in a position to +develop the second phase of his scheme—the burning of the hitherto +impregnable palisades. For many weeks his people were employed in +cutting down and binding into bundles the <i>manuka</i> scrub which +grew in abundance on the flats in the immediate vicinity of his camp, +and when these +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">{174}</a></span> +bundles had been dried in the sun, they were carried +into the trenches and passed along to the further end, +where a stalwart warrior seized and threw them with +all his power in the direction of the doomed <i>pa</i>. This +was a work which cost Ngati-Toa dearly, for there +was an interval of time, in the act of hurling the sheaf of +<i>manuka</i> forward, during which the body of the thrower +was exposed to the galling fire of the defenders; and they +placed their best marksmen in a position from which they +were able to take unerring aim at the unprotected figure +in the trench. Many a brave fellow who had passed +safely through the stress of siege and sortie met his fate in +that twinkling of an eye. But, notwithstanding the peril +of the post, there was no lack of volunteers to accept its +awful responsibility, and as soon as one martyr to duty +went down with a bullet in his brain, another sprang +forward to fill his place. So the work of piling up +the combustible material went on with scarcely an +interruption. At first, the defenders made bold to +emerge from the gates of the <i>pa</i> at night, and hurriedly +scattered the piles of brushwood which had been +accumulated during the day. But this was only a +temporary respite, and no permanent obstruction to +the policy of Te Rauparaha. Day by day the process +went on of hurling the bundles of <i>manuka</i> from the +trenches, until at last the quantity to be moved became +so great that the defenders, in their brief rushes, were +unable to disperse it. Then it began to mount higher +against the palisades, and every night saw the position +becoming more and more critical, with scarcely any +resistance on the part of the besieged.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_116" id="Ref_116" href="#Foot_116">[116]</a></span> +Indeed, the +semblance of a panic was now beginning to make its +appearance within the <i>pa</i>, and the opinion was rapidly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">{175}</a></span> +taking root that their relentless enemy was slowly +gathering them within his toils. A feeling of deepest +depression fell upon the populace, and proposals were +even secretly discussed by some of the younger men +to abandon the <i>pa</i> before the inevitable catastrophe +plunged them in disaster. Taiaroa actually adopted +this course. Taking his Otago contingent with him, +he left the <i>pa</i> under cover of night, and made good +his escape through the gloomy swamps. To some this +might appear an act of base desertion; but it is the duty +of the historian to rescue the name of so brave a chief +from so dark an imputation. The secret motive which +impelled him to leave Kaiapoi at this juncture was his +settled conviction that some diversion must be created, +during which the inhabitants would have a reasonable +prospect of clearing the walls of the dangerous pile of +<i>manuka</i>. His intention was, therefore, to proceed southward +to his own dominion, where he hoped to raise +a large force, and return to meet Te Rauparaha in a +decisive battle on the open field. Events, however, +moved too rapidly for him. Before he was able to +give effect to his plan, Kaiapoi had fallen, and nothing +remained to him but to shelter its unhappy fugitives.</p> + +<p>With the departure of Taiaroa for the south, the people seemed to feel +themselves deprived of the moving spirit of the defence, and, instead +of redoubling their energies, they sullenly yielded to the pessimistic +impulses of their mercurial nature, and abandoned themselves to +brooding and despair.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_117" id="Ref_117" href="#Foot_117">[117]</a></span> +Te Rauparaha, now finding his tactics less +seriously opposed, made strenuous efforts to ensure the perfection of +his plans; and, having done all that remained to be done, he resigned +himself to wait with such patience as he could command for a +favourable wind to carry the fire from his flaming bundles against the +walls of the <i>pa</i>. And now a curious contest arose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">{176}</a></span> +between the <i>tohungas</i> of the opposing tribes; for, while +the priests of Ngati-Toa were daily repeating incantations +for the purpose of inducing a southerly wind, the priests +of Ngai-Tahu were as piously imploring the gods for a +wind from the north. The impartiality of the deities in +these circumstances was remarkable, and distinctly embarrassing; +but it is nevertheless a fact well remembered +in connection with the fall of Kaiapoi, that while the +conflicting prayers filled the air, an atmospheric calm set +in, and for several weeks no breeze of any violence blew +from either direction. But it was not to be supposed +that this condition of aerial negation would continue for +ever. At length, on a day some six months after the +siege had been commenced, the dawn came in with a +nor'-west wind blowing strongly across the plains. To +the besiegers, this appeared to be all in favour of the +besieged. But those within the <i>pa</i> knew from long +observation that the nor'-wester was an exceedingly +treacherous wind; that sudden changes were apt to be +experienced when the wind was in that quarter; and +that, regarded in the light of experience, their situation +was by no means as rosy as it looked. That their fate was +hanging by the most slender thread was a fact perfectly +apparent to the chiefs in command, who, after consultation, +came to the conclusion that their only hope of +safety lay in the bare chance that, if the menacing brushwood, +which lay piled against the wall, was fired from the +inside, the wind might hold out long enough to carry the +flames away from the <i>pa</i> until the source of danger was +removed. This view was strongly held by Pureko, who +was now entrusted with the defence of the threatened +portion of the <i>pa</i>; and he decided to take upon himself +the responsibility of proving the accuracy of his theory. +Accordingly, he seized a firebrand, and thrust it into a +pile of <i>manuka</i>, which instantly became a seething mass +of flame.</p> + +<p>When Te Rauparaha saw that his enemy was likely to circumvent him, he +at once ordered his men to belt up, take their weapons with them, and +carry the burning +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">{177}</a></span> +brushwood against the palisades, so that the fuel which +had been collected at such infinite pains might not be +consumed in vain. Without staying to question the +wisdom of this order, a rush was immediately made by +the younger warriors to obey the command; but they +were met by a fusilade from the defenders who lined the +walls, which worked havoc amongst their ranks. Had +the contending parties been left to fight the issue out +untrammelled by the intervention of external agencies, it +is more than probable that Te Rauparaha would have +been worsted in this attempt to fire the <i>pa</i>, and would +have been compelled either to abandon the siege till the +ensuing summer or to repeat during the impending +winter the toilsome process of laying his fire train to the +gates of the fortress. But at this juncture, as in so many +others of his eventful life, his characteristic good fortune +did not desert him. While his men were being mown +down under the galling musketry of the enemy, the wind +suddenly swung round to the south, and the whole aspect +of the combat was instantly changed. The flames were +carried high against the walls, licking the palisades with +fiery tongues, while dense clouds of smoke rolled backwards, +driving the garrison from the trenches and from +every station of defence.</p> + +<p>By this marvellous reversal of fortune Te Rauparaha was not slow to +profit; and no sooner had the firing of the defenders slackened than +his men crept up to the walls, and, as an essential precaution, filled +up the loopholes through which the Ngai-Tahu marksmen had taken aim. +This must have seriously hampered the defenders, had they been +disposed to stand to their posts. But they were no longer animated so +much by the desire to save the <i>pa</i> as to save themselves. Panic +had now taken the place of heroism, and despair had completely +extinguished all idea of defence. The <i>sauve qui peut</i> of +Napoleon became equally the policy of Ngai-Tahu, and from this point +there was nothing heroic in the defence of Kaiapoi. In a marvellously +short space of time, the flames had completely enveloped the outer +works; and, while they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">{178}</a></span> +were eating their way through the wooden walls, many of +the besiegers were indulging in the wild joy of the war +dance, which, according to one native chronicler, was so +vigorously conducted that "the noise they made was like +thunder, and the earth trembled." As soon as a breach +had been made, the attacking force rushed between +the burning palisades, and the massacre—for it can +be described by no other word—commenced.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2q">"Through the fire, and through the smoke,</span> +<span class="i2">Swiftly Ngati-Toa broke</span> +<span class="i2">With a scream and a yell;</span> +<span class="i2">And the glare and the flare</span> +<span class="i2">Of the fire-tongues in the air</span> +<span class="i2">Flung a demoniac light</span> +<span class="i2">On the horrors of the fight:</span> +<span class="i2">And the children in affright,</span> +<span class="i2">And the women in despair,</span> +<span class="i2">Shrieked for mercy, but in vain.</span> +<span class="i2">And the blazing timbers threw</span> +<span class="i2">A ghastly lurid hue</span> +<span class="i2">On the wounded and the slain.</span> +<span class="i2">And, as the fierce light gleamed</span> +<span class="i2">On the warriors, they seemed</span> +<span class="i2">Like fiends unloosed from hell.</span> +<span class="i2">A struggle, fierce and short,</span> +<span class="i2">And the keepers of the fort</span> +<span class="i2">Were slaughtered for the feast:</span> +<span class="i2">And the red sun in the west</span> +<span class="i2">Went down as Kaiapoi fell."</span> +</div> + +<p class="nodent">No semblance of resistance was offered except by a desperate few, and +those who still lingered were either struck down by their infuriated +pursuers, or were captured and bound, to be spared or killed, as +future circumstances might dictate. When the stampede commenced, the +Huirapa gate was made the first avenue of escape, as it led directly +into the surrounding swamp. But Te Rauparaha had provided against this +by posting a strong body of men on the opposite bank; and, as fast as +the fugitives landed, they fell into a snare as fatal as that from +which they had just escaped. Numbers of the more active, impatient at +the delay caused by the total inadequacy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">{179}</a></span> +of this single outlet, scaled the walls, and dropped +down into the swamp below, swimming or wading in +the direction of the plains to the westward. Those who +selected this mode of retreat were almost all successful in +making good their escape, for they were able to secure the +friendly shelter of those dense clusters of vegetation<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_118" id="Ref_118" href="#Foot_118">[118]</a></span> +which freely studded the face of the swamp; while the +black smoke-clouds, which were carried on the wind, +hung low upon the water, and effectually screened them +from the searching eyes of their pursuers.</p> + +<p>It is estimated that some two hundred of the fleeing garrison reached +safety by concealing themselves in the slimy waters and rank +vegetation of the Tairutu lagoon, until the vigilance of the +northerners had relaxed sufficiently to enable them to creep out and +slip away to the southward, or to Banks's Peninsula, where they could +rely upon finding shelter in some of the tribal <i>pas</i>.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_119" id="Ref_119" href="#Foot_119">[119]</a></span> +But +by far the greater part of the inhabitants, who could not have +numbered less than a thousand souls, met death in various ways. Many, +especially the women and children, who essayed to cross the swamps, +were either drowned in the attempt or shot down as they swam. Others, +who, owing to age and infirmity, were slow in eluding the attack, were +never able to leave the <i>pa</i> at all. The aged and the very young +were killed without ceremony; but the more comely were for the most +part overcome and bound, destined either for the feast or for a life +of slavery, adorning the household of a chief or working +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">{180}</a></span> +as menials in the fields. Pureko, who had put the brand +to the burning, was one of the first to fall, being disembowelled +by a gun-shot; and within a few moments there +was also witnessed the pathetic death of the patriarchal +Te Auta,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_120" id="Ref_120" href="#Foot_120">[120]</a></span> +the venerated priest of the tribe, who was slain +as he knelt at the shrine of his patron deity, vainly +imploring the assistance of Kahukura<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_121" id="Ref_121" href="#Foot_121">[121]</a></span> +in this their hour +of greatest need. The air was rent by the shrieks of the +dying, the shouts of the victors, and the crash of falling +timbers, mingled in one hideous din, which typified all +that is blackest and most brutal in human passion.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_122" id="Ref_122" href="#Foot_122">[122]</a></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">{181}</a></span> +When an end was made of this gruesome work, and the +smoking walls were ruined beyond repair, the captives +were removed to Te Rauparaha's camp, situated on the +spot now known as Massacre Hill; and there the full +rites of the cannibal feast were celebrated at an awful +cost of human life,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_123" id="Ref_123" href="#Foot_123">[123]</a></span> +every detail being observed which, +in the light of national custom, would ensure the eternal +humiliation of the defeated tribe.</p> + +<p>Kaiapoi having now fallen, and the dispersal of its people being +complete, Te Rauparaha might have reasonably retired from the scene, +satisfied with the laurels which his conquest had brought him. But it +would seem that lust of victory and greed of revenge were in him +insatiable. He knew that there were still some well-populated +<i>pas</i> on Banks's Peninsula, and he was determined not to return +to Kapiti until he had reduced them also. The canoes which had been +damaged by Taiaroa were, therefore, repaired with all possible speed, +and, after provision had been made for the prisoners who were to be +taken to Kapiti, the remaining canoes were directed to proceed to +Banks's Peninsula. A small <i>pa</i> on Ri-papa Island, in Lyttelton +Harbour, was first attacked and reduced, and then the canoes were +steered for Akaroa, from which point the war party was to move to the +assault of Onawe. This <i>pa</i> had been but recently constructed, +and owed its existence to the widespread dread which the name of Te +Rauparaha had now inspired. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">{182}</a></span> +When it was known on the peninsula that he had laid +siege to Kaiapoi, a feeling of insecurity crept over the +natives there, who were seized with a grave presentiment +that their turn might come soon. And how inadequate +were their small and isolated <i>pas</i> to withstand the shock +of assault or the stress of siege! They accordingly +hastened to concentrate their forces in one central <i>pa</i>, +and the spirit-haunted hill of Onawe<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_124" id="Ref_124" href="#Foot_124">[124]</a></span> +was the point +selected for a united stand. The <i>pa</i>, which was built +upon the pear-shaped promontory which juts out into +the Akaroa Harbour, dividing its upper portion into two +bays, was both extensive and strong, and into its construction +several new features were imported, to meet the +altered conditions of warfare caused by the introduction +of fire-arms.</p> + +<p>With the fall of Kaiapoi, the alarms and panics to which the people of +the peninsula had been subjected through Te Rauparaha's foraging +parties were brought to an end, and they then knew that their worst +fears were about to be realised. On the day after the sack of the +<i>pa</i>, a few of the fugitives had arrived at Onawe with the +doleful intelligence that the fortress had fallen, and that, so far as +they could gather, the northern canoes were at that very moment being +made sea-worthy, for the purpose of conveying the victors to Akaroa. +Hurried messengers were then sent to all the outlying <i>pas</i>, +calling the people in to Onawe, and preparations were at once made to +resist the impending attack. Tangatahara, who, it will be remembered, +had been the immediate cause of Te Pehi's death, was placed in chief +command, with Puka and Potahi as his subordinate chiefs. The garrison, +which consisted of about four hundred warriors, was reasonably well +equipped for the struggle, for they had been moderately successful in +securing fire-arms from the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">{183}</a></span> +whalers, and those who did not carry muskets were at least +able to flourish steel hatchets. In these circumstances, Te +Rauparaha found them a much more formidable foe than +had been the Muaupoko of Horowhenua, or the Ngati-Apa +of Rangitikei. There he had all the advantage of arms; +here he was being opposed on almost even terms; but +there still remained in his favour a balance of spirit, +courage, and tenacity of purpose. In the matter of +provisions the <i>pa</i> was well provided against a protracted +siege, while one of the features of the new fortification +was a covered way, which led to a never-failing spring on +the southern side of the promontory. Scarcely were the +people gathered within the <i>pa</i>, and all the preparations +for its defence completed, than the sentinels posted on +the lookout descried, in the early morning, the northern +fleet sweeping up the harbour. The alarm was at once +given, and every man sprang to his post to await the +oncoming. The canoes paddled to the shore below the +<i>pa</i>, and there Te Rauparaha committed an error in tactics, +the like of which can seldom be laid to his charge. He +had hoped that, by his early arrival, he would have been +able to take the garrison by surprise and effect an easy +victory; but in this the vigilance of the defenders had +frustrated him, and he therefore decided to delay the +attack. In the meantime, he permitted his men to land, +but unwisely allowed them to become separated. The +Ngati-Toa and Ngati-Raukawa went to what is now +known as Barry's Bay, and Ngati-Awa occupied the +beach at the head of the harbour. In these positions +respectively the sections of the invaders immediately +began to establish their camps, and numerous fires, +eloquent of the morning meal, were soon smoking on +the shore.</p> + +<p>Tangatahara saw with some satisfaction the disposition of the enemy, +and shrewdly determined to profit by the advantage which their want of +cohesion gave him. He resolved upon the manœuvre of first attacking +Ngati-Awa, in the hope that he might defeat them before Te Rauparaha +could come to their assistance, and then he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">{184}</a></span> +would be able to turn upon the unsupported Ngati-Toa +and drive them back to the sea. But either Tangatahara +was much mistaken in his calculations or his directions +were only indifferently executed, for his manœuvre failed +ignominiously. As his men sallied out of the <i>pa</i>, their +movements were noticed by the sentries of Te Rauparaha, +who lost no time in communicating the fact to their +leader. Instantly, the Ngati-Toa camp was in a state of +intense excitement; every warrior dropped his immediate +employment and rushed to secure his belt and arms. +When equipped, they went off in hot haste, floundering +through slime and soft mud, to reinforce the threatened +Ngati-Awa. Tangatahara, seeing that his movement +was observed and understood, hesitated and was lost. A +halt was called, and, while his men stood in indecision +upon the hill-side, the advancing Ngati-Toa opened fire +upon them with fatal effect. Tahatiti was the first to +fall, and several were wounded as the result of the +opening volley. The Ngai-Tahu then began to fall +back, firing the while; but their musketry failed to +check the onrush of Te Rauparaha's veterans, who were +now thoroughly seasoned to the rattle of bullets and the +smell of powder. The retreat to the <i>pa</i> was safely conducted; +but, for some reason, the defenders did not +immediately pass through the gates and shut them +against the invaders. They continued to linger outside, +possibly to watch with greater ease the approach of the +enemy. As they were thus engaged, a number of the +captives taken by Te Rauparaha at Kaiapoi suddenly +came over the brow of the hill and entered into conversation +with those of their own kin who were still outside +the gates. During this friendly parley, Te Rauparaha +came boldly up to the walls with his own followers and +demanded the surrender of the <i>pa</i>. Those within the +walls were now placed in the dilemma that they could +not fire upon the enemy without imperilling the lives +of their own friends; and it was equally unsafe to open +the gates to admit them, as the besiegers might rush in +with an impetuosity that could not be resisted. In these +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">{185}</a></span> +circumstances the parley was continued, Te Rauparaha +pointing to the presence of so many Kaiapoi notables as +a living evidence of his clemency, while the captive +Ngai-Tahu joined with him in advising the policy of +surrender, chiefly, no doubt, through a jealous apprehension +that the inhabitants of Onawe might escape the +misfortune and disgrace which had befallen themselves.</p> + +<p>Thus the battle, which had opened with visions of courage, degenerated +into a war of words, of which the best that can be said is that the +insincerity of the invaders was only equalled by the indecision of the +defenders. Only one man in the <i>pa</i> appeared to have a clear idea +of what his duty was. This was Puaka, who, recognising Te Rauparaha +amongst the crowd, pushed his gun through a loophole, took aim, and +fired almost point-blank at the chief, whose miraculous escape was due +to the fact that one of the Kaiapoi captives, who was standing close +to Puaka, pushed the muzzle of the musket aside just in time to +deflect the shot. As might be supposed, the incident served only to +intensify the confusion and disorder. Some of the invaders seized a +moment's want of vigilance on the part of the sentries at the gate to +force an entrance into the <i>pa</i>, where they commenced killing +every one around them. All the brave vows which had brought the Onawe +<i>pa</i> into existence were then forgotten, and the high hopes which +its fancied strength had inspired were shattered in this moment of +supreme trial, which revealed in all its nakedness the inherent +weakness of the Ngai-Tahu character. Panic seized the people, and for +some time the <i>pa</i> was the scene of the wildest confusion. Here +and there a brave show of resistance was offered; but for the most +part the defenders were too dazed at the swiftness of the Ngati-Toa +rush even to stand to their arms, which, in their distraction, numbers +of them even threw away. Of those outside the <i>pa</i>, not a few +dashed for the bush as soon as the fighting commenced, and made good +their escape. But those within the walls were caught like rats in a +trap; and, during the conflict, the shrieks and imprecations +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">{186}</a></span> +of the miserable fugitives were mingled with the +hoarse shouts of the victors, as they rushed bleeding and +half naked from one place of fancied security to another. +The conquest of Onawe, though swift, was none the less +sanguinary. After the last vestige of resistance had been +stamped out, the prisoners were collected and taken +down to a flax-covered flat. There the old and the +young, the weak and the strong, were picked out from +their trembling ranks; and, at the command of the chief, +those who from excessive youth or extreme age were +regarded as valueless were at once sacrificed to the +<i>manes</i> of the dead, while the more robust were preserved +as trophies of the victory.</p> + +<p>For a few days following the fall of Onawe, the surrounding hills and +forests were scoured by the restless victors, in search of such +unhappy fugitives as might be found lurking in the secret places of +the bush. Few, however, were captured, and in some instances +successful retaliation reversed the fortune of the chase, and the +pursuers became the pursued. When the prospect of further captures was +exhausted, the northern warriors asked for and obtained leave to +return to their homes, and the canoes, with the exception of that of +Te Hiko, immediately put to sea, a rendezvous being appointed for them +at Cloudy Bay. Te Hiko was detained by the fact that his canoe stood +in need of repair, and, during the operation, an incident occurred +which justified the high estimate of his character which was +subsequently formed by many of the earliest colonists.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_125" id="Ref_125" href="#Foot_125">[125]</a></span> +He was the +son of Te Pehi, whose death two years before +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">{187}</a></span> +was the immediate and avowed cause of this southern +raid. If, then, the fires of hate and fury against Ngai-Tahu +had burned more fiercely within him than in others of his +tribe, there might have been some justification for it. But +Te Hiko proved to be more chivalrous than many who +had received less provocation. Amongst the prisoners +who had fallen into his hands at the taking of Onawe +was Tangatahara, the commander of the fortress, who, it +will be remembered, had been the most active agent in +causing the death of Te Hiko's father. What ultimate +fate was intended for Tangatahara is uncertain, but he +was fortunate enough to be spared an immediate death. +He was, however, closely guarded; and, as he was sitting +on the beach surrounded by Ngati-Raukawa warriors, two +of the women who had accompanied Te Rauparaha's +forces espied him, and immediately put in a claim to +Te Hiko for his death, in compensation for the injury +which the captive chief had caused them. The claim, +though clamorously made, was firmly resisted by Te +Hiko who endeavoured first to persuade and then to +bribe them, by a gift of rich food, into a more reasonable +frame of mind. Neither his blandishments nor his +bribes were successful in appeasing their desire for the +captive's life; and it was not until Te Hiko gave them +plainly to understand that he was determined not to +give his prisoner over as a sacrifice to them, and that he +regarded his authority as outraged by their persistency, +that they sullenly consented to compromise their claim. +What they now asked was the right to debase the chief +by using his head as a relish for their <i>kauru</i>, a vegetable +substance which a Maori chewed, much as an American +chews gum or tobacco. To this modified proposal Te +Hiko reluctantly consented, and the women, approaching +the captive, struck his head twice with their <i>kauru</i>, which +they proceeded to masticate with enhanced enjoyment +because of the flavour which it was thought to derive +from his degradation.</p> + +<p>Though he had thus far humoured the women, the want of consideration +shown by them for his position +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">{188}</a></span> +as a chief so incensed Te Hiko that he there and then +determined to release his prisoner, and so prevent his +authority in regard to him being flouted by irresponsible +personages. That night he roused Tangatahara from his +sleep, and, taking him to the edge of the bush, bade him +escape, a command which he was not slow to obey, nor +found it difficult to fulfil.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_126" id="Ref_126" href="#Foot_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_76" id="Foot_76" href="#Ref_76">[76]</a> +To the ancient Maori greenstone was invaluable as a material out +of which to manufacture weapons and ornaments; but after the +introduction of fire-arms the <i>mere</i> was superseded by the +musket, and it is doubtful if, when the trinkets of the European were +available, the native would take the trouble to laboriously work out +an ornament from so hard a substance.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_77" id="Foot_77" href="#Ref_77">[77]</a> +A shark's tooth fixed upon a stick and used as a knife.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_78" id="Foot_78" href="#Ref_78">[78]</a> +This could scarcely have been otherwise, for Rerewaka's insolent +speech amounted to a <i>kanga</i>, or curse, which, according to the +Maori code, could only be atoned for by the shedding of blood.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_79" id="Foot_79" href="#Ref_79">[79]</a> +The canoe used by Te Rauparaha on many of these southern raids +was called Ahu-a-Turanga, and for this reason it is supposed that it +came from the Manawatu, that being the name of an ancient track over +the Ruahine Ranges near the Manawatu gorge. It is said that this canoe +is now lying rotting at Porirua Harbour. Another famous canoe of this +period was called Te-Ra-makiri, a vessel captured from the +Ngati-Kahu-ngunu at Castle Point by Ngati-Tama, and presented by them +to Te Rauparaha. This canoe was held to be exceedingly sacred, and now +lies at Mana Island.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_80" id="Foot_80" href="#Ref_80">[80]</a> +"Having reached at sunset to within a mile of the spot where the +<i>Pelorus</i> anchored, we again encamped on a shingly beach in a bay +on the east side of the Sound. At this spot there were some ten or +fifteen acres of level ground, on which we were shown the remains of a +large <i>pa</i>, once the headquarters of the tribe conquered and +almost exterminated by Te Rauparaha" (<i>Wakefield</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_81" id="Foot_81" href="#Ref_81">[81]</a> +It was to this policy of settlement, following upon conquest, +that Marlborough owes the presence of the little cluster of northern +natives who are settled on the banks of the Wairau River—the most +southern outpost that now remains to mark the aggression of Te +Rauparaha.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_82" id="Foot_82" href="#Ref_82">[82]</a> +Hori Kingi Te Anaua, a chief well-known in after years as the +firm friend of the Whanganui settlers, escaped from this defeat, as +one quaint native account puts it, "by dint of his power to run."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_83" id="Foot_83" href="#Ref_83">[83]</a> +Some difficulty has been experienced in closely tracing the +movements of Te Pehi. He left England on board H.M.S. <i>Thames</i> in +October, 1825, and the <i>Thames</i> reached Sydney on April 11, 1826. +Whether she came on to New Zealand bringing the chief with her, I have +not ascertained. The probabilities are that she did, for the late +Judge Mackay, who is an excellent authority, says Te Pehi returned +direct to New Zealand, but afterwards made the voyage back to Sydney +to procure arms, from which place he returned in 1829, at the juncture +referred to in the text.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_84" id="Foot_84" href="#Ref_84">[84]</a> +Here we meet with one of the many discrepancies in the published +histories of the time. The Rev. Canon Stack makes it appear in his +<i>Kaiapohia</i> that Rerewaka was killed during the battle, but Mr. +Travers (<i>Life and Times of Te Rauparaha</i>) states that he was +taken prisoner; and this version is sustained by Tamihana te Rauparaha +in his published account of his father's life, wherein he says +Rerewaka was taken to Kapiti to be "tamed."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_85" id="Foot_85" href="#Ref_85">[85]</a> +Canon Stack would seem to imply that Kaikoura and Omihi were one +and the same place; but from a petition presented to the House of +Representatives in 1869 by the Ngai-Tahu tribe, it seems clear that +they were separate places, and that their destruction took place at +different times. Omihi is about 15 miles south of Kaikoura, near the +Conway River, but the battle took place on the hills near the valley +which leads down to the Waipara.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_86" id="Foot_86" href="#Ref_86">[86]</a> +Some accounts make it appear that Kekerengu was killed by a +wandering band of Ngai-Tahu after he landed on the Middle Island, and +that, although he had greatly offended Te Rangihaeata by his +impropriety, it was really to avenge his death and not to punish him +that this raid was made upon Kaikoura and Omihi. But these are +variations in tradition that we can scarcely hope to reconcile at this +date.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_87" id="Foot_87" href="#Ref_87">[87]</a> +Kaiapoi is a popular abbreviation of the old name—Kaiapohia, +which signifies "food gathered up in handfuls" or "a food depôt," but +Kaiapohia was seldom used except in formal speeches or in poetical +compositions. The name originated in the incident related in the text, +and the place became in reality a food depôt, because, owing to its +peculiar situation, large quantities of food, particularly kumaras, +were raised every year, not only for local consumption, but for the +purposes of exchange with other branches of the tribe which possessed +abundance of particular kinds of provisions which could not be +procured at Kaiapoi.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_88" id="Foot_88" href="#Ref_88">[88]</a> +Tamihana te Rauparaha would lead us to suppose that his father +was averse to this course, and was again overpersuaded by Te Pehi's +impetuosity. He makes him say to Te Pehi, "Be cautious in going into +the <i>pa</i>, lest you be killed. I have had an evil omen: mine was +an evil dream last night," But what, says Tamihana, was the good of +such advice to a man whose spirit had gone to death?</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_89" id="Foot_89" href="#Ref_89">[89]</a> +At first only the heads of chiefs were sold, as they were the +most perfectly tattooed, but when chiefs' heads became scarce, the +native mind conceived the idea of tattooing the heads of the slaves +and selling them—the slave being killed as soon as his head was ready +for the market. Sometimes the slave was audacious enough to run away +just as he was attaining a commercial value, and the indignation of +one merchant who had just sustained such a loss is humorously +described in Manning's <i>Old New Zealand</i>.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_90" id="Foot_90" href="#Ref_90">[90]</a> +In an account of this incident given by a Captain Briggs to the +newspaper <i>Tasmanian</i>, in 1831, he states that a European named +Smith, who had been left at Kaiapoi by a Captain Wiseman, for the +purpose of trade, attempted to save Te Pehi's life, and was himself +killed for his interference. If this was so, the Ngai-Tahu accounts +are discreetly silent on the point; but Briggs infers that Te +Rauparaha and Te Hiko made it one of the arguments by which they +sought to convince him that he ought to assist them to capture +Tamaiharanui, and so revenge the death of his countryman.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_91" id="Foot_91" href="#Ref_91">[91]</a> +The names of the chiefs who were killed on this fatal day were Te +Pehi, Te Pokaitara, Te Rangikatuta, Te Ruatahi, Te Hua-piko, Te Kohi, +Te Aratangata, and Te Rohua. Tamihana te Rauparaha states that in all +some twenty of his father's people were killed, but that a number were +successful in escaping by clambering over the palisades.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_92" id="Foot_92" href="#Ref_92">[92]</a> +The Rev. Canon Stack considers that this event occurred either +late in 1828 or early in 1829.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_93" id="Foot_93" href="#Ref_93">[93]</a> +It is doubtful whether Tamaiharanui took any part in the killing +of Te Pehi and his comrades, but that would not relieve him of his +liability to be killed in return, as the whole tribe was responsible +for the acts of every member of it.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_94" id="Foot_94" href="#Ref_94">[94]</a> +There was little in Tamaiharanui's personal appearance to mark +his aristocratic lineage. His figure was short and thick-set, his +complexion dark, and his features rather forbidding. Unlike most Maori +chiefs of exalted rank, he was cowardly, cruel, and capricious—an +object of dread to friends and foes alike, and however much his people +may have mourned the manner of his death, they could not fail to +experience a sense of relief when he was gone (<i>Stack</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_95" id="Foot_95" href="#Ref_95">[95]</a> +The <i>Elizabeth</i> arrived in Sydney in July, 1830, and in the +following month left for New Zealand. A contemporary Australian +newspaper described her cargo as consisting of four cases and eighteen +muskets, two kegs of flints and bullets, two bales of slops, two kegs +of gunpowder, one bundle of hardware, and five baskets of tobacco and +stores.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_96" id="Foot_96" href="#Ref_96">[96]</a> +A more or less exaggerated account of this raid appeared in the +newspaper <i>Tasmanian</i> on January 28, 1831, and in a subsequent +issue, Captain Briggs, in passing some comments upon it, said the +penalty which Captain Stewart had to pay for disregarding his advice +was that "the natives wanted to do as they pleased with him and his +ship." He further said that he endeavoured to persuade Stewart not to +deliver Tamaiharanui over to Te Rauparaha after their return to +Kapiti, but that worthy declined to carry the chief to Sydney, on the +ground that "The Marinewie," as he called him, "had been too long on +board already."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_97" id="Foot_97" href="#Ref_97">[97]</a> +Properly spelt Akau-roa—"the long coast line"; doubtless +referring to the deep inlet which forms the harbour of Akaroa.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_98" id="Foot_98" href="#Ref_98">[98]</a> +According to a Parliamentary Paper published in 1831, the +<i>Elizabeth</i> carried eight guns, two swivels, and a full supply of +small arms. This fact, it is said, deluded some of the natives into +the belief that the ship was a British man-o'-war.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_99" id="Foot_99" href="#Ref_99">[99]</a> +Signifying "tear-drops."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_100" id="Foot_100" href="#Ref_100">[100]</a> +Some accounts say that this occurred before the vessel left the +harbour.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_101" id="Foot_101" href="#Ref_101">[101]</a> +It is said that the action of Tamaiharanui also so roused the +righteous anger of Captain Stewart that he deemed it his duty to have +the chief triced up to the mast and flogged. This met with the most +marked disapproval from Te Rauparaha, who maintained that as his +prisoner was a chief he should not be punished like a slave.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_102" id="Foot_102" href="#Ref_102">[102]</a> +The <i>Australian</i> newspaper records the arrival of the +<i>Elizabeth</i>, Captain Stewart, in Sydney, on the above date, with +a cargo of thirty tons of flax, and carrying Mr. J. B. Montefiore and +Mr. A. Kemiss as passengers.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_103" id="Foot_103" href="#Ref_103">[103]</a> +When the <i>Elizabeth</i> returned to Kapiti, her company was +increased by a Mr. Montefiore, who was then cruising round New Zealand +in his own vessel, in search of commercial speculations. Hearing of +what had occurred at Akaroa, he became apprehensive of his own safety, +and fearing that all the white people in the country would be killed, +he joined the <i>Elizabeth</i> in the hope of being carried away from +New Zealand at the earliest possible moment. In giving evidence before +a Select Committee of the House of Lords, in 1838, he related what he +knew of the capture and death of Tamaiharanui. He claimed credit for +having protested to Captain Stewart against the chief being held in +irons, and succeeded in getting the fetters struck off, as the +prisoner's legs had commenced to mortify. He also stated that his +appeal to Captain Stewart to take the chief to Sydney, and not to hand +him over to his enemies, was futile. According to Mr. Montefiore, who +said he went ashore and "saw the whole process of his intended +sacrifice," Tamaiharanui was killed almost immediately after being +given up, but other accounts supplied by the natives place it some +weeks later. The wife of Tamaiharanui, unable to bear the sight of her +husband's agony, ran away from the scene of the tragedy, but was +recaptured and subsequently killed. Tamaiharanui's sister became the +wife of one of her captors, and lived at Wellington. It is generally +admitted that Te Rauparaha did not witness, or take any part in, +Tamaiharanui's death. Heaven knows, he had done enough.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_104" id="Foot_104" href="#Ref_104">[104]</a> +If this is an accurate statement of what occurred—and there is +every reason to believe that it is—the treatment of Tamaiharanui +presents an interesting parallel to the manner in which the Aztec +Indians of Mexico regaled their prisoners, destined to be sacrificed +at the annual feast to their god Tezcatlipoca.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_105" id="Foot_105" href="#Ref_105">[105]</a> +Rev. Canon Stack.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_106" id="Foot_106" href="#Ref_106">[106]</a> +The Sydney <i>Gazette</i>, in referring to the case, remarked +that its peculiarity lay in the fact that it involved "the question of +the liability of British subjects for offences committed against the +natives of New Zealand." The point was never tested, but it is +doubtful whether the Imperial Statute constituting the Supreme Court +of the Colony of New South Wales (9 Geo. IV., cap. 83) gave express +power to deal with such offences as that of Stewart. An amendment of +the law in the following year (June 7, 1832) made the position more +explicit.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_107" id="Foot_107" href="#Ref_107">[107]</a> +Captain Sturt afterwards did valuable work as an explorer in +Australia, but received no suitable recognition from the Imperial +Government. Sir George Grey vainly endeavoured to procure for him the +honour of knighthood.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_108" id="Foot_108" href="#Ref_108">[108]</a> +There is not much doubt that, had the case gone to trial, +counsel for the defence would have endeavoured to prove that Stewart +was compelled by the natives to do what he did; for the +<i>Australian</i>, a paper controlled by Dr. Wardell, argued that it +"could not divine the justice of denouncing Stewart as amenable to +laws which, however strict and necessary under certain circumstances, +were not applicable to savage broils and unintentional acts of +homicide, to which he must have been an unwilling party, and over +which he could not possibly exercise the slightest control."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_109" id="Foot_109" href="#Ref_109">[109]</a> +It will be charitable, and perhaps just, to suppose that this +feeling arose more from personal antipathy to the Governor than from +any inherent sympathy with crime. Governor Darling had succeeded in +making himself exceedingly unpopular with a large section of the +Sydney community, which resulted in his recall in 1831.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_110" id="Foot_110" href="#Ref_110">[110]</a> +The expedition probably started about the end of January or +beginning of February.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_111" id="Foot_111" href="#Ref_111">[111]</a> +Now Lyttelton Harbour.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_112" id="Foot_112" href="#Ref_112">[112]</a> +His <i>pa</i> was in the vicinity of what is now the city of +Dunedin.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_113" id="Foot_113" href="#Ref_113">[113]</a> +The Rev. Canon Stack relates how one of the Ngai-Tahu men, Te +Ata-o-tu, was carrying his infant son on his back during this march. +When they approached the <i>pa</i>, some of his companions, seeing how +closely it was invested, whispered to him to strangle the child, lest +it might cry at a critical moment and betray them. The father, +however, could not find it in his heart to take this extreme step, but +he wrapped the boy tightly in a thick mat, and, strapping him across +his broad shoulders, carried him safely through the dangers of that +terrible night. The child, however, was only spared to be drowned in +the waters of the swamp as his mother vainly endeavoured to escape a +few months later, when the <i>pa</i> fell.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_114" id="Foot_114" href="#Ref_114">[114]</a> +A storehouse erected upon a high central pole, to +protect the food from the depredations of rats.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_115" id="Foot_115" href="#Ref_115">[115]</a> +So far as is known, this was the first occasion on which the +principle of the sap was applied in Maori warfare.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_116" id="Foot_116" href="#Ref_116">[116]</a> +An interesting parallel to these proceedings is to be found in +Gibbon's description of the siege of Constantinople: "To fill the +ditch was the toil of the besiegers; to clear away the rubbish was the +safety of the besieged; and, after a long and bloody conflict, the web +which had been woven in the day was still unravelled in the night."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_117" id="Foot_117" href="#Ref_117">[117]</a> +It is a popular belief in some quarters that the reason why the +defenders so lost heart was that they were oppressed by the guilty +knowledge that they had acted treacherously in killing Te Pehi and his +companions.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_118" id="Foot_118" href="#Ref_118">[118]</a> +Popularly known as "Maori-heads" or "Nigger-heads." Flax and +<i>raupo</i> also grew freely in the swamps.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_119" id="Foot_119" href="#Ref_119">[119]</a> +This was rendered more difficult owing to the fact that for many +days Te Rauparaha's followers were scouring the country, far and wide, +in search of fugitives. The Rev. Canon Stack mentions the pathetic +instance of two young children who were in hiding with their father. +He left them to go in search of food, promising to return; but he +never did so, having in all probability been captured and killed. The +children, who afterwards lived to be well-known Canterbury residents, +sustained themselves by eating <i>raupo</i> roots for several months, +until they were found by an eeling party in the bed of the Selwyn +River.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_120" id="Foot_120" href="#Ref_120">[120]</a> +Te Auta is described as a man of grave and venerable appearance, +who was a strict disciplinarian in all matters pertaining to the +religious ceremonies of the <i>pa</i>, his authority in these respects +being considerably enhanced by his long white hair and flowing beard. +He was one of the last of the Ngai-Tahu <i>tohungas</i>, who were +deeply versed in all the peculiar rites of Maori heathendom.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_121" id="Foot_121" href="#Ref_121">[121]</a> +Kahukura was the patron divinity of the Ngai-Tahu tribe. His +cultus was introduced by the crew of the Takitimu canoe, who were the +ancestors of the Kaiapohians (<i>Stack</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_122" id="Foot_122" href="#Ref_122">[122]</a> +Amongst the prisoners taken was a boy named Pura, who excited +the interest of Te Rauparaha. The chief took him under his personal +protection, and on the night that Kaiapoi fell, he led him into his +own <i>whare</i>. In order to prevent any possibility of escape, +Rauparaha tied a rope round the boy's body and attached the other end +to his own wrist. During the early hours of the night the chief was +exceedingly restless, but after he fell asleep Pura quietly disengaged +himself from the rope, and tied the end of it to a peg which he found +driven into the floor of the <i>whare</i>. He then crept stealthily to +the door, but in passing out he had the misfortune to overturn a pile +of <i>manuka</i> which was piled up outside. Luckily, the brushwood +fell on top of him, completely covering him, but the noise aroused Te +Rauparaha, who, as soon as he perceived that his captive had flown, +raised the alarm, and in an incredibly short time the whole camp was +in a state of uproar and panic. The warriors, suddenly aroused from +their sleep, were in a condition of extreme nervous tension after the +excitement and exertion of the day. Some imagined that the prisoners +had risen in revolt, while others believed that the fugitives had +returned in force to attack the camp, and it was some time before +order could be restored and the true position explained. Meanwhile, +Pura lay panting with fear and trembling lest he should be found, for +recapture meant certain death. His hiding, however, was not +discovered, and when the camp had once more settled down to sleep, he +quietly pushed the brushwood aside, and, threading his way out into +the swamp, made good his escape to the south, where he afterwards +joined the main body of the fugitives. Pura subsequently became a +well-known resident of Lyttelton, under the name of Pitama.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_123" id="Foot_123" href="#Ref_123">[123]</a> +"Some conception may be formed of the numbers slain and eaten +when I mention that some time after the settlement of Canterbury the +Rev. Mr. Raven, incumbent of Woodend, near the site of the <i>pa</i> +in question, collected many cartloads of their bones, and buried them +in a mound on the side of the main road from the present town of +Kaiapoi to the north. Ghastly relics of these feasts still strew the +ground, from which I myself have gathered many" (<i>Travers</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_124" id="Foot_124" href="#Ref_124">[124]</a> +"The summit of Onawe was called Te-pa-nui-o-Hau. There, amongst +the huge boulders and rocks that crown the hill and cover its steep +sloping sides, dwelt the Spirit of the Wind, and tradition tells how +jealously it guarded its sacred haunts from careless intrusion" +(<i>Tales of Banks's Peninsula</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_125" id="Foot_125" href="#Ref_125">[125]</a> +"Te Hiko struck us forcibly by his commanding stature, by his +noble, intelligent physiognomy, and by his truly chieftain-like +demeanour. His descent by both parents pointed him out as a great +leader in Cook Strait, should he inherit his father's great qualities. +He was sparing of his words and mild in speech. He had carefully +treasured up his father's instructions and the relics of his voyage to +England.... He was said to pay his slaves for their work, and to treat +them with unusual kindness, and the white men spoke of him as mild and +inoffensive in his intercourse with them" (<i>Wakefield</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_126" id="Foot_126" href="#Ref_126">[126]</a> +"Before the northern fleet got clear of Banks's Peninsula, a +number of the prisoners escaped, the chief person amongst them being +Te Hori, known in after years as the highly respected native +Magistrate of Kaiapoi, the only man of acknowledged learning left +amongst the Ngai-Tahu after Te Rauparaha's last raid" (<i>Stack</i>).</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">{189}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER VI</span><br /><span +class="size070">THE SMOKING FLAX</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">The</span> +conquest of the southern districts being now completed, and the +winter months approaching, the whole of the northern fleet took its +departure for Cloudy Bay, where, according to the records of the +whalers who were there at the time, scenes of the wildest excitement +prevailed for many days, and the unhappy condition of the captives was +observed with much compassion by persons who were powerless to +intervene. From Cloudy Bay the main body of the conquerors passed over +to Kapiti, and there the scenes of unbridled ferocity were resumed, +until sufficient slaves had been killed and eaten to fittingly honour +the returning warriors. These rejoicings at an end, Te Rauparaha set +himself to seriously administer the affairs of his own people, which +were always in danger of violent disturbance, due to the mutual +jealousies of the tribes when not preoccupied by the excitement of +war. This work of domestic management almost wholly absorbed his +attention during the next few years; and it was fortunate for the +Kaiapoi captives that he had so much on hand, as the pressure of +circumstances and the stress of inter-tribal complications more than +once compelled him to treat them with greater consideration than might +otherwise have been their lot. While these events were proceeding in +the North Island, the Maoris in the south were slowly reorganising +their forces. The majority of the fugitives from Kaiapoi and Onawe had +travelled southward until they reached +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">{190}</a></span> +Taiaroa's settlement at Otago, where, under his guidance, +they began to formulate their plans for avenging their +many humiliations. Amongst these fugitives was Tu-te-hounuku, +the son of the treacherously captured +Tamaiharanui, who, recognising that his own people +were not equal to the task of accomplishing vengeance, +sought the aid of the great Otago warrior, and chief +of Ruapuke, Tu-Hawaiki. This chief had received from +the whalers the startling appellation of "Bloody Jack,"<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_127" id="Ref_127" href="#Foot_127">[127]</a></span> +not so much because of his sanguinary disposition as +from the lurid nature of his language. He was a warrior +of the progressive type, who at once saw the advantage +of intimate intercourse with the white man; and to +this end he made common cause with all the whalers +stationed along the coast. He assisted them in their +quarrels, and they in return supplied him with the +implements of war necessary to overcome his tribal +enemies. In this way he managed to acquire the mastery +over a large area of country, and to amass a considerable +amount of wealth. He owned a small vessel, which was +commanded by one of his whaler friends, in which he +frequently made trips to Sydney. There he formed an +acquaintance with Governor Gipps, who presented him +with a number of old military uniforms; and on his +return to New Zealand he enrolled a squad of his own +tribe, clothed them in the soldiers' garb, drilled them, +and on state occasions paraded them as his personal +bodyguard, "all the same the <i>Kawana</i>."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_128" id="Ref_128" href="#Foot_128">[128]</a></span> +To this enterprising +barbarian the prospect of a brush with Rauparaha—or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">{191}</a></span> +with any one else for that matter—was a most +agreeable one, and so the alliance with Tu-te-hounuku +was entered upon after the most trifling negotiation.</p> + +<p>Although Taiaroa appears to have taken some part in organising the +expedition, he did not accompany it. The leadership was therefore +entrusted to Tu-Hawaiki, who came and secreted himself in the vicinity +of Cape Campbell, being thus favourably situated for an attack upon +the Ngati-Toa, who now had entire control of the northern portion of +the Middle Island, where a section of their people were continuously +settled. Moreover, it had become one of their practices to visit Lake +Grasmere for the purpose of snaring the paradise duck, which then, as +now, made this sheet of water one of their favourite breeding grounds; +and it was while upon one of these bird-catching expeditions that Te +Rauparaha nearly lost his life. Being intent upon the manipulation of +his snares, he was unconscious of the approach from behind the Cape of +Tu-Hawaiki and his horde, until, with a savage yell, they pounced upon +the unwary Ngati-Toa. For the latter the situation was indeed +critical, and all its difficulties were taken in by Rauparaha at a +glance. He saw that in point of numbers the odds were terribly against +him, and that to stand his ground and fight it out with such a +formidable foe could only result in certain death. On the other hand, +the chances of escape had been almost completely cut off; for when the +party landed at the lake, the canoes, with one exception, were drawn +up on the beach, and were now high and dry. The delay in launching +these meant the difference between life and death, so closely were +they pressed. But fortunately for him, one still remained in the water +some distance from the shore; and on observing this solitary gleam of +hope, Te Rauparaha swiftly made up his mind that discretion was the +better part of valour. He raced for the sea, and, plunging into the +surf, swam to the canoe with rapid and powerful strokes, followed by +at least forty of his own people. At the canoe a general scramble +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">{192}</a></span> +ensued, in which only the fittest survived, the remainder +being left struggling in the water to escape as best they +could, or be despatched by their enemies as opportunity +offered.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, those of the Ngati-Toa who had not been able to +plunge into the sea were unceremoniously killed on the spot, and those +of the attacking party who were not actively engaged in this +sanguinary work at once launched the canoes lying on the Boulder Bank, +which divides the lake from the sea, and set off in hot pursuit of the +retreating Rauparaha. As might be expected, the chase was a desperate +one, each party straining every nerve to defeat the object of the +other. Rauparaha, standing in the stern of his canoe, by word and +gesture urged the men at the paddles to renewed exertions; not that +they required much exhortation, for they knew that their lives +depended entirely upon themselves. But, notwithstanding their utmost +endeavours, it soon became painfully evident that their pursuers were +gaining upon them, owing to the overloaded condition of the canoe. +Rauparaha then determined upon a course which can scarcely recommend +him to our admiration, although Nature's first law, self-preservation, +might be urged in extenuation of his crime. Without further ceremony +he ordered half the people in the canoe, many of whom were women and +children, to jump overboard, and those who demurred were forcibly +compelled to obey.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_129" id="Ref_129" href="#Foot_129">[129]</a></span> +Thus relieved of some of its burden, the canoe +gradually forged ahead, and the diversion of the pursuers' attention +to the jettisoned passengers, who were struggling in the water, +enabled Rauparaha to make good his escape to Cloudy Bay. The Ngai-Tahu +people are especially proud of this encounter, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">{193}</a></span> +which they regard as a brilliant victory, and have called +it <i>Rua Moa iti</i>, or "The battle of the little Moa's feather."</p> + +<p>It could not, of course, be supposed that a man of action, such as Te +Rauparaha was, would long remain idle while so black a stain upon his +reputation as a warrior remained unavenged. He therefore lost no time +in sending his messengers to a branch of the Ngati-Awa tribe, who then +resided at the Wairau, soliciting their aid in a mission of +retaliation. The request was readily granted, and, with this +reinforcement, a war party of considerable strength set sail in their +canoes for the <i>karaka</i> groves which grew luxuriantly at +O-Rua-Moa Bay, immediately to the south of Cape Campbell, where it was +fully expected that the enemy would be resting. In these anticipations +they were disappointed. The prey had flown; and if the purpose of the +expedition was not to fail utterly, there was nothing for it but to +push on until the object of their search was found. They were soon +rewarded, for close to the shore, at the mouth of the Flaxbourne +River, Tu-Hawaiki and his braves were encamped, and here the gage of +battle was thrown down. That the encounter was a desperate one may be +judged by the fact that both sides claimed the victory, and they seem +to have withdrawn from the combat mutually agreeing that they had each +had enough. According to the Ngai-Tahu account, Te Rauparaha's +stratagem of sending one hundred and forty men of Ngati-Awa down the +steep face of a cliff to cut off Tu-Hawaiki's retreat was successfully +circumvented, the flanking party being caught in their own trap and +every one of them destroyed. The Ngati-Toa are equally positive that +the palm of victory rested with them; but in that event the advantage +gained was not sufficiently great to justify them in following it up, +for Tu-Hawaiki was allowed to depart next morning unmolested to +Kaikoura. On the journey down an incident occurred which betrayed the +savage side of this man's nature, and showed how much he deserved, in +another sense, the title of the old whalers, when they styled him +"Bloody Jack." During the voyage the canoe commanded by Tu-te-hounuku was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">{194}</a></span> +capsized in a southerly gale, and the young chief was +drowned, although every other man was saved. The +selfishness of the men in seeking their own safety and +letting their leader perish so enraged the fiery Tu-Hawaiki, +that as soon as he heard of the accident he ordered the +canoes ashore, and with his own hand slew every one of +the surviving crew.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_130" id="Ref_130" href="#Foot_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>Immediately after this skirmish Te Rauparaha returned to the North +Island, where there was urgent need of his presence. With the coming +of the Ngati-Awa, Ngati-Ruanui, and other Taranaki tribes, the +domestic disagreements, of which he stood in daily dread, began to +ferment, and were already breaking out into open rupture. The +Ngati-Awa had cast envious eyes upon a piece of country under tillage +by Ngati-Raukawa, in the vicinity of Otaki, and were openly boasting +of their intention to make it their own. Their cause was espoused by +their Taranaki relatives, and even a section of Te Rauparaha's own +people threw in their lot with them against their old allies, the +Ngati-Raukawa. This defection, which was especially distressing to Te +Rauparaha, arose from some act of favouritism—real or +fancied—displayed towards Te Whatanui, the great Ngati-Raukawa chief, +for whom Te Rauparaha ever felt and showed the highest regard. These +strained relations, however, did not break out into actual civil +strife until the Ngati-Raukawa people discovered the Ngati-Ruanui +malcontents looting their potato-pits at Waikawa. Up to this point the +Ngati-Raukawa had borne the pin-pricks of the Taranaki braggarts with +some degree of patience; but this act of plunder satisfied them that, +unless they were prepared to defend their property, they would soon +have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">{195}</a></span> +no property to defend. They therefore stood no longer +upon ceremony, but straightway attacked the Ngati-Ruanui +settlement, and thus let slip the dogs of civil war.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_131" id="Ref_131" href="#Foot_131">[131]</a></span> +In the conflict which ensued Tauake, a Ngati-Ruanui +chief, was killed, an incident which only served to fan +the flame of internecine strife, and hostilities of a more +or less virulent nature involved all the settlements along +the coast from Waikanae to Manawatu. Both sides were +equally well armed, for guns and ammunition were now +plentiful, the traders having learned the Maori's weakness, +and being prepared to pander to it for the sake of cheap +cargoes of flax and potatoes. The consequence was that +in each skirmish numbers of the belligerents were killed, +and Te Rauparaha saw with increasing dismay the havoc +wrought amongst his fighting men, and the useless waste +of tribal strength which must ensue from these insane +proceedings. Only too clearly he realised that, watched +as he was by enemies both on the north and to the east, +this state of division might at any moment be seized on +as an opportunity for attack. His own efforts to reconcile +the disputants were unavailing; and when he saw the +spirit of insurrection growing and spreading beyond his +power of control, he determined upon making an appeal +for outside aid. He accordingly dispatched a mission to +Taupo, requesting Te Heuheu to bring down a large force +wherewith to crush out the seeds of rebellion, by inflicting +a telling defeat upon the most turbulent insurgents. Te +Heuheu's reply to this appeal was of a practical kind. +Within a few months he marched out from Taupo with an +effective fighting force of eight hundred men, officered by +some of the most famous of his own and the Maungatautari +chiefs of that time. Almost immediately upon +their arrival on the coast, they, in conjunction with +Ngati-Raukawa, proceeded to attack the Ngati-Awa at a +pa close to the Otaki River, and for several months the +conflict was maintained with fluctuating success. Notwithstanding +the numbers brought against them, the +Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Ruanui proved themselves stubborn +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">{196}</a></span> +fighters, maintaining their ground with heroic desperation.</p> + +<p>In several of the battles the slaughter was exceedingly heavy, amongst +the slain being counted many important chiefs attached to both sides; +but still the issue hung in doubt, and so it remained until the great +battle of Pakakutu had been fought. On this occasion a supreme effort +was made by Te Heuheu, and the struggle culminated in the decisive +defeat of Ngati-Awa. Their <i>pa</i> was taken, and their chief +Takerangi was slain. With his death was removed one of the principal +factors in the quarrel, and the way was paved for a settlement +honourable in its terms to all the parties. A conference of +considerable importance was immediately held at Kapiti, at which the +disquieting issues were discussed, and in the debates upon these +contentious points both Te Heuheu and Te Whatanui raised their voices +with force and eloquence in the cause of peace. As a result of these +negotiations, the differences which had so nearly wrecked Te Rauparaha's +consolidating work of fourteen years were amicably settled.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_132" id="Ref_132" href="#Foot_132">[132]</a></span> +The general result was that Ngati-Raukawa were reinstated in their +possessions at Ohau and Horowhenua and as far north as Rangitikei, +while Ngati-Awa retired southward of Waikanae, and extended their +settlements as far in that direction as Wellington, where they +replaced Pomare, and where, under Te Puni and Wharepouri, they were +found by Colonel Wakefield and his fellow-pioneers of the New Zealand +Company when they came to the spot in 1839.</p> + +<p>But, though the civil war had thus ended in a manner satisfactory to +himself and to his friends, Te Rauparaha was stung to the quick by the +knowledge that his authority had been so completely set at defiance by +Ngati-Awa. And this feeling of irritation was further intensified by +the fact that some of his own tribe had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">{197}</a></span> +shown him so little regard as to aid and abet them in +their rebellion. Their disloyal conduct so preyed upon +his mind that, as the result of much serious reflection, he +determined to absolve himself from all further responsibility +on their behalf, by abandoning the business of conquest +and returning with Te Heuheu to Maungatautari, +where he proposed to live for the remainder of his days +the quiet and restful life, to which waning years look +forward as their heritage. To this end he collected a +number of his most trusty followers, and, shaking the +dust of Kapiti from his feet, had travelled as far as Ohau +in the execution of his petulant decision, when he was +overtaken by representatives of all the tribes, who begged +him to return and once more become a father to them. +In these entreaties the suppliants were joined by Te +Heuheu, whose advocacy broke down the chief's resolution. +He at length agreed, amidst general rejoicing, +to retrace his steps, and none rejoiced more sincerely than +the repentant Ngati-Awa.</p> + +<p>Between the date of the battle of Pakakutu and the arrival of the ship +<i>Tory</i>, Te Rauparaha does not appear to have been engaged in any +conflict of great importance in the North Island, the years being +spent in visiting the various settlements which had been established +under his guiding genius. These journeys frequently led him across +Cook Strait to the Middle Island, where, at Cloudy Bay, there was now +a considerable colony of his own and the Ngati-Awa people, who were +actively cultivating the friendship of the whalers.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_133" id="Ref_133" href="#Foot_133">[133]</a></span> +These visits also more than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">{198}</a></span> +once led him into sharp conflict with his old enemies, +the Ngai-Tahu, who were ever vigilantly watching for the +favourable moment to repay their defeat at Kaiapoi. +Once they met him on the fringe of Port Underwood, at +a spot still called Fighting Bay, where they claim to have +defeated him with considerable slaughter. From this +engagement, in which his small force was neatly ambushed, +the great chief only escaped by diving into the +sea and hiding amongst the floating kelp, until he was +picked up by one of his canoes, and, availing himself of a +heavy mist which suddenly enveloped the scene of strife, +fled, leaving his allies, the Ngati-Awa, to continue the unequal +struggle. After the fight, the bones of the slain +were left to bleach on the beach, where they were +repeatedly seen by the first settlers at the port.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_134" id="Ref_134" href="#Foot_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>This success did not induce the Ngai-Tahu to pursue +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">{199}</a></span> +the retreating enemy across the Strait; but, elated in spirit, +they returned to the south for the purpose of fitting out +an expedition on a much more extensive scale, with which +they hoped to inflict a crushing blow on their hated +enemy. These operations were superintended by Taiaroa, +who in a few months had gathered together a flotilla +of canoes and boats sufficient to transport some four +hundred men. These he commanded in person, and +with them proceeded by slow stages to the neighbourhood +of Cloudy Bay. Hearing that Te Rauparaha was at +Queen Charlotte Sound, the southern warriors steered +their fleet for Tory Channel,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_135" id="Ref_135" href="#Foot_135">[135]</a></span> +but failed to encounter the +enemy until they had reached Waitohi, near the head of +the Sound. Here they met, and immediately attacked a +large party of Te Rauparaha's followers, who were under +the personal direction of their chief. The ground upon +which the battle took place was broken and wooded, and +it was difficult to bring the whole of the respective forces +advantageously into action at once; and therefore the +combat resolved itself into a series of skirmishes, rather +than a pitched and decisive battle. At the end of the first +day Te Rauparaha shifted his position, a fact which has +encouraged the Ngai-Tahu people to claim the credit +of a victory. But Ngati-Toa did not retire from the field +altogether; and for several days hostilities continued +to be carried on in a succession of duels between the +champions of the opposing tribes, in which the battle +honours were fairly evenly divided between them. In +these contests Te Rauparaha is said to have warned his +men against risking defeat by coming too confidently into +close quarters with the enemy. Numerous incidents +during the siege of Kaiapoi had served to impress him +with Ngai-Tahu's prowess in this class of warfare, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">{200}</a></span> +any recklessness on the part of his warriors might therefore +easily lose him a valuable life. Thus, when a Ngati-Toa +and a Ngai-Tahu were struggling upon the hill-side +in full view of both forces, and victory ultimately rested +with the southern warrior, Te Rauparaha exclaimed to +those about him, "<i>I kiia atu ano</i>" (I told you it would +be so). But though an occasional success of this kind +attended the southern arms, nothing of a decisive nature +was accomplished by Taiaroa on this raid. Scarcity of +provisions shortly afterwards compelled him to withdraw +to the south; and before he had time or inclination to +devise fresh reprisals, events of an external nature had +so operated upon the Maori mind as to make any +further conflict between the Ngati-Toa and Ngai-Tahu +tribes undesirable if not impossible.</p> + +<p>It is now fitting to remember that, while these events +had been proceeding along the eastern coast of the +Middle Island, the process of subduing the southern +tribes had not been neglected on its western shore. +Out of the extreme confidence which pervaded the Ngati-Toa +mind upon the return of Te Pehi from England, +a wider field of conquest was sought than appeared to +be provided by the plains of Canterbury. In obedience +to these aspirations, an important division of their forces +was sent across the Strait for the purpose of forcibly +establishing themselves in the bays of the Nelson coast. +<i>Hapus</i> of the Ngati-Toa and Ngati-Awa united in this +expedition, which was attended with unqualified success. +They immediately moved to attack the Ngati-Apa settlements +in Blind and Massacre Bays, from out of which +they drove the inhabitants with ruthless severity, and +immediately assumed possession of the soil. Those who +had fought under Te Koihua and Te Puoho, the Ngati-Awa +leaders, built <i>pas</i> and remained in permanent occupation +of the conquered country;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_136" id="Ref_136" href="#Foot_136">[136]</a></span> +but Niho, a son of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">{201}</a></span> +Te Pehi, and Takerei took their Ngati-Tama, and perhaps +a few of their Ngati-Rarua, warriors across the wild and +almost trackless mountains which intervene between +Blind Bay and the west coast. From the Buller district +they worked their way southward, killing and taking +prisoners almost the entire population as they went, +until they reached the Hokitika River, where resistance +ceased and the need for further aggression disappeared.</p> + +<p>Niho and Takerei settled at Mawhera, on the banks of the Grey River, +the centre of that romantic region, the greenstone country, which for +centuries had been the Eldorado of Maori dreams.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_137" id="Ref_137" href="#Foot_137">[137]</a></span> +At various other +points, both to the northward and southward of Mawhera, the +northerners established themselves in permanent <i>pas</i>, to the +total exclusion of the weaker tribes, who had formerly controlled the +barter of the precious nephrite. From these points of colonisation the +restless spirit of the invaders was ever carrying them further +southward and eastward in search of excitement and adventure. No +systematic occupation of the land appears to have been attempted +southward of Hokitika; but stray bands of marauders were frequently +setting off on predatory expeditions into the pathless mountain-waste +of western Otago, which then sheltered the shadowy remnant of the +Ngati-Mamoe race. Further and further these adventurers penetrated +into the deep glens, rugged passes, and dark forests, until they knew +the geographical secrets of the interior almost as intimately as did +its former conquerors.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_138" id="Ref_138" href="#Foot_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the absence of written records, many of these +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">{202}</a></span> +militant journeys have necessarily been effaced from +memory, and no tradition has been left to commemorate +those whose valiant spirit led them into the wilds +of a hostile country, from which only a lion-hearted +courage could bring them safely back. Of one such +venture, however, undertaken about the year 1836, for +the purpose of attacking Tu-Hawaiki on his island fortress +at Ruapuke, the story has been preserved; and, because +of its ambitious conception and dramatic ending, it is +worthy of being narrated here as it has been told in the +tribal traditions. The chief concerned in leading the +adventure was Te Puoho, who came originally from the +country south of the Mokau River, in Taranaki, to assist +Te Rauparaha in his policy of conquest. He was at this +time the head chief of the Ngati-Tama tribe, who were +closely allied to Ngati-Awa, and whom the fortune of war +had now settled round the great bays on the Nelson +coast. Hearing that the inhabitants away to the south +were "a soft people," Te Puoho conceived the idea of +raiding their country, and, in addition to matching himself +against Tu-Hawaiki, securing a large number of slaves,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_139" id="Ref_139" href="#Foot_139">[139]</a></span> +whom he intended to use as beasts of burden. To this +end he first completed a strong stockade, in which he +intended to herd his captives, and then he set off with a +fighting force of some seventy men, and a small number +of women, to pierce his way through the dense forest and +dangerous passes of the overland route. Arrived at the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">{203}</a></span> +Grey River, where Niho and his people were settled, he +expected to be largely reinforced from amongst his +former friends; but, to his consternation, he found that +his old comrade, Niho, was distinctly hostile, and most of +his people coldly indifferent. A number of his own +followers, finding that the purpose of the expedition +was not approved by Niho, declined to proceed further +in the enterprise and returned to Cook Strait. But +at length Te Puoho, nothing daunted, succeeded in +persuading a section of the Ngati-Wairangi to reverse +their decision not to accompany him, and then with +about a hundred followers he commenced his march +southward.</p> + +<p>His first route took him over the sinuous tracks which hugged the +coast line until they reached Jackson's Head, a distance of many +hundred miles from the point of departure. Few particulars of this +stage of the journey have been preserved: but it is known that they +returned northward as far as the Haast River,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_140" id="Ref_140" href="#Foot_140">[140]</a></span> +where they +deflected their course to the eastward, and proceeded inland by way of +the Haast Pass. At Lake Hawea they met a Ngai-Tahu eeling party, from +whom they ascertained that the chief with his two wives had gone to +Lake Wanaka. On the pretence of guiding two of Te Puoho's men thither, +the chief's son, Te Raki, succeeded in getting them deeply entangled +in the bush; and then, abandoning them to their own resources, he +slipped away to his father's camp and advised him of what had +occurred. Arming themselves, they went in search of the two men, who +were now wandering aimlessly about, and, finding them floundering in +the forest, they soon succeeded in killing them. When +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">{204}</a></span> +it dawned upon him that he had been duped, Te Puoho +exacted <i>utu</i> from amongst the other members of the eeling +party, and pushed on further into the interior. They +navigated the upper waters of the Molyneaux on <i>mokihis</i>, +and made their way down the valley of the Mataura +through the country of Wakatipu. In view of his +previous achievements in that direction, no one would +have been surprised had Te Rauparaha or his people attempted +an invasion of these far southern districts by sea; +but no one ever dreamed of a blow being struck at them +by an inland route. Consequently, when this war party +marched down the valley of the Mataura, the inhabitants +were wholly off their guard, and fell an easy prey to the +invaders. An eeling party was captured at Whakaea, and +their store of food proved exceedingly welcome to the +hungry wanderers, whose only provender up to this time +had been wild cabbage, the root of the <i>ti</i> palm, and a few +<i>wekas</i>. These wanderings had now occupied the northern +men nearly two years, during which many of them had +died of cold and hunger. But, though a "dwindled and +enfeebled band," they were still strong enough to secure +another party of Ngai-Tahu, whom they found camped in +the midst of a clump of <i>korokiu</i> trees, which then grew +upon the Waimea Plain. Te Puoho believed that he had +secured the whole of the party, but in this he was mistaken. +Some few escaped, and, hastening off to the Tuturau +<i>pa</i>, warned the people there of the approaching danger, +the fugitives making their way to the Awarua whaling +station. Te Puoho and his party immediately proceeded +to occupy the abandoned <i>pa</i>, in the hope that a prolonged +rest would recruit their exhausted powers; and, +innocent of the fact that retributive justice was at hand, +they settled down to leisurely enjoy the recuperative +process.</p> + +<p>From Awarua news of the raid was dispatched to the island of Ruapuke, +where Tu-Hawaiki and his men were. Memory of the event is still well +preserved on the island, as the last occasion on which oblation was +offered to the god of battle. In accordance with ancient Maori custom, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">{205}</a></span> +this ceremony took place in an immense cavern, which +opens to the sea beach beneath the island fortress. It +may still be seen, a dark abyss; and, although geological +periods must have elapsed since it was instinct with the +life of mighty waters, the echo-swish still sounds and +resounds, as if acting and reacting the story of its birth. +Shut up amidst these ghostly sights and sounds, the +tribal <i>tohunga</i> spent the night in severe exorcisms. Outside +in the open was heard the clash of arms, plaintive +wails and lamentations of the <i>tangi</i> for the dead. At +dawn of day the prescribed spells to weaken the enemy +were cast and the invocation to the spear was spoken. +The followers of Tu-Hawaiki then sailed for the mainland +and effected a landing at what is now known as Fortrose. +Concealing themselves during the day, they marched +under cover of night, reaching Tuturau early on the morning +of the third day. Being unapprehensive of danger, the +inmates of the <i>pa</i> were in their turn caught napping, and +the recapture was effected as smartly as had been the +original capture. As the attacking force crept cautiously +within gunshot, Te Puoho was observed sleeping on the +verandah of one of the houses. A slight noise fell upon +his quick ear and startled him. He sprang to his feet; +instantly the report of a gun rang out, and he fell a lifeless +heap upon his bed. Some thirty in all were killed. +The rest, with one exception,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_141" id="Ref_141" href="#Foot_141">[141]</a></span> +were taken prisoners, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">{206}</a></span> +confined on Ruapuke Island, whence they were afterwards +smuggled away by a pakeha-maori boatman named +McDonald, who, under an arrangement with the Ngati-Toa +tribe, landed them safely back at Kapiti.</p> + +<p>The Haast River raid, as the exploit of Te Puoho is known in Maori +history, becomes interesting not only because it was on this occasion +that the followers of Te Rauparaha reached the most southerly limit of +their aggressions upon Ngai-Tahu, but because it affords another +evidence, if such were needed, of the extremes to which the Maori was +ever ready to go in order to get even with an enemy. Primarily, the +raid was designed as a stroke of retaliation upon Tu-Hawaiki, whom +they hoped to surprise by pouncing upon him from a new and unexpected +quarter. To effect this, a long and dangerous journey had to be +braved; they had to penetrate into a region in which Nature seemed to +have determined to impose in the path of human progress her most +forbidding barriers. Not only had this band of half-clad savages to +cross what the late Sir Julius Von Haast has described as "one of the +most rugged pieces of New Zealand ground which, during my long +wanderings, I have ever passed," but they had to contend with +snowfields lying deep in the Southern Alps, the swollen torrent, the +pathless forest, and the foodless plains. Not even the roar of the +avalanche as it swept down the mountain-side, the impassible precipice +as it loomed dark across their path, nor the severity of the climate, +with its oscillations from arctic cold to tropical heat, was +sufficient to chill their ardour for revenge. So for two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">{207}</a></span> +years they wandered amidst some of the grandest and +gloomiest surroundings, at times suffering bitterly from +cold and hunger. In the stress of these privations the +weaker ones died; but the survivors were sustained by the +enthusiasm of their leader, who directed their course ever +to the southward, where they hoped some day to meet +and vanquish their hated rival. Of the fate which overtook +them, history has told; and, though future generations +may be reluctant to endorse the purpose of their +mission, they will not refuse to credit them with a certain +spirit of heroism in daring and enduring what they did +to accomplish their end.</p> + +<p>The peace which had been dramatically concluded at Kapiti by Te Heuheu +breaking the <i>taiaha</i> across his knee, and which closed what is +known as the Hao-whenua war, was sacredly observed by all the tribes +for some years; and this respite from anxiety afforded Te Rauparaha +freedom of opportunity to pursue his grudge against the Rangitane and +Muaupoko peoples. The humiliated remnant of the Muaupoko tribe had by +this time sought and obtained the protection of Te Whatanui, who had +promised them, in his now historic words, quoted many years afterwards +by Major Kemp, that so long as they remained his dutiful subjects he +would shield them from the wrath of Te Rauparaha: "I will be the +rata-tree that will shelter all of you. All that you will see will be +the stars that are shining in the sky above us; all that will descend +upon you will be the raindrops that fall from heaven." Although +slavery was the price they had to pay for the privilege of breathing +their native air, it at least secured them the right to live, though +it did not secure them absolute immunity from attack. More than once +Te Whatanui had to protest against the inhumanity of Ngati-Toa towards +those whom he had elected to save from utter destruction; and these +distressing persecutions did not cease until the Ngati-Raukawa chief +told Te Rauparaha, in unmistakable language, emphasised by +unmistakable gestures, that, before another hair of a Muaupoko head +was touched, he and his followers would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">{208}</a></span> +first have to pass over his (Te Whatanui's) dead body. +Unwilling to create a breach of friendship with so powerful +an ally as Te Whatanui, Te Rauparaha ceased openly +to assail the helpless Muaupoko, though still continuing +to harass them in secret. He plotted with Te Puoho to +trap the Rangitane, and with Wi Tako to ensnare the +Muaupoko: the scheme being to invite them to a great +feast at Waikanae, to partake of some new food<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_142" id="Ref_142" href="#Foot_142">[142]</a></span> +which the <i>pakeha</i> had brought to Kapiti. So far as the Rangitane +were concerned, the invitation was prefaced by an +exchange of civilities in the shape of presents between +Mahuri and Te Puoho; and when it was thought that +their confidence had been secured, the vanity of the +Rangitane was still further flattered by an invitation to +the feast. A considerable number of them at once set out +for Waikanae; but, when they arrived at Horowhenua, +Te Whatanui used his utmost endeavours to dissuade +Mahuri, their chief, from proceeding further. Knowing +Te Rauparaha as he did, he felt convinced that he could +not so soon forget his hatred for those who had sought +to take his life at Papaitonga: and, while he would +have had no compunction about killing in open war every +man and woman of the tribes he was protecting, his +generous soul revolted against the treachery and slaughter +which he feared lay concealed beneath the present +invitation. His counsel was therefore against going to +Waikanae; but the impetuous young Mahuri saw no +reason for alarm, and, heedless of the advice of Te +Whatanui, he led his people to their destruction.</p> + +<p>On their arrival, the hospitality of Te Puoho was of the most +bountiful nature. The visitors were shown to their houses, and no +effort was spared to allay any suspicion of treachery. But one night, +as they sat around their fires, the appointed signal was given, and +the guests were set upon by a force superior in numbers by two to one, +and, to use the words of a native<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_143" id="Ref_143" href="#Foot_143">[143]</a></span> +who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">{209}</a></span> +knew the story well, "they were killed like pigs," only +one man escaping from the massacre. This was Te +Aweawe, whose life was spared at the instigation of +Tungia, in return for a similar act of humanity which +the Rangitane chief had been able to perform for him +some time before. In justice to Te Rauparaha, it should +be stated that this massacre was not entirely prompted +by his old grudge against the Rangitane people, but +partly arose out of a new cause of grievance against +them, which serves to illustrate the complexity of Maori +morality and the smallness of the pretence upon which +they deemed a sacrifice of life both justifiable and necessary. +The offence of which the Rangitane people had +been adjudged guilty enough to deserve so terrible a +punishment was the fact that they were somewhat +distantly related to the Ngati-Kahungunu tribe, resident +in the Wairarapa. These people had some time previously +killed a number of Ngati-Toa natives, whom they +believed to be plotting their destruction; for, while they +were discussing their plans in one of the <i>whares</i>, a Ngati-Kahungunu, +who was sleeping with at least one ear open, +overheard their conversation, and at once gave the alarm, +with the result that the tables were turned on the +scheming Ngati-Toa. Their deaths, however, had to +be avenged; and it is easy to understand how gladly +Te Rauparaha would avail himself of this new excuse +for wiping out old scores.</p> + +<p>The morning after the massacre, Tungia took Te Aweawe outside the +Waikanae <i>pa</i>, and, placing a weapon in his hand, said, "Go! come +back again and kill these people." The released chief at once made his +way back as best he could to the Manawatu, where he found most of the +settlements deserted by the terror-stricken inhabitants, in +consequence of the appalling news which had just reached them of the +death of their friends. He, however, succeeded in collecting about +thirty warriors, and with these he travelled down the coast, receiving +additions by the way from a few stragglers belonging to his own and +the Muaupoko tribes. When they reached +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">{210}</a></span> +Waikanae, they found the Ngati-Toa and Ngati-Awa +peoples busily engaged in gathering flax to trade away +for guns and powder and little suspecting an attack. +They had beguiled themselves into the false belief that +the shattered Rangitane would not be able to collect +in so short a time a force sufficiently strong to harm +them. When, therefore, Te Aweawe, at the head of his +brave little band, burst in upon them, dealing death at +every blow, they, in their turn, were at all the disadvantage +of being taken completely by surprise. Upwards +of sixty of the followers of Te Rauparaha were killed, +amongst them a chieftainess named Muri-whakaroto, +who fell into the hands of the enraged Te Aweawe, +and was despatched without the slightest compunction. +Matea, the Rangitane chief second in command, was +more chivalrous to Tainai Rangi, for he spared her and +brought her back, a prisoner certainly, but still alive. +Such of the flax-gathering party as were not slain made +good their escape down the coast; and the avengers of +Mahuri, fearing that they might soon return with a large +and active war party, beat a hasty retreat, well satisfied +with the result of their mission of revenge—the last +great act of slaughter perpetrated by the resident people +as a protest against the conquest of their country.</p> + +<p>Any policy of retaliation which Te Rauparaha and the chiefs who were +co-operating with him may have contemplated, as a step towards +restoring the equilibrium of tribal honour, had to be indefinitely +delayed, owing to the rapidity with which events developed in another +direction; and that delay robbed them of future opportunity. The death +of Waitohi, Te Rauparaha's sister, and mother of Rangihaeata, had just +occurred at Mana, where she had been living with her son. The demise +of so high-born a woman necessarily demanded a <i>tangi</i> on an +unusually elaborate and extensive scale, and the whole of the tribes +who had been associated with Te Rauparaha in his scheme of conquest +assembled on the island to attend the obsequies of the honoured dead. +Levies of provisions were made upon all the tributary tribes on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">{211}</a></span> +both sides of the Straits, and for several weeks the +peculiar rites of a Maori funeral were continued without +intermission.</p> + +<p>It is said that, for no other purpose than to appear opulent in the +eyes of his guests, Te Rauparaha ordered the killing and cooking of +one of the poor slaves who had come from the Pelorus with his people's +tribute to the feast. Be this as it may—and it is by no means +improbable under the circumstances—the strange admixture of funeral +and festival, which marks the Maori <i>tangi</i>, was observed at Mana +in all its completeness and elaboration. But the death of Waitohi +brought in its train something more than a great <i>tangi</i>; for +indirectly it was the cause of the renewal of hostilities between +Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Raukawa, culminating in the engagement known in +Maori history as Kuititanga, which was fought on October 16, 1839. It +is not clear why or in what way the old sore between these comrades in +arms was re-opened, but the weight of testimony inclines towards the +assumption that Te Rauparaha's irrepressible passion for intrigue was +the moving impulse in urging Ngati-Raukawa to take the step they did. +Whether he had grown jealous of Ngati-Awa's increasing numbers and +power, or whether, having achieved all he could hope to accomplish, he +wished to shake himself free from any further obligation to them, +cannot of course be asserted with any confidence. Ngati-Raukawa were +nothing loath to join in any conspiracy against Ngati-Awa. Living, as +they did, north of Kapiti, they began to find themselves somewhat out +of touch with the whalers; and probably it was the rapid extension of +trade, enabling Ngati-Awa to procure guns as readily as Rauparaha +himself, that induced him to instigate Ngati-Raukawa to break the +truce which had existed since the battle of Pakakutu. No breach of the +peace actually occurred at Mana, but bickerings and threats foretold +the coming storm; and when Ngati-Awa returned to their <i>pas</i> on +the mainland, it was with the full consciousness that the attack would +not be long delayed. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">{212}</a></span> +The Ngati-Raukawa mourners remained at Mana for +some time after Ngati-Awa had left, and it would have +caused the latter no surprise had Ngati-Raukawa made +an attack upon them—as indeed they invited it—as they +passed Waikanae on their way to Otaki. This Ngati-Raukawa +did not do, but went on with every semblance +of peace, even ignoring the shots of defiance which were +fired by Ngati-Awa as they passed. Towards evening, +however, they altered their tactics, and, doubling back, +surrounded the Kuititanga <i>pa</i> during the night, in preparation +for the attack at daybreak. A reconnoitring +party was sent out to investigate the state of the defences, +one of whom was indiscreet enough to enter a house, +and, rousing a boy by his intrusion, attempted to cover +his blunder by asking him for a light for his pipe. The +boy sharply recognised his visitor as a Ngati-Raukawa; +and knowing that no friendly native would be prowling +about at that unseemly hour, sprang for his gun, and +fired point-blank at the intruder. The echo of the shot +rang through the clear morning air, and was the signal +for a general movement on both sides. The women and +children made a hurried flight to the neighbouring settlements, +from which Ngati-Awa reinforcements swarmed up +to the assistance of their beleaguered tribesmen; and by +daylight the full strength of both forces—variously estimated +at between eight hundred and a thousand men—was +actively engaged. The <i>pa</i>, which bore the brunt of +the first assault, stood close to the seashore on a narrow +tongue of sand, between the Waikanae and Waimea +Rivers.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_144" id="Ref_144" href="#Foot_144">[144]</a></span> +At the inception of the attack it was defended by +a slender company of thirty men, who offered so stubborn +a defence that the assailants were held in check +until assistance arrived. A strong company of Ngati-Awa +crossed the Waikanae, and, catching Ngati-Raukawa +between two fires at this point, caused them to deploy +and so open an avenue, by which the supports reached +the <i>pa</i>. Trenches were now hurriedly dug in the loose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">{213}</a></span> +soil, which, together with the protection offered by the +stockade, afforded them a friendly shelter from the fire +of the enemy. In this respect they were more fortunate +than the aggressors, who, fighting in the open, suffered a +greater number of casualties, including several of their +principal chiefs.</p> + +<p>Te Rauparaha took no part in the battle; but that he anticipated its +occurrence is proved by the fact that he landed from his canoe shortly +after it commenced. And when, at the close of an hour's desperate +fighting, Ngati-Raukawa, who had his silent sympathy, if not his +active help, began to waver under their heavy losses, he thought it +prudent to get beyond the danger zone, and, plunging into the surf, +swam towards his canoe. Ngati-Awa, who knew that he was inside the +enemy's lines, saw the movement, and made a spirited effort to +frustrate it, in the hope of capturing the man to whose subtle +intrigues they attributed all their misfortunes. An equally vigorous +rally on the part of Ngati-Raukawa intercepted their rush, and saved +the chief, though at heavy cost to themselves. With Te Rauparaha safe +amongst the whalers, who were watching the conflict from their boats, +Ngati-Raukawa began rapidly to fall back; and, after maintaining a +slackened fire, retired from the field altogether, taking their +wounded with them, but leaving to Ngati-Awa the victor's privilege of +burying the dead. Sixty of the Ngati-Raukawa had fallen, but only +sixteen of the defenders. There were, however, many wounded in both +camps. These were attended to by the medical men on board the +<i>Tory</i>, which arrived at Kapiti on the day that the battle was +fought; and, as Dr. Dieffenbach has left a graphic account of what he +saw, no better authority can be here quoted:—</p> + +<p class="block">"All the people of the village were assembled; and, though grief was + expressed in every face, they received us with the greatest kindness + and attention, and we were obliged to shake hands with everybody. + They regarded us as friends and allies, for we had brought with us + from Te-Awaiti some of their relations; and when they saw the medical + men of our party giving assistance to the wounded, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">{214}</a></span> + their confidence and gratitude were unbounded. Some of the women gave themselves up to + violent expressions of grief, cutting their faces, arms, and legs + with broken mussel-shells, and inflicting deep gashes, from which the + blood flowed profusely. We had brought with us E Patu, the son of a + chief in East Bay, whose uncle had been killed in the battle. We + found the widow standing on the roof of a hut, deploring in a low + strain the loss of her husband. When E Patu approached she threw + herself upon the ground, and, lying at his feet, related to him, in a + funeral song, how great had been their happiness, how flourishing + were their plantations, until the Ngati-Raukawa had destroyed their + peace and bereft her of her husband. During this time E Patu stood + before her, convulsively throwing his arms backwards and forwards, + and joining in her lamentations. An old woman, bent down under the + burden of many years, had her arms and face frightfully cut; she was + painted with red <i>kokowai</i>, with a wreath of leaves round her + head, and gesticulated and sang in a similar manner. In this place + there were no wounded; they had been carried to the principal and + most fortified <i>pa</i>, which lies a little to the northward. This + latter village was very large; it stood on a sand-hill, and was well + fenced in, and the houses were neatly constructed. Everything was + kept clean and in good order, and in this respect it surpassed many + villages in Europe. The population seemed to be numerous, and I + estimated it, together with that of the first-mentioned village, and + a third, about a mile higher up, to amount, on the whole, to seven + hundred souls. Several native missionaries, some of them liberated + Ngati-Awa slaves, live here; and the natives had built a large house, + neatly lined with a firm and tall reed, for their church and + meeting-house. At the time of our visit they were expecting the + arrival of a missionary of the Church of England from the Bay of + Islands, who purposed living amongst them. The medical aid which they + had given to their wounded was confined to binding the broken limbs + with splints made of the bark of a pine, or of the strongest part of + the flax-leaves, and carefully protecting the wounds from external + injury by means of hoops. Some of these bandages had been very well + applied. I went to the beach on the following day to attend my + wounded patients and to visit the scene of battle. This was at the + third village, and many traces of the strife were visible: trenches + were dug in the sand of the beach, the fences of the village had been + thrown down, and the houses were devastated. The Ngati-Awa buried + their own dead; and the improved state of this tribe was shown by the + fact that, instead of feasting on the dead bodies of their enemies, + they buried them, depositing them in one common grave, together with + their muskets, powder, mats, &c., a generosity and good feeling as + unusual as it was honourable to their character. The grave of their + enemies they enclosed, and made it <i>tapu</i> (sacred)."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">{215}</a></span> +While this internecine strife raged up and down the coast, its +disturbing influence had almost completely suspended the systematic +settlement of the land by Europeans. There were many in Australia who, +but for the peril of life and uncertainty of title, would long before +this have swarmed over to New Zealand and occupied its shores. Only +the most wanton and the more adventurous had come, and of these latter +a few had been invited by the chiefs to remain, land being given to +them on which to reside and establish themselves as traders. In +isolated instances attempts had been made, chiefly by some subterfuge, +to acquire from the natives large tracts of country for a nominal +consideration; but these examples of dishonesty almost invariably +brought their own punishment. One of the most unscrupulous of such +perfidious transactions was that of Captain Blenkinsopp. He had sailed +these seas in command of the whaler <i>Caroline</i>, and had made more +than one trip to Cloudy Bay. There he became infatuated with a Maori +woman of the Ngati-Toa tribe. His alliance with her gave him influence +with Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, who, about the year 1834, entered +into a bargain with him, the spirit of which was that for the right to +procure wood and water for his ship while at Cloudy Bay, the captain +was to present the tribe with a ship's cannon,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_145" id="Ref_145" href="#Foot_145">[145]</a></span> +which he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">{216}</a></span> +then with him at Kapiti. The conditions of this bargain were reduced to +writing by Blenkinsopp, but not the bargain Te Rauparaha had counted +upon. For wood and water, Ocean Bay and the magnificent Wairau Plain +were substituted in the deed; and Rauparaha, with that reckless +disregard for the value of his signature which he exhibited at all +times when fire-arms were concerned, had signed it with the lines of +his <i>moko</i>.</p> + +<p>The Wairau Plain is the floor of the valley through which the Wairau +River runs. Terminating on the shores of Cloudy Bay, it recedes in +ever-increasing elevation and diminishing breadth back for many miles, +until it vanishes in the gorge at the foot of the Spencer Range. +Covering an area of 65,000 acres, it comprises some of the richest +agricultural and pastoral land in the Middle Island, and was at this +time treasured by Rauparaha as one of his principal food-producing +centres. Eager as he was to procure weapons with which to slaughter +his enemies, he was equally sensible of the value of this valley; and +it is scarcely reasonable to suppose that he would have parted with so +rich an estate for a single piece of rusty artillery, subject to the +additional disadvantage of the difficulty involved in its transport. +Knowing that he was, for such purposes, ignorant of the English +language, Blenkinsopp, with a touch of irony, presented Te Rauparaha +with a copy of the deed, and told him to show it to any captain of a +man-o'-war who might visit Kapiti. Te Rauparaha did not wait for a +naval officer, but gave the document to a whaler protege of his, named +Hawes, then living at his island fortress. Hawes explained to +Rauparaha that by the deed he had parted with all his land at the +Wairau: whereupon the chief, in a fit of anger, tore up the paper, +threw the fragments into the fire, and declared that, so far as he was +concerned, the contract was at an end. Not so with Blenkinsopp. He +sailed to Sydney, and there proceeded to raise a substantial sum of +money upon the security of his deed from a solicitor named Unwin, then +practising in that city. For reasons which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">{217}</a></span> +need not be discussed here, +Mr. Unwin eventually claimed the valley as his own; and his attempt to +occupy the district, its disastrous failure, culminating in the +massacre at the Wairau Bar, in 1840, of his manager and all his men, +are now matters of history, affording another instance of how the just +sometimes suffer for the unjust. Nor were the deception of Mr. Unwin +and the death of Mr. Wilton and his fellow employees the full measure +of the toll exacted as the result of Blenkinsopp's perfidy. When +Colonel Wakefield met at Hokianga the native woman who had formerly +been Captain Blenkinsopp's wife, and was now his widow, she showed him +a document which purported to be the original deed to which her late +husband had secured Te Rauparaha's signature. As a matter of fact, the +document was no more than a copy which had been left amongst the +captain's papers, but, believing it to be genuine, Wakefield purchased +it for £300;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_146" id="Ref_146" href="#Foot_146">[146]</a></span> +and it was largely on this spurious foundation that +his brother, Captain Wakefield, subsequently, and with such fatal +results, sought to build up the New Zealand Company's claim to the +Wairau. This transaction, in which Captain Blenkinsopp was so +scandalously concerned, was but typical of many another, by which the +credulity of the natives was cunningly exploited. Their influence had, +however, been so far comparatively harmless, and the measure of injury +they had inflicted had told more heavily upon the unscrupulous +speculators than upon the natives.</p> + +<p>But now Te Rauparaha, and those tribes with whom he was associated, +were about to be brought into contact, and to some extent into +conflict, with a more persistent earth-hunger, and more powerful +land-buyers, than any which had yet operated upon the coasts of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">{218}</a></span> +New Zealand. The spirit of colonisation was abroad in England, and the +restless genius of Edward Gibbon Wakefield<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_147" id="Ref_147" href="#Foot_147">[147]</a></span> +was busy coining +schemes whereby the spirit of the hour might be embodied in action. +Canada and South Australia had each attracted his attention; and now +his eyes were turned to New Zealand as a field suitable for the +planting of his quasi-philanthropic projects. His writings upon the +subject of colonisation had drawn within the circle of his influence a +galaxy of men, whose liberal education, lofty ideals, and generous +impulses had earned for them the title of "philosophic radicals," and +with these men, who stood for the most advanced development of English +political aspiration, as its sponsors, the New Zealand Company was +founded in 1839. With the story of this Company's early political +troubles we are not concerned, for they bear only slightly on +subsequent events in New Zealand. But the central fact with which we +are concerned is that the Company was established for the purpose of +acquiring land from the natives and transporting emigrants from +England to settle thereon. To this end, the expeditionary ship +<i>Tory</i> was hurriedly despatched from the Thames, and arrived +safely in New Zealand waters, bringing with her Colonel Wakefield, +brother of the founder of the Company, with a staff of officers +charged with the duty of conducting the negotiations for the purchase +of land and arranging other preliminaries—which appeared to be +regarded in the light of mere formalities—incidental to the +introduction of a great colonising scheme. In furtherance of her +mission, the <i>Tory</i> paid a brief visit to Queen Charlotte Sound +and Port Nicholson, and reached Kapiti on October 16, 1839, the day on +which Ngati-Raukawa had been routed by Ngati-Awa at the fight of +Kuititanga.</p> + +<p>The first tidings of this engagement was brought to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">{219}</a></span> +the officers of the <i>Tory</i> by a canoe-crew of natives who had just left the scene +of strife; and although the sea was high, a boat's company had been +organised, and was on the point of starting for the battlefield, when +a message came from Te Rauparaha, who had returned to Evans' Island, +that he wished them to pay him the honour of a visit. Accordingly, the +course of the boat was deflected to the island, and there the chiefs +of the two races met for the first time. Te Rauparaha was sitting upon +the ground beside his wife, a woman who has been described as being of +the "Meg Merrilies" type. He was deeply smeared with red ochre, and +evidently in an uneasy frame of mind. His manner was restless, his +glance furtive, and he was obviously depressed at the result of the +battle. As Colonel Wakefield and his party approached, Te Rauparaha +rose and hastened to exchange with them the missionary greeting, +shaking them by the hand. With equal alacrity he sought to convince +them that he had been in no way concerned in promoting the fight. In +these protestations it cannot be said that he was in the least +successful, for the Englishmen had already been prejudiced against him +by the tales of his duplicity told them by both whalers and Ngati-Awas +at Cloudy Bay; whilst his wandering, distrustful glances, as he spoke, +were not calculated to inspire confidence. Though, on the whole, his +conduct was unsatisfactory, the interview was occasionally illumined +by flashes of his imperious nature, the inborn power to lead and +command momentarily asserting itself, only to be again clouded by a +mean cringing, which seemed to bespeak a craven spirit.</p> + +<p>Being assured that there were no hostile natives harbouring on board +the <i>Tory</i>, Te Rauparaha left Evans' Island for Kapiti, promising +to visit the ship on the following morning. Next day he was received +by Colonel Wakefield with a salute of guns, which filled him with +alarm, until it had been made clear that the demonstration was +intended as a great compliment to him and those chiefs who were with +him. The preliminaries of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">{220}</a></span> +the reception being over, the question of +the land purchase was introduced to the chiefs; but Colonel Wakefield +discovered them to be distinctly hostile to his proposals, an +opposition which he attributed to the influence of Mr. Wynen, the +agent for a Sydney land syndicate, whose headquarters were then at +Cloudy Bay. The energies of this gentleman had been insidiously +applied to prejudice the native mind against the Company's scheme of +colonisation; and it was only with the greatest difficulty that the +Colonel was ultimately able to dissipate these prejudices, and to +obtain their consent "to look over their land, and if he found it +good, to take it." A gale which raged through the Strait prevented all +communication with the shore and suspended the negotiations until the +21st, when Colonel Wakefield made a definite proposal to purchase all +the Ngati-Toa possessions, together with their rights and claims on +both sides of the Strait. After he had exhibited to their wondering +eyes a great portion of the goods—the finery and the trumpery—which +he intended to dignify by the term "payment," his proposals were +doubtingly accepted, Te Hiko pressing for more soap and clothing, and +Te Rauparaha clamouring for more arms. Te Rauparaha dictated to Mr. +Jerningham Wakefield the names of the localities involved in the sale; +and the binding nature of the bargain was impressed upon the natives +as clearly as the linguistic limitations of Dicky Barrett, the +interpreter, would permit.</p> + +<p>These preliminaries settled, the following day was appointed for the +distribution of the goods; but the ceremony was intercepted by the +indisposition of Te Hiko, whom Colonel Wakefield regarded as an +indispensable party to the transaction, and he refused to proceed +without him. This refusal greatly aggravated Te Rauparaha, whose hands +were itching to grasp the guns, which had been thrown like leaven +amongst the heap of worthless stuff; and he railed bitterly against +the deference paid to one whom he designated "a boy," +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">{221}</a></span> +destitute alike of any interest in, or knowledge of, land. "Give us the goods," said +he, "with more powder and arms. Of what use are blankets, soap, tools, +and iron pots, when we are going to war? What does it matter whether +we die cold or warm, clean or dirty, hungry or full? Give us +two-barrelled guns, plenty of muskets, lead, powder, cartridges and +cartouche boxes." This militant appeal was coldly ignored by Colonel +Wakefield, who steadfastly declined to consider the question of +distribution until Hiko's return, which did not occur until two days +later. On the 23rd, however, the chiefs again assembled, and the +merchandise, which the Company offered as payment for the land, was +ostentatiously displayed on the deck of the <i>Tory</i>. The +consummation of the transaction was, however, still to be delayed. +While Te Hiko was busy trying on one of the coats which he had +selected from the pile of clothing, Te Rauparaha, Tungia, and several +of the warlike chiefs made an unseemly rush to secure some of the +fowling-pieces, which were lying on the companion hatch ready for +distribution. This exhibition of selfishness so exasperated Te Hiko +that he at once threw down the garment, and, calling to Rangihiroa to +accompany him, went down over the ship's side and made for the shore +in a fit of ill-humour, out of which he could not be cajoled until +next day.</p> + +<p>Colonel Wakefield immediately suspended the proceedings, whereupon Te +Rauparaha again became deeply offended at the consideration shown for +one whom he regarded as so much his inferior; but, in spite of +importunities and threats which sorely tried his patience, the Colonel +refused to recede from his former attitude, and declined to take one +step towards the sale in Hiko's absence. As Wakefield was adamant +against all their menaces and blandishments, nothing remained but to +return on shore for the purpose of placating Te Hiko, which they +shortly succeeded in doing. Next day, unsolicited by Colonel +Wakefield, both Te Hiko and Te Rauparaha came off to the ship, and, +after entertaining +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">{222}</a></span> +themselves for some time with the novelties of the +<i>pakeha</i>, they asked that the deed of sale might be read over to +them, the map being at the same time consulted. After questions had +been asked and answered, and all doubts on either side apparently +cleared away, the fateful document was signed, Te Rauparaha making a +mark peculiarly his own, and Te Hiko subscribing the sign of the +cross. Each then left the vessel, possessed of a gun, promising that +the rest of the chiefs would come on board and sign on the next day. +This ceremony was duly performed, but only eleven signatures were +obtained, Te Rauparaha and two minor chiefs signing as proxy for the +natives on the opposite side of the Strait. A share of the gifts was +reserved for Te Rangihaeata, who was at Mana, and had taken no part in +the negotiations. On Thursday, 24th October, Colonel Wakefield was +able to report to his Directors in London that he had acquired by his +purchases at Port Nicholson and Kapiti, at a cost of a few guns, some +powder, lead, and miscellaneous goods, "possessions for the Company +extending from the 38th to the 43rd degree of latitude on the western +coast, and from the 41st to the 43rd on the eastern." But Colonel +Wakefield still had some reservations as to the completeness and +validity of his purchases; for he added to his report this qualifying +sentence: "To complete the rights of the Company to all the land +unsold to foreigners in the above extensive district, it remains for +me to secure the cession of their rights in it from the Ngati-Awa, +and, in a proportionately small degree, from the Ngati-Raukawa and +Whanganui peoples."</p> + +<p>Three days later he had an interview with the Ngati-Awa people at +Waikanae, and they, being excited by the spirit of war and fearful of +another attack by Ngati-Raukawa, were easily tempted by the sight of +guns and the prospect of powder. Several of the elder chiefs addressed +the assemblage, and urged their followers to acquiesce in the +Colonel's proposals, conditionally upon their receiving arms and +ammunition. To this stipulation Wakefield felt no reluctance in +agreeing, and, for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">{223}</a></span> +purpose of giving it effect, a conference was +arranged to take place on board the <i>Tory</i>. On the appointed day +(8th November) the natives were astir bright and early; soon after +daylight they "began to come on board, and by 12 o'clock more than two +hundred had assembled on the deck, including all the principal chiefs +of the Sounds." To these unsophisticated dealers in real estate was +produced the deed, phrased in stilted terms, which purported to convey +to the Colonel, as agent for the Company, and in trust for the +Company, a vast area of country, over much of which the signatories +had absolutely no authority whatever.</p> + +<p class="block">"Know all men that we the undersigned chiefs of the Ngati-Awa tribes, +residing in Queen Charlotte's Sound, on both sides of Cook Strait, in +New Zealand, have this day sold and parted with, in consideration of +having received, as full and just payment for the same, ten +single-barrelled guns, three double-barrelled guns, sixty muskets, +forty kegs of powder, two kegs of lead slabs, two dozen pairs of +scissors, two dozen combs, two pounds of beads, one thousand flints, +the land bounded on the south by the parallel of the 43rd degree of +South latitude, and on the west, north and east by the sea (with all +islands), and also comprising all those lands, islands, tenements, +&c., situate on the northern shore of Cook Straits, which are bounded +on the north-east by a direct line drawn from the southern head of the +river or harbour of Mokau, situate on the west coast in latitude of +about 38 degrees South, to Tikukahore, situate on the east coast in +the latitude of about 41 degrees South, and on the east, south and +west by the sea, excepting always the island of Kapiti, and the small +islands adjacent thereto, and the island of Mana, but including +Tehukahore, Wairarapa, Port Nicholson, Otaki, Manawatu, Rangitikei, +Whanganui, Waitotara, Patea, Ngati-Ruanui, Taranaki, Moturoa, and the +several sugar-loaf islands and the river or harbour of Mokau."</p> + +<p>The goods which were specified in the deed as the price of the land +were carefully arranged on deck; but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">{224}</a></span> +during the process of distribution +a violent altercation took place, which was only quelled by a threat +from the Colonel to send the wares below and proceed to sea, if peace +was not immediately restored. Advantage was taken of the "momentary +calm" thus secured to obtain the coveted signatures, and consenting +chiefs to the number of about thirty appended their marks to the +document. Scarcely had the distribution of the beads and bullets +recommenced than another mêlée, even more violent, took place. "In a +moment," says the Colonel in his report to the Company, "the most +tumultuous scene we had ever witnessed took place, in which many blows +were exchanged: never did a ship witness such a scene of violence +without bloodshed." A similar, "if not more unfriendly," riot occurred +on shore amongst those natives who had first conveyed their goods to +land before they commenced their peculiar method of division; but it +mattered nothing to the Company's representative how the natives +abused their goods or each other so long as they had put their marks +to his deed. Equally was it a matter of indifference to the Maoris how +many deeds they signed, so long as they became possessed of arms and +ammunition. It was sufficient for the one that he had outwitted his +rivals, and appeared to be doing well for his employers, and for the +other that they had satisfied the most pressing need of the moment. +Neither looked beyond the immediate present, or took a single thought +for the long years of mistrust and misunderstanding that were to +follow upon their hasty and ill-considered transactions. Confident +that he had made "a full and just payment" for the land described in +the deed, Colonel Wakefield on 9th November went on shore and took +possession of the estate, in the name of the Company; and, in order to +distinguish their possessions, "which so greatly predominate in this +extensive territory," from those of other buyers, he designated them +North and South Durham, according to the respective islands in which +they were situated. Having completed his purchases at Kapiti to his +own satisfaction, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">{225}</a></span> +Colonel Wakefield, on 18th November, sailed northward, +intending to call in at Whanganui for the purpose of perfecting his +purchases there, as he regarded that district as one of some +importance. But before he left he had received a glimmering that his +proceedings had not been perfectly understood, and the first shadow of +doubt must have crossed his mind when Te Rauparaha calmly informed him +that he (Te Rauparaha) wanted more guns, and, in order to get them, +intended to make further sales, embracing territory which the Colonel +believed he had already bought. Language of the most reproachful +character was used towards the chief, and his speedy repudiation of a +solemn bargain was characterised in unmeasured terms; but Te Rauparaha +steadfastly maintained that, so far as he was concerned, the sale in +the Middle Island had not included more than D'Urville Island and +Blind Bay at Nelson. Subsequent investigations proved that Te +Rauparaha was right and the Colonel was wrong; but it is doubtful +whether, when he left for Whanganui, the latter had realised the full +extent of his error, and therefore he parted from the chief with +bitterness in his heart and an angry word upon his lips.</p> + +<p>While these events were in progress in New Zealand, the operations of +the Company and its contemporary land-speculators had not passed +unnoticed in England. The British authorities were beginning to regard +those islands with an anxious eye, but they displayed a painful +indecision in adopting measures to meet the political emergency which +they were commencing to realise was inevitable. As a tentative step, +Mr. Busby was sent from New South Wales in the capacity of British +Resident; but his usefulness was shorn down to the point of nullity by +the purely nominal nature of the powers with which he was endowed. +Negative as the results of this experiment had been, it nevertheless +encouraged the British authorities to take a still bolder step in the +appointment of Captain Hobson, R.N., as the accredited British Consul, +who was authorised to negotiate with the chiefs, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">{226}</a></span> +and, if possible, to acquire the country by cession, preparatory to annexing it as a +dependency of New South Wales. Even Hobson's position was extremely +anomalous until the now famous Treaty of Waitangi had been formulated +and successfully promulgated amongst the tribes. The ratification of +this document by the chiefs was a severe blow to the New Zealand +Company, while it is doubtful whether the Maoris had more than a +nebulous idea of its real meaning. It, however, gave the British +Government the colour of right to institute the principles of +established authority in those islands, where it had become their +imperative duty to control the colonisation which their indifference +had not been able to thwart. With the policy of the Treaty of Waitangi +we are not now concerned, beyond recording the fact that, in order to +give effect to that policy, it became necessary to procure the +signatures of all the principal chiefs, as acknowledging their assent +to the solemn obligations involved in the covenant. To this end +Archdeacon Williams came southward, and in due course reached Kapiti, +where, on May 14, 1840, he succeeded, but by what means we are not +told, in inducing Te Rauparaha to sign the treaty. Similarly, Major +Bunbury, an officer of the 80th Regiment, had been despatched by +Captain Hobson in H.M.S. <i>Herald</i>, charged with the mission of +securing the assent of the chiefs in the Middle Island to the +proposals of the Government. After having visited all the southern +<i>pas</i> of importance, and proclaimed the sovereignty of the Queen +both at Stewart Island and Cloudy Bay, he arrived at Kapiti on June +19th, and to him we are indebted for the following account of what +there occurred:—</p> + +<p class="block">"When we arrived off the island of Kapiti several canoes were leaving + the island, and on my preparing to go ashore, fortunately the first + canoe we met had on board the chief Rauparaha, whom I was anxious to + see. He returned on board with me in the ship's boat, his own canoe, + one of the most splendid I have yet seen, following. He told me the + Rev. Mr. Williams had been there, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">{227}</a></span> + and had obtained his signature to + the treaty, and on inquiring for the chiefs Rangihaeata and Te Hiko, + I was informed that we should meet them both, probably at the island + of Mana, and, as this lay on our route to Port Nicholson, thither we + proceeded, the chief Rauparaha remaining on board the <i>Herald</i>, + his canoes following. On our arrival, the <i>Herald</i> having + anchored, I went on shore, accompanied by Mr. Williams and Rauparaha. + We learnt that Hiko, son of the late chief Te Pehi, had gone out on a + distant expedition. The other chief, Rangihaeata, after some time + returned with us on board, accompanied by Rauparaha, when both signed + the treaty."</p> + +<p>What arguments or other inducements were held out to the chiefs to +lead them to append their marks to the document is not clear. +Rauparaha subsequently boasted that he had received a blanket for his +signature, but whether this gift, or bribe, was tendered by the +missionary or the Major is equally a matter of doubt. It would, +however, be safe to assume that the blanket was a more potent factor +in securing the allegiance of the chief to the policy of the treaty +than any arguments that could have been pressed upon him. It is +certainly asking much of the intelligence of Te Rauparaha to assert +that he was seized with the full significance of the step he had +taken, seeing that the terms and intentions of the treaty were +afterwards so diversely interpreted by cultured Englishmen.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_148" id="Ref_148" href="#Foot_148">[148]</a></span> +Major Bunbury, when being +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">{228}</a></span> +sent out on his southern mission, was instructed +by Captain Hobson to assemble the chiefs, to explain the provisions of +the treaty to them, and further, to give them "a solemn pledge that +the most perfect good faith would be kept by Her Majesty's Government, +that their property, their rights and privileges should be most fully +preserved." In direct conflict with this official view, which was an +accurate reflex of the instructions given to Captain Hobson himself by +the Marquis of Normanby, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, +Lord Howick persuaded a Committee of the House of Commons to condemn +the treaty as "a part of a series of injudicious proceedings," and +with a light-hearted ignorance of Maori reverence for landed rights,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_149" id="Ref_149" href="#Foot_149">[149]</a></span> +to assert that the acknowledgment of Maori property in +wild lands subsequent to the Queen's assumption of sovereignty was +"not essential to the construction of the treaty, and was an error +which had been productive of serious consequences."</p> + +<p>Whether or not Te Rauparaha and his fellow-signatories were able to +analyse the language of the treaty with the precision of an English +statesman, they had certainly never placed upon it such a loose +interpretation as this. And when tidings of the Committee's deliberations +reached the colony, the alleged "serious consequences" which had +followed upon the observance and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">{229}</a></span> +administration of the treaty as laid +down by Captain Hobson were safety itself compared with the +catastrophe which might have followed from this rash attempt to +repudiate, in the interests of the New Zealand Company, the essential +principle of the treaty—that the "full, exclusive, and undisturbed +possession of their lands and estates, forests, fisheries, and other +possessions" was guaranteed to the natives by the Queen. Fortunately, +at this time there was at the head of Britain's Colonial Department a +Minister who held national honour to be dearer than personal gain. +Lord Stanley, to his credit, refused to comply with the recommendations +of the Committee to confiscate the native land "without reference to +the validity or otherwise of its supposed purchase from the natives," +and at the end of the famous three days' debate induced the House of +Commons to adopt his view of the nation's obligations to the Maoris.</p> + +<p>The Crown having now assumed sovereignty over New Zealand, it became +necessary to administer its affairs impartially in the interests of +both Maori and <i>pakeha</i> population; and, in this connection, one +of its first and most pressing duties was to make an honest effort to +unravel the complex web of land claims, in which both races had become +unhappily entangled. The Government of Lord John Russell accordingly +appointed as a commissioner to adjudicate upon claims of all classes +of buyers Mr. Spain, an English lawyer, who, it is said, had been a +prominent electioneering agent on the side of the Liberals. Mr. Spain +arrived in New Zealand on December 8, 1841, and immediately took steps +to establish his court. He has been described as a man of solid +intelligence, but burdened with a good deal of legal pedantry; slow in +thinking and in his apprehension of ways of dealing with new +emergencies; steady and plodding in his methods, thoroughly honest in +his intentions, and utterly inflexible to threats, though, perhaps, +not unsusceptible to flattery. Considering the magnitude of their +alleged purchases, the claims of the New Zealand Company naturally +took precedence over +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">{230}</a></span> +all others in the business of the court; and, +having regard to the temperament of the Commissioner, an inauspicious +start was made by the representatives of the Company metaphorically +shaking their fists in his face. In some degree their annoyance may +have been pardonable, for they, believing themselves to be the +pioneers of a great colonising scheme, had flattered themselves that +not only the merit of their cause, but the fact that they had made +their purchases prior to the proclamation of the Queen's sovereignty, +would have placed them outside the exacting conditions of the Treaty +of Waitangi.</p> + +<p>The coming of Mr. Spain, and his insistence upon an exhaustive +examination of their titles, was a heavy blow to them, which they at +first thought to ward off by affecting an attitude of amused +indifference. They laughed at the treaty, with its engagement to +respect Maori rights in land, and its elevation of the Maori to a +civil status equal to themselves. But amidst this simulated merriment +they exhibited an ill-concealed chagrin that the little self-governing +community, which they had hoped to set up on the shores of Cook +Strait, had been so unceremoniously superseded by the sovereignty of +the Queen, and they resented with fear and anxiety the appointment of +a commissioner, who might deem it his duty to ask awkward questions +regarding their titles. Their policy was, therefore, one of delay and +evasion, which was inaugurated by their raising technical objections +to the constitution of the court, its jurisdiction, and its forms of +procedure, but, most of all, to Mr. Spain's determination to call +native evidence. That was surely an unnecessary elevation of the +savage, and a corresponding degradation of the white man. In fact, +they openly asserted that to put the testimony of the one against the +other was a gratuitous insult to the dignity of the British subject. +But this was not the full measure of Spain's offending in the eyes of +the Company's champions. He was audacious enough to ask Colonel +Wakefield to submit proof that those natives who had signed the +Company's deed had the right to sell the land +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">{231}</a></span> +which they thus +purported to convey to the Company; and some of them made themselves +conspicuously offensive in the manner in which they ridiculed this +demand as preposterous and ridiculous.</p> + +<p>The proceedings of the court at Wellington<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_150" id="Ref_150" href="#Foot_150">[150]</a></span> +do not materially +concern our purpose, for Te Rauparaha took no part in the sale of Port +Nicholson, nor need we burden the narrative with the interminable +finesse which took place before the court was able seriously to attack +the work which lay before it in other districts. When this condition +was at length reached, Spain soon saw that he was faced with a most +serious problem. That the Company's purchases were in most instances +bad he had little hesitation in declaring. But there was no blinking +the fact that hundreds of settlers had risked their all on the +assurances of the Company that they could give them a title, and it +would have been cruel indeed to visit the sins of the Company upon the +unfortunate colonists. Spain, therefore, halted between justice to the +Maoris and equity to the settlers, satisfying the requirements of his +office by issuing interim reports, hoping that in the meantime some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">{232}</a></span> +workable compromise might be evolved. This was ultimately found in an +arrangement whereby Mr. Clarke and Colonel Wakefield were to agree +upon what additional compensation was to be paid for the land +purchased, and, failing their arriving at an understanding, Mr. Spain +was to be the final arbitrator. At the outset of these negotiations, +Mr. Clarke stipulated that the natives were not to be evicted from +their <i>pas</i> or their cultivations, nor were their burial-places +to be disturbed; but to these reasonable reservations Colonel +Wakefield could not at first be induced to frankly agree, while his +unwillingness, or his inability, to comply with the ultimate awards +tended to accentuate rather than to soothe public irritation.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Rangihaeata had been busy entering his practical protest +against what he believed to be a violation of his rights at Porirua. +He, in conjunction with Te Rauparaha and Te Hiko,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_151" id="Ref_151" href="#Foot_151">[151]</a></span> +stoutly contended that Porirua, like the Wairau, had never been sold; and +when, in the early part of 1841, the Company's surveyors went there to +survey, Rangihaeata blocked up the forest track, levelled the +surveyors' tents to the ground, and, at the end of each day, undid all +the work which they had performed. This interference with the survey +was obviated by an assurance being given to the chief, that, even if +the land were surveyed, the Company's title must still be investigated +by Mr. Spain before the settlers would be permitted to enter upon it. +But, in defiance of this assurance, Colonel Wakefield, in April, 1842, +issued leases to four settlers—Joseph Hurley, Thomas Parry, Benjamin +Lowndes and Josiah Torr—who at once proceeded to erect houses and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">{233}</a></span> +occupy their holdings. Two of the houses were nearly finished when the +intelligence was brought to the chief. Rangihaeata immediately gave +the settlers notice of his intention to pull their houses down; and +this threat, so chivalrously declared, was duly executed next day, +without any unnecessary violence, by the chief and a band of fifty +men. The indignation which followed this assertion of native authority +found expression in a public meeting at Wellington, at which the +arrest of Rangihaeata was violently demanded, and those present +declared their readiness to assist the Sheriff in effecting his +capture. With the mandate of this meeting Mr. Murphy, the magistrate, +refused to comply,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_152" id="Ref_152" href="#Foot_152">[152]</a></span> +and when, in the following June, the huts were +again demolished, he wrote to the Governor declaring his determination +not to interfere "to prevent any natives keeping land which they state +they have not sold, until Mr. Spain decides upon the claims." This +determination to regard the Porirua land claims as <i>sub judice</i> +met with the entire concurrence of Captain Hobson, but was as bitterly +assailed by Colonel Wakefield, who committed the indiscretion, almost +criminal under the circumstances, of declaring, when speaking at +Wellington, that he had not treated with the natives for a settlement +of their claims, but preferred to employ the inconvenience created by +these claims as grounds of complaint against the Government, and as +arguments in aid of his efforts to secure the removal of the Governor. +With such a feeling of declared insincerity pervading Colonel +Wakefield's conduct, it is small wonder that the differences between +the natives and the Company were slow of settlement, or that the +efforts of Spain and Clarke to that end were unduly protracted. +Equally true is it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">{234}</a></span> +that thereby the cares and worries of the Governor +were unnecessarily aggravated, while both brown and white populations +were exasperated almost to the point of desperation by the vexatious +delays. The irritated state of the public temper thus engendered not +only made acts of violence possible, but even encouraged them, and +these only added fuel to the threatened conflagration. A native woman +was found by her friends murdered at Wellington, and suspicion fell +upon a European. Only a few months later a settler was discovered +lying upon the Petone road with his skull fractured, and questioning +eyes were at once turned in the direction of the Maoris. The +burial-grounds of the natives were being repeatedly desecrated by +<i>pakeha</i> looters in search of greenstone ornaments, and in the +prosecution of this shameful traffic, deep offence was given by the +secret exhumation of the body of Te Rauparaha's brother, Nohorua, at +Cloudy Bay. For this act of violence to the honoured dead the natives +would at one time have taken swift vengeance; but, acting under the +restraining counsel of Mr. Clarke, they consented to refer their +complaint to the Government for settlement, a forbearance which the +Protector, in his letter to Captain Hobson, assured the Governor +greatly surprised him.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_153" id="Ref_153" href="#Foot_153">[153]</a></span> +The weight of these and other accumulating +troubles began to tell heavily upon the frail physique of Captain +Hobson, and borne down by the stress of his increasing responsibilities, +he died at Auckland in September, 1842. Before his successor, Captain +Fitzroy, arrived in the Colony, the tragedy for which the country was +being rapidly prepared had been enacted, and the faithlessness of the +New Zealand Company had been written in letters of blood on the floor +of the Wairau Valley.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_127" id="Foot_127" href="#Ref_127">[127]</a> +"Amongst these, there was a great chief named Tu-Hawaiki in +Maori, 'Bloody Jack' by the Englishmen, because in his English, which +he learned mostly from the rough whalers and traders, he often used +the low word 'bloody'" (<i>Memoirs of the Rev. J.F.H. Wohlers</i>). Tu +Hawaiki was both the patron and the pupil of the whalers, and was +referred to by them as an evidence of what they had done in civilising +the aborigines. "He was undoubtedly the most intelligent native in the +country in 1840, and his reputation for honesty was such that +Europeans trusted him with large quantities of goods" +(<i>Thomson</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_128" id="Foot_128" href="#Ref_128">[128]</a> +"Just like the Governor."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_129" id="Foot_129" href="#Ref_129">[129]</a> +Travers doubts the occurrence of this incident, holding that had +Te Rauparaha been guilty of such conduct towards his own people, he +could never have retained the respect of his fellow-chiefs. Wakefield, +on the other hand, insists upon it, and it is also referred to in a +Ngati-Toa account of Te Rauparaha's life found in White's <i>Ancient +History of the Maori</i>.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_130" id="Foot_130" href="#Ref_130">[130]</a> +A modified version of this incident states that all the crew +were drowned except an old woman, who escaped by clinging to the +overturned canoe. Tu-Hawaiki and his friends waited about the shore +for some days until the bodies were cast up, and then the old woman +was killed, her death being part of the religious rites performed at +the funeral ceremonies. But there are discrepancies in the tradition, +upon which it is now impossible to arbitrate.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_131" id="Foot_131" href="#Ref_131">[131]</a> +This war is known in Maori history as the Hao-whenua war.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_132" id="Foot_132" href="#Ref_132">[132]</a> +Te Heuheu's peace was made at Kapiti. He took a <i>taiaha</i> +and broke it across his knee. Some people then gave him a long-handled +tomahawk, and Hoani Tuhata gave a sword, and peace was made (<i>Native +Land Court Record</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_133" id="Foot_133" href="#Ref_133">[133]</a> +I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Robert McNab, for the following +note, culled from an American whaling captain's log, which probably +refers to this period, the incident described having occurred at +Cloudy Bay on Saturday, April 30, 1836:—</p> + +<p class="nodent">"At 4 had visit from Roabolla (Rauparaha), the head chief of this Bay +(just returned from a marauding expedition), accompanied with the +customary demand of lay of tobacco, muskets, and cask of powder, which +I peremptorily denied. This they returned with a threat that I should +not whale here, to which I replied I was perfectly willing to go to +sea, for I would not submit to any imposition, although I would +present them with the same the English ships and parties did, but no +more, and if they would not take that they should have nothing. They +finally consented to receive a dozen pipes, 10 lbs. tobacco, and a +piece of low-priced calico of about 30 yards, priced 17s. 4d., and a +tin pot, then dismissed them with a blessing. He afterwards came and +demanded supper, which I, of course, declined furnishing him, and bade +him goodbye. There is no other way to deal with these people only to +be positive with them, and let them know you do not fear them, as if +any timidity is shown, they demand everything they see, nor would the +ship hold enough for them, and the bad conduct of masters has +encouraged them to be very importunate. I am willing to allow a lone +ship here, not well armed, might be obliged to comply with their +requisition, but no excuse can be offered for any one to do so now, as +there are seven ships here all partially armed, and yet he showed me +three muskets given him by the captains of ships the other side, to +their shame be it spoken, for if they only reflected they would know +'tis for the interest of these natives to keep on good terms with us, +as they know if ships are hindered coming here, adieu to their darling +tobacco, muskets, and pipes. I have adopted this line of conduct from +my own conviction, and the advice of the English masters now here who +know them well."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_134" id="Foot_134" href="#Ref_134">[134]</a> +This fight is known in Ngai-Tahu tradition as <i>Oroua-moa-nui</i>. +The Rev. Canon Stack says that Paora Taki, afterwards a well-known +Maori Assessor at Rapaki, who was fighting under Tu-Hawaiki, +recognised Rauparaha, and might have killed him as he brushed past him +on his way to the water, if he had only possessed a better weapon than +a sharpened stake with which to assault him.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_135" id="Foot_135" href="#Ref_135">[135]</a> +Dieffenbach says: "Ten or twelve years ago (1827-29) the +southern headland of Tory Channel was the scene of a sanguinary +contest between the original natives of the channel and the tribes of +the Ngati-Awa. Rauparaha, at the head of the latter people, earned +inglorious laurels by shutting up his opponents on a narrow tongue of +land and then exterminating them."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_136" id="Foot_136" href="#Ref_136">[136]</a> +"Te Koihua settled near Pakawau, in Massacre Bay, where I +frequently saw the old man prior to his death. Strange to say, his +love for greenstone was so great that even after he and his wife had +reached a very advanced age, they travelled down the west coast in +1858, then a very arduous task, and brought back a large rough slab of +that substance, which they proceeded diligently to reduce to the form +of a <i>mere</i>" (<i>Travers</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_137" id="Foot_137" href="#Ref_137">[137]</a> +"Every tribe throughout Maoridom prized greenstone above +everything else, and strove to acquire it. The locality in which it +was found was known by report to all, and the popular imagination +pictured untold wealth to be awaiting the adventurous explorer of that +region" (<i>Stack</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_138" id="Foot_138" href="#Ref_138">[138]</a> +When Mr. Edward Shortland was travelling in the Middle Island in +1843-44, an account of which he has left us in his <i>Southern Districts +of New Zealand</i>, he had for guide and assistant a native named +Huruhuru, who employed the leisure of his evenings in giving Mr. +Shortland information about the interior of the country, with which he +was well acquainted. He drew a map of the four great lakes in central +Otago, described the country through which the path across the island +passed, and was able to name the principal streams, and even to point +out the various stopping-places at the end of each day's journey.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_139" id="Foot_139" href="#Ref_139">[139]</a> +In confirmation of at least one purpose of the expedition—that +of securing slaves—it is interesting to note that, with the exception +of two children who were killed and eaten at Lake Wanaka, none of the +prisoners were sacrificed, although the temptation to do so must have +been difficult to resist, as the party often suffered severely from +hunger.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_140" id="Foot_140" href="#Ref_140">[140]</a> +"For three miles we followed this stream, flowing in a +north-north-east direction, through a comparatively open valley, with +occasional patches of grass on its sides, and arrived then at its +junction with a large stream of glacial origin, and of the size of the +Makarora, which came from the eastern central chain, and to which, +according to the direction of His Honour the Superintendent, I gave my +name. This river forms, before it reaches the valley, a magnificent +waterfall, several hundred feet in height" (<i>Haast's "Geology of +Canterbury and Westland"</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_141" id="Foot_141" href="#Ref_141">[141]</a> +The exception above referred to was Nga-whakawa, Te Puoho's +brother-in-law, who escaped in the dim light of the early morning. Mr. +Percy Smith, writing in the <i>Polynesian Journal</i>, says: "His was +a most unenviable position. A distance of nearly five hundred miles in +a straight line separated him from his own people, the intermediate +country being occupied by tribes bitterly hostile to his, who would +welcome with joy the opportunity of sacrificing him. But notwithstanding +the exceeding difficulties which lay in his path, this brave fellow +decided to try to rejoin his relatives at Massacre Bay, at the extreme +north end of the South Island. How long his arduous journey took I +know not, but it must have been months. He dare not keep near the east +coast, which was inhabited by his enemies, but had to follow the base +of the mountains inland, seeking his sustenance in roots of the fern, +which is very scarce, and of the <i>taramea</i>, occasionally snaring +a <i>weka</i> or other bird. So he made his toilsome way by mountain +and valley, swimming the snow-cold rivers, ever on the alert for signs +of wandering parties of his enemies, only lighting fires after dark by +the arduous process of <i>hika-ahi</i>, or rubbing two sticks together, +enduring cold, fatigue, and hunger, until, after making one of the +most extraordinary journeys on record, he at last reached the home of +his people at Parapara, Massacre Bay. Here he was the first to bring +the news of the disaster which had befallen Te Puoho and his +companions. The daughter of this man, born after his return, named Ema +Nga-whakawa, was still living at Manawatu a few years since."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_142" id="Foot_142" href="#Ref_142">[142]</a> +This food was composed of pumpkins, probably the first grown on +the coast.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_143" id="Foot_143" href="#Ref_143">[143]</a> +The late Rangitane chief at Awapuni, Kerei te Panau.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_144" id="Foot_144" href="#Ref_144">[144]</a> +Kuititanga means the wedge-shaped piece of land which is +formed by the junction of two rivers.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_145" id="Foot_145" href="#Ref_145">[145]</a> +This celebrated cannon is now at the town of Blenheim. Its +history has been stated as follows, by the late John Guard, of Port +Underwood. In 1833, his father, the original "Jack Guard" of the +<i>Harriet</i>, brought this gun from Sydney and traded it away to +Nohorua, a brother of Rauparaha, for the right to establish a whaling +station at Kakapo Bay. This bargain was greatly facilitated by a +demonstration which Guard gave by loading the gun and firing it off, +for its power vastly pleased the natives, who christened it +<i>Pu-huri-whenua</i>, "the gun that causes the earth to tremble." In +1834, Captain Blenkinsopp came upon the scene, and is said to have +carried the gun away from Kakapo Bay "without leave or licence," and +bartered it to Rauparaha for the Wairau Plain and Ocean Bay. +Subsequently, it was brought back to Port Underwood by Rauparaha, and +again given to Guard's father. After his death, it was taken +possession of by the province of Marlborough as an historic relic, +during the superintendency of Mr. Eyes.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_146" id="Foot_146" href="#Ref_146">[146]</a> +"Previous to sailing, Colonel Wakefield purchased from a lady, +representing herself to be the widow of Captain Blenkinsopp, some +deeds professing to be the original conveyances of the plains of the +Wairau by Rauparaha, Rangihaeata, and others to that gentleman, in +consideration of a ship's gun. They were signed with elaborate +drawings of the <i>moko</i> or tattoo on the chiefs' faces" +(<i>Wakefield</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_147" id="Foot_147" href="#Ref_147">[147]</a> +According to Lord Lytton, Edward Gibbon Wakefield was "the man +in these latter days beyond comparison of the most genius and widest +influence in the great science of colonisation, both as a thinker, a +writer, and a worker, whose name is like a spell to all interested in +that subject."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_148" id="Foot_148" href="#Ref_148">[148]</a> +Mr. Somes, one of the champions of the New Zealand Company in +London, thus expressed the views of the Directorate upon the treaty: +"We did not believe that even the Royal power of making treaties could +establish in the eye of our courts such a fiction as a native law of +real property in New Zealand. We have always had very serious doubts +whether the Treaty of Waitangi, made with naked savages by a Consul +invested with no plenipotentiary powers, could be treated by lawyers +as anything but a praiseworthy device for amusing and pacifying +savages for the moment." To this Lord Stanley replied through his +secretary that he was "not prepared, as Her Majesty's Secretary of +State, to join with the Company in setting aside the Treaty of +Waitangi after having obtained the advantage guaranteed by it, even +though it might be made with 'naked savages,' or though it might be +treated by lawyers as a praiseworthy device for amusing and pacifying +savages for the moment. Lord Stanley entertains a different view of +the respect due to obligations contracted by the Crown of England, and +his final answer to the demands of the Company must be that, as long +as he has the honour of serving the Crown, he will not admit that any +person, or any Government, acting in the name of Her Majesty, can +contract a legal, moral, or honorary obligation to despoil others of +their lawful and equitable rights."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_149" id="Foot_149" href="#Ref_149">[149]</a> +"Long before the arrival of the white man in New Zealand there +was a proverb amongst the Maoris—'<i>He wahine he whenua, e ngaro ai +te tangata</i>,' which may be rendered in English 'For land or wife man +stakes his life'" (<i>Clarke</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_150" id="Foot_150" href="#Ref_150">[150]</a> +When the court opened at Wellington on 16th May, one of the +first witnesses called was Dicky Barrett, who had acted as interpreter +to Colonel Wakefield when making his purchases, and Mr. George Clarke, +who appeared as the representative of the natives, has left us the +following sketch of Dicky's appearance in the box: "Barrett was a +shore whaler who had married a native woman; he was a decent fellow +enough among men of his class, but he was very ignorant, and I soon +made him show, in the course of his evidence, that he did not even +understand the English meaning of the deeds he professed to interpret. +He admitted, too, that instead of telling the natives, as the deed set +forth, that one-tenth of the surveyed lots should be reserved for +their use, he had simply put it that one lot of the alienated land +should be kept for the Maoris and one for the <i>pakehas</i>, and so on +through the whole—that is, one half the land should be kept for their +use. He admitted, further, that he had taken no account of many +natives who were unwilling to sell. It soon became clear that Barrett's +qualification to interpret was that he spoke whaler Maori, a jargon +that bears much the same relation to the real language as the pigeon +English of the Chinese does to our mother tongue."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_151" id="Foot_151" href="#Ref_151">[151]</a> +"Te Hiko, whose signature Colonel Wakefield had boasted of +obtaining in 1839, being examined before the Governor, the Chief +Justice, Colonel Wakefield, the Rev. O. Hadfield, and others, denied +that he had signed any deed of sale of Porirua. E. J. Wakefield +asserted the contrary. The ignorant Barrett ... admitted that Hiko's +signature was 'not obtained willingly,' and Clarke, the Protector, +skilled in the language, declared that the document signed was +calculated to mislead the natives. Hiko was constant in his denial of +Wakefield's statements, and Hobson's mind was 'left with the +impression that he had not sold' the land" (<i>Rusden</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_152" id="Foot_152" href="#Ref_152">[152]</a> +Subsequently, a similar application was made to Chief Justice +Martin, when he arrived in Wellington in October, 1842, but he also +declined to issue a warrant for the arrest of Rangihaeata, partly +because the application was <i>ex parte</i>, and argument was +requisite before judgment could be given on so grave a matter, and +partly on technical grounds connected with the Police Magistrates +Ordinance.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_153" id="Foot_153" href="#Ref_153">[153]</a> +Mr. Spain, writing to Captain Hobson in 1842, remarked that the +natives at Wellington had, upon many occasions, shown the greatest +forbearance when deprived of their cultivations, and he very much +doubted whether their white brethren would have followed their example +if placed in similar circumstances.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">{235}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER VII</span><br /><span +class="size070">WAKEFIELD AND THE WAIRAU</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">Amongst</span> +the many unsatisfactory negotiations for the purchase of land +entered into between Colonel Wakefield and Te Rauparaha, few seem to +have been so ill-defined as that relating to the Wairau Plain. Whether +Wakefield really believed that he had bought it, or whether Rauparaha +was equally confident that he had not sold it, will never be known. +Certainly it is difficult to understand how such a wide difference of +impression could have arisen between them, had they both been sincere +in the transaction. It is true the Colonel might have considered that +the plain was included in the purchases made in 1839, when he +bargained for four hundred miles of country, extending from the 38th +to the 43rd degree of latitude on the west coast, and from the 41st to +the 43rd degree on the east coast. But he knew that the plain had +never been specifically named, and in his heart he must have felt that +no valid title could rest upon a purchase made as this one was, its +full purport not being clearly explained by Dicky Barrett, who acted +as interpreter, and the signatures of three chiefs only being obtained +to the deed, when thirty thousand natives had, by native law, a voice +in its disposal. That Colonel Wakefield did have some reservation, +later on, about his right to the land is almost certain, for, after +the settlement of Nelson had been in progress about a year, he +strongly opposed the suggestion of his brother, Captain Wakefield, to +include the Wairau in the district to be surveyed, partly because he +considered that its occupation might +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">{236}</a></span> +militate against the success of +the Wellington colony, but chiefly because he anticipated that the +Company's title would be disputed by other claimants and by the +natives. It would therefore seem that Captain Wakefield, the resident +agent of the Company, was the more to blame for the improper +occupation of the valley and for all the subsequent trouble, which he +expiated with his life. He was as conversant as the Colonel with the +whole circumstances of the case, perhaps more so; and, had it not been +that he had no alternative between opening up the Wairau and +acknowledging the ignominious failure of the Nelson settlement, he +would hardly, in the face of so many warnings, have persisted in his +high-handed and injudicious course.</p> + +<p>The story of the Nelson settlement repeats the tale of undue haste, +imperfect preparations, a disposition to make florid promises and hold +out inflated inducements, that characterised all the New Zealand +Company's attempts at colonisation. One of the essential features of +this settlement was that each settler should receive 150 acres of +rural land, 50 acres of suburban land, and one town acre. But after +the most thorough exploration of the region round Blind and Massacre +Bays, it was found that, although a great deal of inferior country had +been included in the sections laid off by the surveyors, there was +still an enormous deficiency in the area required to provide for all +the settlers who had either paid for their land in advance or were +waiting to settle on it. Misled by the reports of some of his +officers, Captain Wakefield had caused it to be broadly published that +there was more than sufficient land at Port Whakatu to meet the +requirements of the settlement, and it was while looking round for +some tangible fact to justify his assertion that he bethought him of +the Wairau.</p> + +<p>During his many excursions in search of rural land, Mr. Tuckett, the +Company's chief surveyor, had discovered a route via Top House, by +which the Wairau might be reached after a journey of 110 miles. This +fact was reported to Captain Wakefield, who ordered that a complete +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">{237}</a></span> +examination of the district should be made by Mr. Tuckett. He, +accompanied by his assistant, Mr. Davidson, and Captain England, a +landowner in the settlement, made an extensive exploration, and +subsequently conveyed the discomfiting intelligence to the resident +agent that the Wairau Plain was the only available surface between +Cape Farewell and Cape Campbell sufficient to afford the number of +sections required to complete the settlement. The survey of the plain +was then decided upon, but intelligence had reached Kapiti that the +<i>pakehas</i> had been down to the Wairau and that they intended to +take possession of it. Immediately upon the receipt of this news, +Rauparaha, accompanied by Hiko and Rangihaeata, crossed over to Nelson +and sought an interview with Captain Wakefield. In plain and +straightforward terms the natives told the Europeans, who had gathered +in Dr. Wilson's residence to hear the <i>korero</i>, that they had not +sold the Wairau to the principal agent of the Company, and that they +had no intention of doing so, unless (to use Rauparaha's own +expressive phrase) "the cask of gold was very great." They therefore +warned them not to go there, as they had no right to the land.</p> + +<p>Captain Wakefield's answer was that he intended to proceed with the +survey, as he claimed the land in the name of the Company. Rangihaeata +vehemently denied the sale, and backed up his protestations by a +threat that if Captain Wakefield attempted to carry out his intentions +he would meet him and take his head. The agent was in no way disturbed +or shaken by the hostile attitude of the chiefs; and to Rangihaeata's +boisterous manner he calmly replied that, if any interference was +offered, he would come with three hundred constables and arrest the +belligerent natives. This unconciliatory attitude did not in the least +assist to clear the atmosphere, for Rangihaeata went about the +settlement during the next few days openly threatening with death +every one who, he conceived, had any authority amongst the colonists, +if they ventured to annex the Wairau, unless they could first succeed in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">{238}</a></span> +killing him, in which event, he said, the land would remain as the +lawful possession of the conqueror. Rauparaha, on the other hand, +assumed the air of the diplomat, and professed not to sympathise with +the policy of his lieutenant, whom he described as a "bad man." At the +same time, in his fawning fashion, he entreated the Europeans not to +go to the Wairau, and begged that the dispute might be referred to Mr. +Spain, the Government Land Commissioner, who had been appointed to +investigate the claims of the Company. But Captain Wakefield +repudiated the jurisdiction of Mr. Spain in the matter, and refused to +comply with the request. The chiefs, finding that neither threats nor +persuasion could shake Captain Wakefield in his determination to take +possession of the Wairau, indignantly left the settlement, Rauparaha +expressing his intention to lay the whole circumstances of the case +before the Queen's Commissioner and demand an immediate settlement of +the claim.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the angry Ngati-Toas left Nelson than the three chiefs +who were resident at the Wairau arrived. These natives were sons of +Rauparaha's elder brother, Nohorua, the oldest of whom, Rawiri Puaha, +had previously informed Mr. Tuckett, when that gentleman visited his +<i>pa</i>, that the plain was theirs and that Rauparaha had no power +to sell it. They were gratified at the idea that the Europeans looked +upon it with a favourable eye, but, at the same time, they were in no +haste to enter into any negotiations for its sale until they had +considerably extended their cultivations, in order that they might +fairly claim a larger compensation. Doubtless one of their reasons for +desiring closer intercourse with the <i>pakehas</i> was that, in +addition to their clearings, they had a large number of pigs running +on the plain, which they used as a marketable commodity with the +settlers at Port Underwood. But as fast as they cleared and cultivated +the land and reared their pigs, Rauparaha was in the habit of coming +over and coolly helping himself, with the result that his relations +with the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">{239}</a></span> +resident people were by this time considerably strained, and +they probably thought that the presence of the settlers would check +these depredations on the part of their high-handed relative. When +they heard that Rauparaha had been to Nelson, they, being utterly +mistrustful of his methods, at once concluded that he had gone there +for the purpose of selling the plain; and it was to counteract this +policy, as far as possible, that they went to see Captain Wakefield. +The latter had always been much more considerate to resident natives +than to those whom, like Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, he described as +"travelling bullies."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_154" id="Ref_154" href="#Foot_154">[154]</a></span> +He was therefore most anxious to make a +valid and binding bargain with Puaha, to whom he offered a small +schooner, and any reasonable quantity of goods, if he would +acknowledge that the Wairau had been purchased by his brother, the +Colonel. This Puaha refused to do, and therefore, at a subsequent +interview, the resident agent adopted another line of argument, +contending that the Company had already a legal title to the district +by virtue of its being included in the latitude and longitude +purchases made in 1839, and by right of a deed bought from Captain +Blenkinsopp's widow for £300. Puaha denied the validity of both +titles, pointing out that "the Wairau" had evidently been written into +the first deed after signature; and that, in the second case, if +Rauparaha had sold any portion of the land to Blenkinsopp, he had no +right to do so without his (Puaha's) consent, which had never been +asked and never given. For three days the conference was continued by +the agent and the chief, without either being able to convince the +other; but, at last, Puaha withdrew, still protesting in manly and +dignified language against the views of the agent as to his title to +the land.</p> + +<p>After these animated interviews, it might have been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">{240}</a></span> +supposed that Captain Wakefield would, in his calmer moments, have seriously +reviewed the position, and that against the vague and shadowy rights +of the Company, as expressed in the two deeds in his possession, he +would have set the fact that the authenticity of these sales was being +stoutly contested by the resident and non-resident natives interested. +He might have been expected also to recognise that the whole question, +having been placed in the hands of Mr. Spain, was <i>sub judice</i>, +and as such should remain in abeyance until the court had pronounced +its judgment. These considerations were, however, altogether +outweighed by the desire to placate the settlers, who were clamouring +for their land, and to prevent the exposure of the Company's inability +to fulfil its engagements. The fear that, if this could not be done, +he would be open to crushing censure from all with whom they had +entered into engagements, and the desire to rescue his own and his +brother's reputation from public anger and ridicule, biased his +otherwise judicial mind against the merits of the opposing case. +Accordingly, he decided to act upon the impulse that moved him most, +and on April 15, 1843, he entered into three contracts for the survey +of the plain with Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson, Mr. Cotterell, and +Mr. Parkinson. In view of the probability of native interference, a +special provision was inserted in the tenders that the contractors +were to be indemnified in case of loss; and, on this understanding, +the surveyors, with forty assistants, arrived a few days later, and +commenced operations—Messrs. Barnicoat and Thompson at the Marshlands +side of the valley, Mr. Cotterell in the neighbourhood of Riverlands, +and Mr. Parkinson still higher up the plain, towards Grovetown.</p> + +<p>At first, the resident natives allowed the work to proceed with but +slight resistance. Once or twice they refused to permit timber to be +sawn for pegs and ranging rods; but with the exercise of a little tact +and patience these difficulties were overcome, and the work had +proceeded with so little friction that before Rauparaha +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">{241}</a></span> +arrived Messrs. +Barnicoat and Thompson had practically completed their contract, the +others not being quite so far advanced.</p> + +<p>Rauparaha and Rangihaeata were at Mana when the news of these +proceedings reached them, and they at once engaged with their English +friend, Joseph Toms, to convey them and a portion of their party in +his schooner, <i>Three Brothers</i>, to Port Underwood, whence they +intended to reach the Wairau in their canoes. On the 1st of June the +schooner and the canoes arrived at the port, and Rauparaha, with one +hundred armed followers, at once proceeded to the house of Mr. Cave, +who for seven or eight years had been employed there as cooper for the +whaling stations, and with whom they were on the best of terms. To him +they declared their intention of burning the surveyors' camps, and for +that purpose they left for the Wairau the same evening, in eight +canoes and a whaleboat. Next morning Rauparaha, with thirty of his +people, appeared at Mr. Cotterell's camp on the Opawa River, and, +after stripping his huts, burned the <i>toetoe</i> grass with which +they were covered, as well as the survey pegs and ranging rods +prepared from manuka sticks. They then assisted the surveyors to carry +their belongings to the boats, and shipped them off to the <i>pa</i> +at the mouth of the river. Their next proceeding was to paddle up the +Wairau to Mr. Barnicoat's camp, which was situated on the river-bank +close to the Ferry Bridge, and there they re-enacted their settled +programme. In these proceedings Rauparaha was very firm, yet +conciliatory. There was no exhibition of temper or violence towards +persons or property. He simply gave the surveyors to understand that +he would have none of them or their surveying there, and that the +sooner they returned to Nelson the better he would like it;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_155" id="Ref_155" href="#Foot_155">[155]</a></span> +and, to this end, he assisted them to remove their instruments and personal +effects to a place of safety before demolishing their <i>whares</i>. +In logical fashion, he argued that the <i>toetoe</i>, having grown +upon the land, was his, that he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">{242}</a></span> +entitled to do what he pleased +with his own, and that so long as he did not interfere with any of the +articles brought from England, he was committing no breach of justice.</p> + +<p>The instruments and baggage were placed in the boats and taken down to +the <i>pa</i>, where they were safely landed and their owners treated +with every consideration. But, before matters had reached this crisis, +the contractors had despatched a joint letter to Mr. Tuckett, at +Nelson, explaining the gravity of the situation, and asking him to +come down at once and certify to the work already done. On receipt of +this communication Mr. Tuckett, accompanied by Mr. Patchett, at once +set out for the Wairau; and, on his arrival at the bar, on 3rd June, +he was met by Mr. Cotterell, who briefly related all that had +transpired since the arrival of Rauparaha, and the present position of +natives and contractors respectively.</p> + +<p>So soon as he had grasped the situation, Mr. Tuckett hastily wrote a +letter in pencil to Captain Wakefield, giving details, and intimating +his intention of remaining on the scene until the Captain should make +his pleasure known to him. This letter he entrusted to Mr. Cotterell, +who at once left with his men in the boats for Nelson. The chief +surveyor then set off up the Opawa River to the site of Mr. +Cotterell's camp, where he pitched a tent and remained all night. In +the morning he proceeded, in company with Mr. Patchett and Mr. Moline +(Mr. Cotterell's assistant), to search for Mr. Parkinson, and, when +they arrived at his hut, they found it in possession of a few natives, +who had in no way interfered with it. The surveyor and his party not +being there, Mr. Tuckett inquired for Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, who +he was informed were in the bush. He thereupon explained that he +intended to go over to the Awatere, that he would be absent about +three days, and that at the end of that time he desired to meet the +chiefs at Mr. Cotterell's camp, where he would converse with them over +the recent events. The natives gladly undertook to convey this message +to Rauparaha, who, with Rangihaeata, a number +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">{243}</a></span> +of their followers, and +Mr. Parkinson's men, were awaiting them at the appointed place of +meeting when the party returned from their explorations beyond the +Vernon Hills. Here the expected conference took place, Rauparaha +calmly but firmly explaining his reasons for interference. He claimed +the Wairau as his own, but since there was a dispute about it, he had, +on his return from Nelson, placed the matter in the hands of Mr. +Spain, who had appointed a day on which to hear the case, Rauparaha on +his part undertaking that in the meantime none of his people should +enter upon the land. The day appointed by Mr. Spain had passed, and +fearing that, if the survey was finished before he adjudicated upon +their claim, they would lose their land, they had determined to stop +the proceedings. Rauparaha expressed himself as being still willing to +abide by Mr. Spain's decision, but the survey must cease and the +Europeans must leave, until such time as that judgment should be +given. Mr. Tuckett vainly endeavoured to point out the hardship this +course would impose upon the contractors and their men, who were +dependent upon their work for their living. He also explained that he +was expecting instructions from Captain Wakefield, and asked +permission to remain until he heard from his superior.</p> + +<p>His request for delay was met by a command to remove his tent to the +boat, and, upon his refusing to obey, Rangihaeata burst into a violent +passion, and, in a torrent of invective, reminded Mr. Tuckett of the +warning he had given him in Nelson, ironically remarking that, if he +was so fond of the Wairau, he (Rangihaeata) would bury him there. This +insulting outburst was treated with studied contempt by the chief +surveyor, who quietly rebuked Rangihaeata for his ungentlemanly +behaviour, telling him that he would not converse with him until he +mended his manners. While this brief altercation was proceeding, +Rauparaha had remained silent, although he was evidently exercising a +restraining influence upon his comrade. But he now advanced, and once +more politely requested Mr. Tuckett to have his tent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">{244}</a></span> +removed; but that gentleman still persisted in his right +to remain, whereupon Rauparaha, becoming impatient, +ordered some of his own people to carry out his behest, +and in a few minutes the tent was struck and stowed +away in the boat. Mr. Tuckett then deemed it unwise +to offer further objection, and, together with the two +chiefs, he agreed to go back to the <i>pa</i>.</p> + +<p>It had been Mr. Tuckett's intention to embark for Nelson next morning, +but in the night a south-easterly gale came up and blew for three +days, causing such a surf on the bar that Rauparaha advised him not to +attempt to cross it. During this compulsory stay, the chief was most +profuse in his expressions of goodwill towards the Europeans, and by +his fawning and obsequious manner created a feeling of revulsion in +the minds of the Englishmen. Rangihaeata, on the other hand, left them +severely alone, seeking neither favours nor intercourse of any kind, +and, save on one occasion, his isolation was complete. That exception +arose from the fact that one of the men reported that he had lost a +handkerchief and a billhook, which he had seen in the possession of +Rangihaeata's people. Mr. Tuckett at once approached the chief, and +asked to have the property returned. His reply was that he had some +bad men as well as good ones amongst his followers, with the sarcastic +addition that perhaps Mr. Tuckett was in the same position; but that, +as he had come to the Wairau to defend his own and not to thieve, if +the surveyor could identify the man, he would have his property back; +failing that, he could have <i>utu</i> instead. The billhook was soon +found, and here the incident ended; but the impression it made upon +Mr. Tuckett was that, if Rangihaeata was more violent than Rauparaha, +he was up to this point certainly the more noble of the two.</p> + +<p>As soon as the weather cleared, the chief surveyor prepared to take +his departure, but, as the boat would not carry both passengers and +baggage, it was finally decided that Messrs. Barnicoat and Parkinson +should remain, while Messrs. Tuckett, Patchett, and Moline proceeded to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">{245}</a></span> +Nelson, although the chiefs raised no objection to the +whole party remaining until additional boats could be +brought, or until they could be conveyed to one of the +whaling stations at Port Underwood. By noon on +the following day Mr. Tuckett and his companions +had got well into Blind Bay, when they observed +the Government brig <i>Victoria</i> under full sail. A gun +was fired from the ship as a signal to board her. +On doing so, they learned that the vessel had just left +Nelson, and was proceeding to the Wairau with the +police magistrate (Mr. Thompson), Captain Wakefield +(the Company's agent), Captain England, J.P., Mr. +Cotterell, and some of the would-be proprietors of the +proposed settlement, as well as the chief constable, Mr. +Maling, and twenty-four labouring men who had been +sworn-in as special constables. The agent informed the +chief surveyor that, after Mr. Cotterell had arrived at +Nelson and made his report, it had been decided to +proceed as soon as possible to the scene of operations, +and arrest the chiefs on a charge of arson, a warrant +having been granted by Messrs. Thompson, P.M., +Captain Wakefield, Captain England, and A. McDonald, +Esq., Justices of the Peace. Mr. Tuckett was naturally +surprised and deeply grieved at this intelligence, and, in +deprecation of the rash and impolitic step he informed +Captain Wakefield of Rauparaha's interview with Mr. +Spain, and of the chief's willingness to abide by the +decision of the court. He further pointed out the great +care observed by the natives not to interfere with any of +the surveyors' property, or to injure the persons of any +of their employees. He proceeded to argue that the men +on board would not number one-half the strength of the +natives then at the Wairau; and contrasted this numerical +weakness with the threat made by the Captain at Nelson, +that, if Rangihaeata interfered with the survey, he would +come with three hundred constables to arrest him. His +impression, therefore, was that the smallness of the party +would inspire confidence in the minds of the natives +rather than dread, and he strongly urged that, however +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">{246}</a></span> +satisfied the agent might feel about the result, prudence +demanded that they should appear on the plain with +such a force as would completely overawe the Maoris, +and to which there would be no humiliation in surrendering. +In support of his views, he handed to Captain Wakefield +a letter which he had received from the Rev. Mr. +Ironside on the day that he had met Mr. Cotterell at the +bar, in which the missionary, ripe in experience of Maori +feeling, and knowing how tenaciously they clung to their +rights in landed property, ventured the opinion that, +unless this dispute was most diplomatically handled, the +result might be extremely serious.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ironside, taking the missionary view of the Company's scheme of +colonisation, expressed great anxiety lest a collision might arise out +of the subject of the claims to land, which would eventually terminate +in the extinction of the native tribes, as had been the case in other +countries settled by Europeans. He urged upon Mr. Tuckett not to be +precipitate in endeavouring to include the Wairau in the Nelson +survey, informing him that the resident natives and Rauparaha were at +issue about the land, to such an extent that the former, if left to +themselves, would probably withdraw from the Wairau, and treat with +the Nelson agent for the sale of it.</p> + +<p>Captain Wakefield expressed himself deeply thankful for the counsel +contained in Mr. Ironside's letter, and also for the advice tendered +by Mr. Tuckett, with whose whole conduct he entirely acquiesced. So +impressed was he with the force of the chief surveyor's arguments that +he at once went into the cabin where Mr. Thompson was, and requested +him to read Mr. Ironside's letter, stating that from it and other +considerations urged by Mr. Tuckett he had come to the conclusion that +it would be wiser to return to Nelson. Mr. Thompson was totally averse +to turning back. He begrudged missing the opportunity of giving the +natives what he called "a prestige for the law," and of showing the +Government the correct way to deal with such troublesome fellows. At +the same time he expressed the opinion +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">{247}</a></span> +that, if the authorities at Wellington had dealt with +these chiefs as he had dealt with Ekawa at Massacre Bay, +they would long ago have ceased to give annoyance. He +also stated that, if they returned at that stage, they would +simply be laughed at by the settlers, and he was not +going to put himself in that undignified position. In +his determination to go on Mr. Thompson was seconded +by the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Richardson), who begged +that the expedition might not be given up, as he considered +it was "only a lark"; and, in deference to the aggressive +mood of the magistrate and the jocular anticipations of +the lawyer, Captain Wakefield surrendered his better +judgment. Mr. Tuckett, still apprehensive that disastrous +consequences would follow if these unwise counsels +prevailed, earnestly remonstrated with Mr. Thompson, +taking up the attitude that he was exceeding his rights in +proceeding to execute his warrant with an armed force. +The magistrate admitted the correctness of Mr. Tuckett's +premises, but hotly resented the assumption that he intended +to use the force at all. He explained that he was +not sure that he would land the men. Certainly he +would not give out the arms or take the force into the +presence of the natives until he had first exhausted every +plausible means of getting the chiefs to submit themselves +to trial on board the brig. Should they refuse to +do so, which he did not expect, then he would investigate +the charge on the spot, and afterwards decide whether +he should call in the aid of the armed party or not. +Had this plan of operations been strictly observed, much +that afterwards happened might have been averted; but +in no single particular did the magistrate follow his +promised line of action, for as soon as the vessel arrived +at Cloudy Bay, the men were supplied with fire-arms and +landed at the mouth of the Wairau River.</p> + +<p>On seeing the Government brig enter the bay, the Maoris had abandoned +the old <i>pa</i> at the bar and retired further up the plain. Next +morning the magistrate's band of special constables was ordered to get +ready and go in pursuit. Perceiving that his worst fears were likely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">{248}</a></span> +to be realised, and that the magistrate would not go +without the armed force, Mr. Tuckett made a final appeal +to Captain Wakefield, and offered to go himself and +see Rauparaha, in company with the chief constable +and the interpreter, if only the men bearing arms were +allowed to remain where they were. To this suggestion +the Captain readily agreed, and at once put the proposal +before Mr. Thompson, who also consented, and ordered +the chief constable to prepare himself for the journey; +but when Mr. Maling announced himself ready to go, +he presented such an armour-plated appearance that the +chief surveyor absolutely refused to be seen in his +company. He wore a cutlass at his side, a brace of +pistols and a pair of handcuffs in his belt, while in his +hand he carried a pair of heavy leg-irons. How he +proposed to get Rauparaha down to the bar when he +was both handcuffed and hobbled is not very clear, +nor did he have time to explain. Mr. Tuckett at once +drew attention to his accoutrements, and pointed out +that the leg-irons would have an especially exasperating +effect upon the natives; while, if he insisted upon +carrying pistols, it would at least be judicious to conceal +them, and so avoid the appearance of intimidation. The +magistrate at once ordered that the irons should be +discarded, but also intimated that he had changed his +mind as to the mode of procedure, and that he had +now determined that the whole force should participate +in the arrest, a decision from which no amount of +persuasion could induce him to deviate.</p> + +<p>At the outset an attempt was made to ascend the river in boats, but as +the tide was on the ebb and the wind unfavourable, the travelling was +both slow and laborious, and before they had proceeded very far, the +boats were abandoned, and the party, except Mr. Cotterell and his men, +who remained in a whaleboat, commenced the march along a survey track +which ran parallel with the river. By this time the ardour of the men +had considerably cooled; the bitter cold night experienced at the bar +had helped to extinguish their enthusiasm, and now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">{249}</a></span> +the keen morning wind and bad walking through the +long wet grass completely dissipated all idea that the +affair was to be regarded in the light of a pleasure trip. +During the course of the journey, which was both a +slow and irritating one, Captain Wakefield expressed the +opinion that the natives were more inclined for trade +than for war, and that the prospect of their attempting to +fight in the event of a forcible arrest being made was +very small. In reply to this, Mr. Tuckett still adhered to +his former opinion that the Maoris would most certainly +offer resistance if the armed force was taken into their +presence. While this discussion was going on, the party +reached the bend in the river at the back of Grovetown, +where they met a number of resident natives, who, in +consequence of their differences with Rauparaha, were +quitting the Wairau and returning to Port Underwood. +Amongst them were Puaha, a lad named Rore (who +afterwards became the honoured and respected chief +of the Wairau natives), his father, and a few other Maoris +cutting timber in the bush. Of these they inquired the +whereabouts of Rauparaha, and were informed that he +was a few miles further up the valley, at the Tua Marina +stream. Night coming on, they decided to camp in the +Tua Mautine wood, but took the precaution to send +Puaha forward to acquaint Rauparaha with the nature of +their visit; and he was followed by the remainder of the +natives at a later hour. Mr. Thompson was careful to +explain to Puaha that he had not come to interfere with +him; but it was noticed that his countenance bore a +most anxious and concerned expression, and in the brief +interview which he had with the magistrate, he not only +advised, but earnestly entreated him not to precipitate +a quarrel by taking the armed men into the presence +of Rauparaha and his followers. If he did so, it would +be impossible to convince them that he had not come +for the purpose of shedding blood. The pained look +that fell upon the face of Puaha when he realised the +magistrate's intentions made a deep impression upon +Captain Wakefield, and he several times made reference +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">{250}</a></span> +to it. Even when waking from his sleep in the night, +he spoke of the fact as though he had a gloomy +presentiment that all would not be well on the morrow. +Mr. Thompson did not appear to be troubled with any +such forebodings; his concern was that he would not +have the opportunity of arresting the chiefs, who would +probably make good their escape as soon as Puaha +conveyed his message to them. He endeavoured to +make light of the agent's fears by explaining that Puaha's +troubled looks were due to the conflict between the +dictates of his barbarous nature and the influence of +his Christian teaching, which, under the circumstances, +would naturally burn within him—a course of reasoning +that Captain Wakefield seemed to cheerfully accept.</p> + +<p>At dawn next morning,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_156" id="Ref_156" href="#Foot_156">[156]</a></span> +the camp of Te Rauparaha was easily located +by the smoke rising through the forest trees at the mouth of the +Waitohi Valley, about four miles away. The magistrate then mustered +his constables, and served out to each man eighteen rounds of ball +cartridge. All told, they numbered forty men, bearing muskets, +bayonets, and cutlasses, besides ten or twelve gentlemen who were +without arms, the chief surveyor and Mr. Cotterell being members of +the Society of Friends, and refusing, in accordance with their +religious principles, to carry them. After a short march across the +plain through the fern and <i>toetoe</i>, they arrived at the foot of +the Tua Marina hills, and there they halted, having, during the course +of the journey, been cautioned not to fire unless ordered to do so.</p> + +<p>The constitution of the arresting party was not calculated to ensure +success in the event of resistance on the part of the Maoris. They +were untrained and without discipline. Some of them were even +unwilling participants in the expedition, for they had been coerced +into coming by the threat that they would lose their employment in the +service of the Company if they refused to assist in the arrest of the +chiefs. Their arms were old-fashioned and not in the best of repair; +there was a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">{251}</a></span> +total lack of organisation, and apparently no common +understanding as to who was in authority. Under these +circumstances, the result could scarcely have been +different, regard being had to the character of the men +with whom they had to deal.</p> + +<p>Anyone sitting on the hill-side even now can, without the aid of a +vivid imagination, picture the animated scene which unfolded itself on +that bright June morning. What are now grass paddocks were flats, more +or less covered with native scrub. Of what was then dense bush only a +few detached fragments now remain, but otherwise the physical features +of the landscape are but little changed. The Maoris, when they first +observed the Europeans, were squatting around their camp-fires on the +western side of the Tua Marina stream. They immediately hailed them +and inquired if they intended to fight. Mr. Thompson answered in the +negative, and, after explaining the purpose for which he had come, +asked the natives to place a canoe across the stream that he might +come over and talk the more freely to them. Rauparaha consented to +this course, but stipulated that the armed men should not be allowed +to cross over; and, the magistrate agreeing to this condition, the +special constables were left in charge of Captain England and Mr. +Howard, who had instructions to act if called upon. He himself, +accompanied by Captain Wakefield, Mr. Patchett, Mr. Tuckett, Mr. +Cotterell and Mr. Brooks,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_157" id="Ref_157" href="#Foot_157">[157]</a></span> +the interpreter, crossed over in the +canoe, which was immediately drawn back again alongside the bank by a +native nicknamed Piccawarro (big-fellow), to prevent any surprise from +the force on the other side of the stream. When the magistrate walked +into the presence of the natives, he observed that they numbered about +ninety men and thirty-five women and children; but, as an indication +of their peaceful intentions, they had placed in the midst of their +group three women, the wives of Rauparaha, Rangihaeata, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">{252}</a></span> +and Puaha, while the party of resident natives sat on +one side, and the immediate followers of Rauparaha +on the other. The noble and dignified Puaha stood +in the centre with a Bible in his hand, reading +from it select passages, and exhorting both parties to +peace, while the natives sitting around chanted the +usual welcome, <i>Haere-mai, Haere-mai</i>. Rangihaeata lay +concealed behind some bushes, but Rauparaha came forward +frankly when Mr. Thompson inquired for him, +saying "Here am I," and offered to shake hands with the +strangers. But this courtesy was declined by the magistrate, +who pushed the chief's hand away, and it was left +to Mr. Tuckett and Mr. Cotterell to perform the politeness +of a friendly greeting.</p> + +<p>In reply to Rauparaha's inquiry as to what had brought them there, Mr. +Thompson proceeded to explain to him, through Brooks, the interpreter, +that he was their prisoner. Rauparaha disdainfully replied that it +would be time enough to indulge in such talk when Mr. Spain had made +his inquiry about the land. They then strove to make him understand +that, as this case had nothing to do with the land, but was a charge +of arson, it did not come within the province of Mr. Spain to inquire +into it, but that the charge must be heard on the brig. Rauparaha +declared that he had not destroyed any European property, in proof of +which he appealed to Mr. Cotterell, who admitted the truth of his +assertion, and therefore he would not go on board the brig, but he was +quite willing that the matter should be adjudicated upon there and +then, and, provided the compensation demanded was not excessive, he +would be prepared to pay rather than there should be any ill-feeling +between the two races. Thereupon he was told that, if he would not go +voluntarily he must be taken by force, and a pair of handcuffs were +produced to impress him with the sincerity of this threat. His +chieftain blood was aroused by this insult; he indignantly dared them +to try to imprison his hands in such implements and bind him like a +slave, but begged for longer time to talk +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">{253}</a></span> +the matter over. The magistrate, who was now rapidly +losing his temper, began to stamp and rave, and scorning +the need for further argument, desired the interpreter to +finally ask Rauparaha to say whether he would go on +board the brig or not; and, upon his still firmly refusing +to do so, Mr. Thompson turned to Brooks and exclaimed, +with a violent gesture in the direction of the opposite bank, +"Then tell him there are the armed party; they will fire +on them all." A native from the Bay of Islands who was +present amongst Rauparaha's people, and who understood +a smattering of English, told those of Rauparaha's party +that an order to fire had been given, and sixteen of them +at once sprang to their feet, and, presenting their muskets +at the magistrate, awaited the order from their chief to +fire. The mistaken impression under which this hostile +display had been made was at once removed by the +chief surveyor and Mr. Patchett, who walked over to them +and explained that only a threat, and not an order, to fire +had been given, and on this assurance they immediately +subsided to their seats on the ground.</p> + +<p>The altercation between Mr. Thompson and Rauparaha still proceeded. +The former produced his warrant, which he told the chief was the +"book-a-book" of the Queen "to make a tie," and that he was the Queen, +again adding, in high and excited tones, stamping his foot the while, +that if Rauparaha did not consent to surrender himself, he would order +the Europeans to fire on them. This was quickly interpreted to the +armed natives by the stranger from the Bay of Islands, and they +instantly sprang to their feet and pointed their muskets at Mr. +Thompson and his companions, as before. At this point, the peace-making Puaha<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_158" id="Ref_158" href="#Foot_158">[158]</a></span> +stepped forward +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">{254}</a></span> +with his Testament in his hand and said, "Don't fight, +don't fight! This book says it is sinful to fight. The +land has been made good by the preaching of the missionaries. +Don't make it bad again." In this way he +strove to reason with Mr. Thompson, but the latter in his +frenzy and rage pushed the native aside, and angrily +called out for Rangihaeata to come forward. That chief, +on hearing his name, came from behind the bushes which +concealed him, and, leaping into the midst of the throng, +began to brandish his hatchet in dangerous proximity to +the magistrate's head, meanwhile upbraiding him in a +most violent manner. "What do you want with Rangihaeata +that you come here to bind him? Do I go to +Port Jackson or to Europe to steal your lands? Have I +burned your house? Have I destroyed tents or anything +belonging to you?" Such were the pertinent inquiries +made by the angry chief; and, as it was quite evident +from his flashing eyes and bitter tones that he was in no +mood to be trifled with, Mr. Patchett appealed to the +chief surveyor to interfere, "otherwise," he said, "we shall +all be murdered." Rauparaha, seeing that his companion's +manner was not likely to improve matters, ordered him to +retire and leave the settlement of the matter to Puaha and +himself, at the same time leading Rangihaeata's lame +wife, Te Rongo, to him, so that she might be under his +protection. Mr. Tuckett then seized the opportunity of +pointing out to Captain Wakefield that, in the event of +Rangihaeata's temper getting the better of him, they +would be completely at the mercy of the natives, seeing +that their retreat had been cut off by the removal +of the canoe. After a brief consultation with Puaha, they +agreed that it would be wiser to restore the means of +communication between themselves and their party on +the other side of the stream. Captain Wakefield, taking +the initiative, jumped into the canoe, and with the aid of +a pole shoved the bow down the stream until he found a +convenient landing-place on the other side. While this +movement was in progress, Mr. Thompson<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_159" id="Ref_159" href="#Foot_159">[159]</a></span> +had made +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">{255}</a></span> +another attempt to place the handcuffs upon Rauparaha's +wrists. Just at that moment, when the chief had indignantly +wrested his hand from the magistrate's grasp, and +was bitterly protesting against the conduct of the Queen's +officers, Captain Wakefield stepped on to the opposite +bank of the creek, and, noticing a threatening movement +towards Mr. Thompson on the part of the natives, in a +loud voice gave the command, "Men, forward; Englishmen, +forward!" The company at once obeyed, and four +of the men who were in the front, Morgan, Clanzey, Ratcliffe +and Tyrrell, jumped into the canoe for the purpose +of crossing over to assist Mr. Thompson. Almost +simultaneously the latter turned and entered the canoe +at the other end, with the result that she was nearly +capsized. A momentary confusion ensued, during which +one of the Englishmen, in striving to get in front of his +companions on the bank, tripped and fell, and in the fall +his gun was accidentally discharged. That was the fatal +crisis, for it turned what had hitherto been only stirring +drama into fearful tragedy.</p> + +<p>The natives had now no doubt that the Europeans had come to fight, and +Te Rauparaha, believing death to be imminent, turned, and, stretching +his arms heavenward, exclaimed, "<i>Hei kona e te ra, hei kona e te ao +marama—haere mai e te po, haere mai e te mate</i>" (Farewell, O sun, +farewell, thou world of light; come on, O night, come on, O death). +This was a cry which a chief would only utter in a situation of +deepest stress, and no Maori loyal to his leader would refuse to obey +the call, even though it should cost him his life. The natives +therefore briskly returned the fire, the first volley being fatal to +Tyrrell, who was shot in the throat. Clanzey and Ratcliffe were also +shot by the first discharge of musketry, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">{256}</a></span> +and their bodies fell into the water and sank to the bottom. +The Englishmen returned volley for volley, and, in the +midst of the general fusilade, Mr. Thompson and his +party passed safely over in the canoe. Mr. Tuckett was +the last to leave the bank on which the natives were, +which he did by entering the stream, and, with one hand +on the canoe, pulling himself through the water. At this +stage of the fight the natives might easily have killed +every one of the leading Europeans; for, when the latter +started to cross the stream, the muzzles of the native guns +were no more than a few yards away from them. The +fact that they were not shot must have been due to some +chivalrous sentiment on the part of the natives, who, seeing +them unarmed, honourably abstained from attacking +them. For some ten minutes after crossing the creek, +Mr. Tuckett stood no more than twenty yards away, fully +exposed to the fire that was being kept up by the natives +and fourteen or fifteen of the European rank and file. +Beside him stood Messrs. Barnicoat, Cotterell, Richardson, +Patchett, and Maling. The two latter were shot +almost at the same moment. Mr. Richardson bent over +Mr. Patchett and inquired if he was hurt, to which he +replied, "I am mortally wounded—I am mortally +wounded; you can do no good for me; make your +escape."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 400px"> + <br /> + <a name="wairau" id="wairau"> + <img width="400" height="544" alt="wairau" src="images/287-wairau.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">MONUMENT ON MASSACRE HILL, WAIRAU.<br /> + <i>Photo by W. Macey.</i></p> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The bullets now began to rain down upon them thick and fast. As +several of the labourers had fallen in the vicinity, including +Northam, Smith, and Burton, Mr. Tuckett and his friends retired to the +foot of the ridge, whither the other officers had gone with a portion +of the men to consult as to the best course to pursue. They decided to +retreat up the hill, and called to Mr. Tuckett and the rest of the +party to follow them. This act of mistaken generalship cost them dear, +for up to that time their fire had kept the natives penned up on the +other side of the stream. But the moment they observed the Europeans +falling back, they dashed into the water, and, carrying their guns +above their heads to keep them dry, crossed over and took possession +of the trees which grew on the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">{257}</a></span> +opposite edge. Secure within this cover, they opened a +galling fire upon the Europeans, who were now hopelessly +exposed upon the face of the fern-clad hill.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thompson did his utmost to steady the party by exclaiming, "For +God's sake, men, keep together!" But his appeals were for the most +part disregarded, not more than a third of the men remaining with +their leaders, the rest retreating up the ridge and firing haphazard +as they went. Captain Wakefield's attempts to instil something like +discipline into the men were likewise frustrated by some panic-stricken +individual rushing up and shouting out, "Run for your lives, lads, +run!"—an injunction which they were not slow to obey. In an instant +all semblance of organisation had disappeared. Time after time a few +men were got together, but the majority were always utterly beyond +control. On the last partial rally Captain Wakefield and Warrant +Officer Howard ordered the men to fix bayonets and charge the natives; +but on one of the men (Richard Painter), who had been in the +artillery, pointing out that there was no one visible to charge at, +the idea was abandoned. The natives were still maintaining a steady +fire, and a protest on the part of the artilleryman, who declined to +remain where he was "and be shot down like a crow," led to a further +retreat up the hill-side. On the second brow of the hill they met Mr. +Cotterell, who was sitting down with a double-barrelled gun at his +side. At the commencement of the quarrel he had been unarmed, but he +had now seized this weapon in self-defence. He appeared deeply +distressed at what had occurred, and expressed his intention of +quitting the scene; but he was dissuaded from this course by Captain +Wakefield, who, addressing him in most earnest tones, said, "For God's +sake, Mr. Cotterell, don't attempt to run away; you are sure to be +shot if you do." Mr. Cotterell therefore remained with the party, only +remarking to Painter, one of his own men, "This is bad work, Dick."</p> + +<p>Being now out of range of the native fire, a council of war was held +of such of the party as could be got +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">{258}</a></span> +together, and finally it was decided that Captain England +and Mr. Howard should bear a flag of truce to the +natives, and endeavour to settle the dispute by negotiation. +A white handkerchief was accordingly fixed on a +stick, and, with this fluttering in the breeze, the two +officers started towards the wood. As an indication of +their sincerity in desiring to relinquish fighting, Captain +Wakefield ordered all those who were with him to lay +their arms on the ground, and the natives, seeming fully +to appreciate the nature of the advances that were being +made to them, ceased firing, and a number of them left +their muskets behind the trees and came out to meet the +bearers of the flag. Captain England and his comrade +had almost reached the wood, when some of the Englishmen +who had halted much higher up the hill than +Captain Wakefield, seeing the Maoris emerging from the +bush, commenced to fire upon them, notwithstanding +that they had seen the flag of truce, as well as their companions +laying down their arms. Regarding this as a +dastardly act of treachery, the Maoris beat a hasty retreat +into the bush, and reopened a rapid fire upon the +Englishmen, whereupon Captain England and Mr. +Howard ran back to the hill, and reached the spot from +which they had started, uninjured by the native bullets.</p> + +<p>This attempt at conciliation having failed through the folly of their +own people, the magistrate and Captain Wakefield decided to go further +up the hill and meet those who were in advance of them, to induce +them, if possible, to act in concert with the rest. In this they were +no more successful than before, for no sooner did the one section +begin to advance than the other began to retreat. Seeing that this +must go on indefinitely, Mr. Tuckett endeavoured to persuade Captain +Wakefield that their best hope of reaching the beach and getting back +to the brig was to abandon the ridge which they were climbing, and +strike down into the plain. Although this advice was twice pressed on +Wakefield, he took no notice of it, and Mr. Tuckett thereupon, calling +to Mr. Barnicoat and a labourer named Gay to follow him, descended in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">{259}</a></span> +an oblique direction on to the plain below. For a +moment Mr. Cotterell hesitated which course to take, but +finally decided to go up the spur with the rest, and this +decision cost him his life. When Captain Wakefield and +his party began their last retreat, most of them left their +muskets lying on the brow of the hill, and were therefore +quite defenceless; but the Maoris kept up a running fire +as they gradually crept up the side of the range. As they +approached the summit of the first knoll, Mr. Cotterell +stopped and surrendered himself when the natives +reached him, calling out, "Enough, enough! that will +do the fight," in the hope of assuring them that the +Europeans wanted peace. But he was immediately +struck down and his body thrown into a manuka bush. +Captain Wakefield followed his example by surrendering +a few minutes later, as did also Captain England, Messrs. +Richardson, Howard, Brooks, Cropper, McGregor, and +the magistrate. A few of the younger natives were in the +van of the pursuit, and these held the prisoners in hand +until the arrival of Rauparaha, whom they had outstripped. +At first gold was offered as ransom, and it +seemed as if the feud would end without more bloodshed, +for the chief had accepted the assurances of Captain +Wakefield that the shooting had been a mistake, and had +shaken hands with them all. But Rangihaeata, who had +killed the wounded as he found them lying on the hillside, +panting with haste and anger, rushed up and called +out to Rauparaha, "What are you doing? Your +daughter Te Rongo<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_160" id="Ref_160" href="#Foot_160">[160]</a></span> +is dead. What are you doing, I say?"</p> + +<p>Scorning the acceptance of gold, he then fiercely demanded +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">{260}</a></span> +the lives of the principal Europeans as the only +<i>utu</i> that would compensate him for the loss of his wife, +exclaiming in impassioned tones, "We are sure to be +killed for this some day. The white people will take +<i>utu</i>; let us then have some better blood than that of +these <i>tutua</i> (common men). We are chiefs; let us kill +the chiefs, and take <i>utu</i> for ourselves beforehand." To +this Rauparaha was at first reluctant to agree, and his +objections were well supported by Puaha and the other +Christian natives; but he felt that, in view of Te Ronga's +death, the demand was a reasonable one, and he at +length yielded to the powerful appeal of his lieutenant, +and delivered the unfortunate colonists over to their fate.</p> + +<p>At this juncture Mr. Thompson seemed, for the first time, to be +apprehensive of serious consequences attending his conduct, and he +implored Rauparaha to save their lives. But that chief haughtily +answered, "Did I not warn you how it would be? A little while ago I +wished to talk with you in a friendly manner, and you would not; now +you say 'Save me.' I will not save you." The whole party then retired +a little lower down the hill, and there the massacre commenced. +Captain Wakefield and Mr. Thompson were killed by Te Oru,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_161" id="Ref_161" href="#Foot_161">[161]</a></span> +a son of Te Ahuta, the first native who fell in the fight, as a retribution +for the death of his father. Brooks, the interpreter, was struck down +by Rangihaeata and despatched by the slaves, which would account for +the mangled condition in which his body was found by the burial party +from Port Underwood. The rest of the slaughter, according to native +accounts, was conducted mainly by Rangihaeata. His method of procedure +was to glide silently behind the victims while they were standing +amongst the crowd of natives and brain them with a single blow of his +tomahawk. The peculiar part of the tragedy was that none of the +Englishmen, except Captain Wakefield, made the slightest resistance, +and even he was checked by Mr. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">{261}</a></span> +Howard exclaiming, "For God's sake, sir, do nothing +rash!" Perhaps their ignorance of the native language +prevented them from understanding all that was passing +around them until they received the fatal blow. But there +was no struggle, no cries, except from the native women, +led by Puaha's wife, who pleaded with the men to "save +some of the <i>rangatiras</i>, if only to say they had saved +some." No Englishman who survived actually saw the +massacre, and therefore it is impossible to describe the +exact method of its execution; but the colonists to all +appearances met their fate with the greatest equanimity. +George Bampton, who had concealed himself amongst +the fern only a few yards from the spot where the +tragedy was enacted, in giving evidence at Nelson a +few days after the event, deposed that "he heard neither +cries nor screaming, but merely the sound of beating +or chopping, which he supposed at the time to be natives +tomahawking the white people."</p> + +<p>In accordance with Rauparaha's express orders, none of the dead bodies +were mutilated or stripped, although Captain Wakefield's watch was +taken by Rangihaeata and buried with Te Rongo, while one native +furnished himself with a pair of white gloves and another with a pair +of silver-mounted pistols. After burying their own dead in the Waitohi +Valley, the two chiefs, with their followers, came down to the mouth +of the Wairau River, bringing with them their own canoes and the +whaleboat which had been taken up by Mr. Cotterell and his men. In +these they went first to Robin Hood Bay, and then to Te Awaiti, in +Tory Channel, where they remained a few days, finally crossing the +Strait to Mana and Otaki, there to await developments.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the skirmishing began, a Sydney merchant named Ferguson, +who had been a passenger in the brig to Nelson, and had accompanied +her to the Wairau under the impression that he would have a pleasant +outing, had taken one of the wounded men, Gapper, down to the river +where the boats had been left that morning, and, with him and the +boatman who had been stationed in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">{262}</a></span> +charge, had paddled down the river to the bar, and +reached the brig that afternoon. A number of the men +had also gone down the Waitohi Valley, which was then +densely bushed, and by this means had evaded pursuit +until they could return to Nelson by the overland route. +Others, again, who had broken away from the main body +had made for the sea, so that before Mr. Tuckett and his +two companions had proceeded very far they were joined +by eight of the original party, one of whom, John +Bumforth, was badly wounded in the shoulder. Mr. +Tuckett first proposed that they should divide into two +parties, the one to proceed to the bar and the other to +the vicinity of Port Underwood, thinking that by this +means the chances of some of them reaching the brig +would be increased. But the men stoutly refused to +separate, and the chief surveyor then decided to proceed +to the corner of Cloudy Bay nearest the port, where +luckily they found one of Mr. Dougherty's fully equipped +whaleboats riding in the bay a few chains off. They +hailed the boatmen, and explained that they wished to be +taken to the brig, which was anchored some seven or +eight miles away; but owing to the heavy swell that was +rolling into the bay at the time, and the large number of +the party, there was the greatest difficulty in persuading +the whalers to comply with the request. Even after the +danger of embarking had been overcome, the headsman +had almost made up his mind not to risk the voyage to +the brig, but to land the party at Port Underwood. But +fortune still favoured the fugitives, for at this moment +another boat's crew, who had been watching their +movements, imagining that they had sighted a whale, +came out in pursuit, and the two boats raced for the +brig, which was almost reached before the pursuing crew +discovered the true position of affairs. Up to this point +the whalers had not been informed why Mr. Tuckett and +his friends desired to get on board the brig, but they +were now told that a <i>fracas</i> had occurred between the +Europeans and the natives, that the leaders of the party +were Rauparaha's prisoners; and a promise (that was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">{263}</a></span> +never fulfilled) was extracted from the boatmen that they +would convey the intelligence to the other settlers at the +port, and prepare them to act as they might think best +under the circumstances. The captain of the brig then +sent his boats to search the shore, in the hope that other +fugitives might have reached the beach; but no one was +seen, and no unusual circumstance was noted except the +burning of a large fire at the mouth of the river, which +had been lit for some purpose by the natives. The +brig then weighed anchor and sailed for Wellington, +the captain, whose inclination was to enter Port Underwood, +adopting this course at the earnest solicitation of +Mr. Tuckett, who believed that, if assistance was necessary, +it could be more easily obtained from the larger +centre of population.</p> + +<p>When the news of what had happened spread through the infant +settlement early next morning, the excitement ran wild and high, and +the settlers, believing that at the worst Captain Wakefield and his +friends were only prisoners in the hands of the natives, immediately +organised a band of volunteers to effect their forcible rescue. Their +departure was, however, delayed by a gale, which had the effect of +making most of the volunteers seasick; and, by the time the storm had +abated, wiser counsels prevailed, and it was decided that only a +quorum of magistrates and Dr. Dorset, the surgeon of the settlement, +should proceed to the scene, the impression having gained ground that +intercession was more likely to prevail with the Maoris than the +presence of an armed force. The brig left Wellington for Cloudy Bay +that night, and it was when she arrived at Port Underwood that Colonel +Wakefield and Mr. Tuckett learned for the first time the appalling +nature of the tragedy which had been enacted. They also learned that +the natives, both resident and visiting, had hurriedly left the +Wairau, believing that retaliatory measures would speedily be taken +against them.</p> + +<p>Altogether about twenty-seven of the arresting party had managed to +elude the pursuit of Rangihaeata's warriors. After undergoing intense +privations, some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">{264}</a></span> +wandered back to Nelson, but most of them went to +Port Underwood, a few suffering from wounds, and all +from protracted hunger and exposure. The first to +arrive were Morgan and Morrison, who reached Ocean +Bay with their trousers worn to their knees, and they +were shortly followed by others who were in no better +plight. Their wants and wounds were attended to by +Mrs. Dougherty, who ministered to them with the kindest +of care, and it was by these few survivors that the +whalers were first apprised of the catastrophe. The +Rev. Mr. Ironside had heard vague rumours about impending +trouble between the chiefs and the Government; +but, as he had not seen the arrival of the brig, he paid +no heed to them until the following Sunday, when, in +the midst of a heavy rain-storm, he noticed a Maori +swiftly paddling his canoe up the bay. Knowing that +a native would only be out on such a day under exceptional +circumstances, Mr. Ironside sent one of his +mission-boys to inquire. The boy did not return, which +only increased the anxiety, and later on, when a few +particulars did reach the station, they were only sufficient +to indicate that a collision had taken place, without any +details. That night the missionary and his wife retired +to rest a prey to harrowing suspense.</p> + +<p>Next morning the storm had increased to a perfect hurricane, and as it +was impossible to launch a boat, they could do nothing but wait. By +Tuesday the weather had moderated, and a boat's crew of whalers took +Mr. Ironside down to Ocean Bay, where the two chiefs and their +exultant followers had arrived. From them the whole story was gleaned, +and by them the tragedy was justified; "for," said Te Rangihaeata, +"they killed my wife, Te Rongo, and they did not punish the murderer +of Kuika."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_162" id="Ref_162" href="#Foot_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Ironside at once asked permission to go and bury +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">{265}</a></span> +the dead, whereupon the fiery Rangihaeata ejaculated, +"What do you want to go for? Better leave them to the +wild pigs. But you can go if you like." Still the gale +was too severe to admit of venturing across the twelve +miles of open sea; but so anxious had they all become, +that next morning a start was once more made from +Ngakuta, and at the imminent risk of their lives the +brave crew pulled their boat across the stormy bar into +the river. On arriving at Tua Marina, Mr. Ironside and +his party found that all the bodies had been left as +Rauparaha had directed—unmutilated. The watch of +Captain Wakefield was gone, one of the pistols, which he +had evidently attempted to fire, had been laid across his +throat in compliance with Maori custom, and a piece of +"damper," in savage derision, had been placed under his +head. The body of Brooks, the interpreter, was found to +be in the most mangled condition, the others apparently +only having received the one final and decisive blow, +when they were struck down by the enraged Rangihaeata. +Five bodies were discovered in the bush close to the +creek, and were there interred with the benefits of +Christian burial, while those who were slain on the brow +of the hill, thirteen in number, were buried close by with +similar rites. This fatiguing work had been almost completed +by the devoted missionary and his band of native +helpers when Colonel Wakefield, with the party from the +brig, arrived to assist. On an extended search being +made by the combined parties, one more body was +found at the point where the road turns into the Waitohi +Valley, and it was buried where it lay. Probably it was +that of Isaac Smith, who had either sought to escape after +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">{266}</a></span> +being mortally wounded, and had died in the attempt, or +had been overtaken in his flight and killed where he was +found. Mr. Patchett was buried in a single grave on the +spot where he fell, and Tyrrell and Northam were +interred together close beside him.</p> + +<p>In recognition of the kindly and humane service rendered by Mr. +Ironside during this critical and anxious period, the Nelson settlers +presented him with a testimonial in the shape of a handsome edition of +the Bible, bound in three volumes. The gift was gracefully +acknowledged by the reverend gentleman in a letter to Mr. Domett, +dated from Wellington on February 20, 1845.</p> + +<p>Upon the return of the party to Port Underwood, +Messrs. Spain and McDonough (the magistrate at Wellington) +set about collecting, with all possible speed, all +available information concerning the disaster from those +of both races who had been present, and who had now +arrived at the settlement. Amongst those whose depositions +were taken were two Maori boys, who had both +been wounded, and were being taken care of by female +relatives. Their story was a general corroboration of the +Maori version, and they were both unanimous in declaring +that, when the Europeans were overtaken on the +brow of the hill, Puaha, who was one of the first to reach +them, offered them his hand and did all in his power to +obviate further bloodshed by pointing out that he had +counted the slain, and, as both sides had exactly the +same number shot, there was no need for further <i>utu</i>. +In this view Rauparaha at first concurred, but he finally +gave way before the vehement protestations of Rangihaeata, +who reminded him in violent tones of his duty to +his dead relative, Te Rongo. He had then allowed his +enraged lieutenant to work his wicked will, which Puaha +and his people, being unarmed, were powerless to prevent. +At the conclusion of his inquiry, Mr. Spain left for +Wellington, taking the wounded with him; and those of +the survivors who had escaped uninjured proceeded back +to Nelson, some in the boats and some overland. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">{267}</a></span> +Before leaving the port Mr. Tuckett was authorised by +Colonel Wakefield to act as agent for the settlement until +the pleasure of the New Zealand Company should be +known. His journey home was rather an adventurous one, +as he had a very narrow escape of being intercepted by +the natives when sailing through the French Pass. Some +of his companions who were venturesome enough to call +in at Tory Channel, were detained there for a week by +the natives, but were ultimately permitted to take their +departure unharmed.</p> + +<p>The body of Mr. Maling, the chief constable, had not been found when +Mr. Ironside made his first search upon the scene of the massacre, a +fact which created no surprise at the time, for it was thought +probable that he had succeeded in making good his escape into the +bush. But, as he had not arrived at any of the settlements, the +missionary again returned to Tua Marina for the dual purpose of making +an extended search and of protecting the graves already made from +desecration by the wild pigs, with which the valley was at that time +thickly stocked. He was successful in finding two bodies floating in +the stream, being the remains of Clanzey and Ratcliffe, who had been +shot while crossing in the canoe. These were reverently interred on +the banks of the creek near where Mr. Patchett had been laid. The last +resting-place of these men bears no mark to distinguish it from the +surrounding landscape, but a plain though substantial monument has +been raised over the spot where Captain Wakefield and his companions +fell; while a memorial church, built by the Wakefield family, stands +prominently upon the point of the hill, and solemnly presides over the +whole scene.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to describe the intense excitement which +agitated the whole colony as the tidings of the massacre flew from +settlement to settlement; and in the white heat of their anger the +settlers were guilty of saying and doing many rash and intemperate +things. Few of them had made themselves conversant with the whole +facts of the case, and fewer still stayed to reason out the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">{268}</a></span> +natural actions of men under the circumstances. All that +they knew, and all that they cared to know, was that +their countrymen had been, as a Nelson settler forcibly +expressed it, "brutally butchered by a parcel of miscreant +savages, ten thousand of whose useless lives would have +all too cheaply purchased their survival, let the cant of +ultra-philanthropists say what it will." But this fierce +indignation was not participated in by the Europeans +alone. Flying from the scene of the tragedy, Te +Rauparaha arrived with his retainers at Waikanae, cold +and wet with the sea spray which had swept over him on +the passage across the Strait. He immediately assembled +the Ngati-Awa people and told them the tale of the +massacre, holding their attention by the graphic nature of +his narrative. At first his listeners were unsympathetic, +but he appealed to their sympathies by feigning physical +distress. Bent in body and trembling in voice, he appeared +to speak with difficulty, and used a hacking cough with +some effect to melt their sternness. But his most telling +point was made when, advancing a few steps, he held up his +shaking hands and dramatically exclaimed, "Why should +they seek to fetter me? I am old and weak; I must soon +pass away. What could they gain by enslaving me? by +fastening irons on these poor old hands? No; that is not +what they seek. It is because through my person they +hope to dishonour you. If they can enslave me they +think they can degrade the whole Maori race."</p> + +<p>This was the dart that struck deep into Maori pride, and wounded their +sense of honour. Instantly the tribe rose responsive to the +suggestion, and weapons were gripped, eyes flashed, and the spirit of +war surged in every breast. Missionary Hadfield was present, and saw +the sway wielded by the old chief's oratory. He saw, too, how critical +was the position, and gladly availed himself of the timely suggestion +made by one of the missionary natives to ring the bell for evening +prayers, and thus bring back the warriors' thoughts to a more peaceful +frame. Next morning Te Rauparaha journeyed to Otaki, and there +harangued the fighting men of Ngati-Toa. Here +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">{269}</a></span> +there was no need to adopt the arts of the stage. His +auditors were his own followers, many of whom had been +with him since childhood. They knew him and trusted +him, and with them his word was law. He therefore +threw off the guise of broken manhood, of fettered limbs, +of tottering steps, and stood before them the bold and +imperious chief that he was. His words ringing with +the timbre of commanding confidence, were direct and to +the purpose. "Now is the time to strike. You see what +the smooth speech of the <i>pakeha</i> is worth; you know +now what they mean in their hearts. You know now that +tyranny and injustice is all that you can expect at their +hands. Come then and sweep them from the land which +they have sought to bedew with our blood."</p> + +<p>In these warlike counsels he was ably seconded by Te Rangihaeata, who, +reasoning as a Maori would reason, had always strongly held the view +that, as the white men would be certain to seek satisfaction for the +massacre, their duty was to get what <i>utu</i> they could while the +opportunity to do so was theirs. He therefore joined with his chief in +urging an immediate march upon Wellington, in order by one swift +stroke to obliterate the <i>pakeha</i> and his settlements. These +sanguinary proposals were not preached to unwilling ears, for it was +but natural that the Maori should judge the settlers by their leaders, +the representatives of the New Zealand Company, whose bad faith now +appeared so audaciously transparent. But there was one chief who was +proof against the hysteria of blood which had seized the tribes. Side +by side with Hadfield he stood like a rock above the billows of hate +which surged around him, and by his calm and stedfast loyalty broke +the fury of the storm. This was Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, the +Ngati-Awa chief of Waitara. His resolute opposition to Te Rauparaha's +plans was an obstacle which that chief could not overcome. He carried +his own people with him, while Hadfield soothed the Ngati-Raukawa into +neutrality. Without Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Awa, Ngati-Toa was not +equal to a task which with their united forces would have been a +simple matter. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">{270}</a></span> +That the Maoris had the power at this time to drive the +colonists into the sea, had they chosen to exercise it, has +been freely admitted by the settlers themselves,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_163" id="Ref_163" href="#Foot_163">[163]</a></span> +so that +the service which Wiremu and the good missionary +Hadfield rendered to the Colony at this juncture can only +be estimated at the value of the infant settlement itself. +And, with regret be it said, Wellington is even now +destitute of any monument to which the passing generations +might point as a public recognition of the fact that +these two men once stood between it and extermination.</p> + +<p>Before Te Rauparaha was able to extend his projects for avenging his +wrongs beyond his own immediate sphere of influence, he was visited by +Mr. George Clarke, the Sub-Protector of the aborigines, who gave him +his most solemn pledge that the Government would not attack him +without first hearing his side of the question, and begged him to try +and keep the natives quiet until the case could be investigated. +Following close upon Mr. Clarke came Mr. Spain, deputed by the +magistrates at Wellington, and empowered to speak as one in authority.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_164" id="Ref_164" href="#Foot_164">[164]</a></span> +He strove to assure the natives that they were +mistaken if they imagined that the Europeans would wage war against +them indiscriminately by way of retaliation for the death of Captain +Wakefield and his comrades. The question of punishment rested solely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">{271}</a></span> +with the Governor, and, until he could decide who +should be punished and what the punishment should be, +there would be no act of aggression against the natives.</p> + +<p>"Your words are very good, but who can tell what will be the words of +the Governor?" was the comment of one of the chiefs upon these +assurances. To this Spain could only reply by pointing to their past +intercourse, and asking if during their long acquaintance they had +ever known him to deceive them. Fortunately, his record stood him in +good stead, and the chief agreed that he for one would help to protect +the Europeans. While this discussion was proceeding, Rauparaha had +joined the assembly, and at this point he rose and delivered what Mr. +Spain considered "a most powerful speech." He traversed anew the +events which had led up to the <i>fracas</i>, and vehemently asked, +"Is this the justice which the Queen of England promised to the Maori? +You are not satisfied with having taken all our land from us, but you +send a Queen's ship headed by a Queen's officer to fire upon us and +kill us." Spain endeavoured to expound to the angry chief the niceties +of British law, under which a warrant to arrest did not necessarily +imply established guilt; had he surrendered he would probably have +been admitted to bail until the day of the trial, and, so far from the +Queen and the Governor being to blame for the conduct of the +magistrate, they had never heard of the warrant. On Spain expressing +his abhorrence of the killing of the captives, Te Rauparaha admitted +the error of the step, which he palliated as due to their own custom +and Rangihaeata's grief at the death of his wife. He then proceeded to +question Spain with an acumen which astonished the lawyer, and forced +him to form a very high estimate of the chief's intellectual capacity; +for his examination was as keen "as if I had undergone that ordeal in +Westminster Hall at the hands of a member of the English Bar." What Te +Rauparaha wished to guard against was treachery. He wanted everything +open to the light of day, and the conference ended by his saying to +Spain, "If the Governor should decide upon sending +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">{272}</a></span> +soldiers to take me and Rangihaeata, let us know when +they arrive, because you need not take the trouble to +send up here for us. If you only send word I will come +down to Port Nicholson with a thousand Maoris and +fight with the <i>pakehas</i>. If they beat us, they shall have +New Zealand, and we will be their slaves, but if we beat +them, they must stand clear."</p> + +<p>Mr. Spain next proceeded to Otaki. There he was told that the natives +intended to stand loyally by their chiefs, and that any attempt to +seize them would lead to immediate reprisals. Following closely upon +Mr. Spain's departure, Mr. Jerningham Wakefield reached Otaki. He came +from the north, and, as he drifted down the Whanganui River, he +received the first tidings of the death of his uncle. It was difficult +at first to give credence to the nebulous rumours which reached him; +but the constant reiteration of the same story about a fight with the +<i>pakehas</i> and the death of "Wideawake" gradually compelled +attention, and ultimately received confirmation at the white +settlement then known as Petre.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_165" id="Ref_165" href="#Foot_165">[165]</a></span> +Here Wakefield was the recipient +of a message from Te Rauparaha, demanding to know whether he was for +peace or for war, and preferring a request that "Tiraweke" would come +to Otaki to <i>korero</i> with him. In the meantime he had sent his +canoes to Manawatu, and was preparing for his retreat into the +interior should he be attacked. Wakefield left Petre, and at the end +of the first day he was met at Rangitikei by the old Ngati-Raukawa +chief Te Ahu karamu,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_166" id="Ref_166" href="#Foot_166">[166]</a></span> +who had gone thither with an armed party to +conduct his friend safely through the disturbed district. On reaching +Otaki, Wakefield went to Rangi-ura <i>pa</i>, the principal +settlement, where the Maoris placed only one interpretation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">{273}</a></span> +upon his coming—vengeance upon Te Rauparaha for +the death of his uncle.</p> + +<p>For two days Wakefield rested at Otaki, but saw nothing of the chiefs. +Rangihaeata was reported to be some distance in the interior, building +a strong <i>pa</i>, where it was understood that the chiefs had +determined to make a stand should the authorities seek to pursue them. +Te Rauparaha was at the Pakakutu <i>pa</i> at the mouth of the river, +endeavouring to break down the influence of Mr. Hadfield and Wiremu +Kingi. His efforts to consolidate his forces were various, as suited +the circumstances. He sought to ingratiate himself into the good +opinion of the missionary natives by appearing to become zealous in +religious observances; on the feeling of others he played by a recital +of his wrongs; and towards the European residents of Otaki he assumed +an attitude of unconcealed hostility, and ordered their removal from +the district. This step he deemed to be necessary, in order that he +might be free to act unhampered by spies in the supposed impending +campaign against the Queen's troops, and it was this mandate which +brought the chief and Wakefield face to face.</p> + +<p>As a result of Rauparaha's prohibition, a <i>pakeha</i> settler named +White, who had been living under the patronage of Te Ahu karamu, found +himself suddenly stopped at the Otaki River while in the act of +driving some thirty head of cattle on to the land upon which his +patron chief had invited him to settle. This high-handed action +naturally aroused the anger of the Ngati-Raukawa chiefs, who had +hitherto assumed that they were masters of the territory which they +had chosen to "sit upon" when the division of the conquered lands was +made. Te Ahu was especially angered at what he regarded as an +uncalled-for encroachment upon his prerogative as a chief. He +therefore announced his determination to proceed to the Pakakutu +<i>pa</i> and demand from Te Rauparaha a complete renunciation of his +views. Wakefield was invited to be present, and to his facile pen we +are indebted for a graphic account of what followed. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">{274}</a></span> +The <i>korero</i> did not commence immediately upon the +arrival of Te Ahu's party at the <i>pa</i>, and Wakefield employed +the interval in the kindly office of helping to +dress the wounded leg of a Maori, whom he has described +as one "particularly gentle and dignified in his +manners." While thus engaged, Te Rauparaha approached +him, and, with evident signs of apprehension +as to the propriety of his doing so, offered a friendly +salutation. Wakefield coldly declined to grasp the hand +which he naturally believed was imbrued in his uncle's +blood; and Rauparaha, immediately acknowledging the +delicacy of his position, muttered "It is good," and +returned to his seat. The speech-making commenced +by his entering upon a lengthy narrative of himself and +his conquests, for the evident purpose of riveting in the +minds of his hearers the fact that he was the brain and +the heart of the tribe. His story was eloquently told, +for not the least of his great natural endowments was the +precious gift of the silver tongue. The tale of conquest +ended, he was proceeding to refer to the incidents of +the Wairau, when Wakefield rose and checked him. +Naturally the latter was sensitive upon the point of +prejudging so dreadful a tragedy, by listening to an +<i>ex-parte</i> statement of its facts, when he was fully persuaded +that at no distant date he would hear the truth +disclosed before an impartial tribunal. He therefore +told Te Rauparaha that he would not remain if he +proposed to discuss the affair of the Wairau, but begged +him to confine his speech to a justification of his +extreme and arbitrary desire to drive the Europeans +away from Otaki.</p> + +<p>Te Rauparaha acknowledged the reasonableness of this request, but so +anxious was he to excuse himself in the eyes of Wakefield, that his +oration had not proceeded far before he reverted to the subject of the +massacre. Thereupon Wakefield rose, and, walking to the stile at the +outer fence, was in the act of stepping over it to proceed home, when +a chorus of shouts called him back, and a promise was given that there +would be no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">{275}</a></span> +further reference to the Wairau. Te Rauparaha then +earnestly addressed himself to the status of the <i>pakehas</i> +at Otaki, claiming the land as his alone. He admitted +the validity of the sales of the Manawatu, Whanganui, +and Taranaki, but not those of Otaki or Ohau, and +insisted that the white people, whalers included,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_167" id="Ref_167" href="#Foot_167">[167]</a></span> +must remove to those districts which the Company had fairly +bought. He upbraided the Queen for sending her constables +to tie his hands. "Who is she," he asked, "that +she should send her books and her constables after me? +What have I to do with her? She may be Queen over +the white people; I am the King of the Maori! If she +chooses to have war, let her send me word, and I will +stand up against her soldiers. But I must have room; +I must have no white people so near."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_168" id="Ref_168" href="#Foot_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Challenged as to the inconsistency of these views with his action in +signing the Treaty of Waitangi, he wheeled sharply round and +exclaimed, "Yes; what of that? They gave me a blanket for it. I am +still a chief, just the same. I am Rauparaha. Give me another blanket +tomorrow and I will sign it again. What is there in writing?" The +attitude of absolute authority assumed by the chief distinctly alarmed +Wakefield, who saw in it the elements of unlimited trouble for the New +Zealand Company. For if Te Rauparaha's claim to exclusive jurisdiction +over the land was well founded, then verily many of their purchases +had been brought to the brink of repudiation. Turning hastily to Te +Ahu and several of the chiefs around him, he sought enlightenment on +the point, reminding them that they had frequently laid +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">{276}</a></span> +claim to large possessions in the neighbourhood, but +had never acknowledged Te Rauparaha as having the +least right or interest in them. Then Te Ahu proceeded +in a tone of apology and regret to elucidate one of the +many intricate phases of Maori land tenure which were +now beginning to prove so embarrassing to the Company. +He explained that when the tribe burned their houses at +Maungatautari and came down to assist Te Rauparaha +in his conquest, they had selected Otaki out of the +conquered lands to be their future home. In times of +peace Rauparaha would have made no claim to the +land, nor would his claim have been acknowledged if he +had. In proof of this, he quoted the scorn with which +Rangihaeata's assumptions over the Manawatu had been +rejected by Ngati-Raukawa; but now that the war clouds +were in the air, the <i>riri</i>, or anger, had completely altered +the whole aspect of affairs; the land had reverted to him +who had conquered it, and Ngati-Raukawa had no land +which they could call their own. "And then he rose," +says Wakefield, "and endeavoured to persuade Rauparaha +to change his determination. He reminded him of the +'war parties which he had brought to him on his back to +assist him against his enemies, through dangers and +troubles more than he could count.' He related how 'he +had burned the villages of the tribe at Taupo to make them +come with him to be by the side of Rauparaha on the +sea-coast.' He counted how many times he had adhered +to him 'in his feuds with Ngati-Awa,' and described +'how much of the blood of Ngati-Raukawa had been +spilt for his name.' Te Ahu had now warmed with his +subject, and was running up and down, bounding and +yelling at each turn, and beginning to foam at the +mouth, as the natives do when they seek to speak impressively. +'Let the cows go!' he cried. 'Let them go +to my place!'</p> + +<p class="block">"Rauparaha seemed to consider that Te Ahu's eloquence was becoming too +powerful, and he jumped up too. They both continued to run up and down +in short parallel lines, yelling at each other, with staring eyes and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">{277}</a></span> +excited features, grimacing and foaming, shaking their +hands and smacking their thighs. As they both spoke +together, it became difficult to hear what they said, but I +caught a sentence here and there, which gave me the +sense of the argument. 'No!' cried Rauparaha; 'no +cows; I will not have them.' 'Let them go!' yelled Te +Ahu. 'Yield me my cows and my white man—the cows +will not kill you.' 'No cows, no white men! I am King! +Never mind your war parties! No cows!' answered Te +Rauparaha. 'The cows cannot take you,' persisted Te +Ahu; 'when the soldiers come we will fight for you, but +let my cows go.' 'No, no, no, indeed,' firmly replied the +chief, and sat down.</p> + +<p class="block">"Te Ahu remained standing. He took breath for a minute, then drew +himself up to his full height, and addressed his own people in a +solemn kind of recitative. 'Ngati-Raukawa,' he sang, 'arise! Arise, my +sons and daughters, my elder brothers and my younger brothers, my +sisters, my grand-children, arise! Stand up, the families of +Ngati-Raukawa! To Taupo! to Taupo! to Maungatautari! To our old homes +which we burned and deserted; arise and let us go! Carry the little +children on your backs, as I carried you when I came to fight for this +old man who has called us to fight for him and given us land to sit +upon, but grudges us white people to be our friends and to give us +trade. We have no white men or ships at Maungatautari, but the land is +our own there. We need not beg to have a white man or cows yielded to +us there if they should want to come. To Maungatautari. Arise, my +sons, make up your packs, take your guns and your blankets, and let us +go! It is enough, I have spoken.' As he sat down, a mournful silence +prevailed. An important migration had been proposed by the chief, +which no doubt would be agreed to by the greater part of the Otaki, +Ohau, and Manawatu natives, on whom was Rauparaha's chief dependence +for his defence.</p> + +<p class="block">"I noticed that he winced when he first heard the purport of Te Ahu's +song; but, while Te Ahu continued, his countenance gradually resumed +its confidence. Much +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">{278}</a></span> +as I abhorred his character, I could not but yield my +unbounded admiration to the imperious manner in which +he overthrew the whole effect of Te Ahu's beautiful +summons to his tribe. Instead of his usual doubting and +suspicious manner, his every gesture became that of a +noble chief. He rose with all the majesty of a monarch, +and he spoke in the clearest and firmest tones, so that +the change from his customary shuffling, cautious and +snarling diction was of itself sufficient to command the +earnest attention of his audience. 'Go,' said he, 'go, all +of you!—go, Ngati-Raukawa, to Maungatautari! Take +your children on your backs and go, and leave my land +without men. When you are gone, I will stay and fight +the soldiers with my own hands. I do not beg you to +stop. Rauparaha is not afraid! I began to fight when I +was as high as my hip. All my days have been spent in +fighting, and by fighting I have got my name. Since I +seized by war all this land, from Taranaki to Port +Nicholson, and from Blind Bay to Cloudy Bay beyond +the water, I have been spoken of as a King. I am the +King of all this land. I have lived a King, and I will die +a King, with my <i>mere</i> in my hand. Go; I am no +beggar; Rauparaha will fight the soldiers of the Queen +when they come, with his own hands and his own name. +Go to Maungatautari.' Then, suddenly changing his +strain, he looked on the assemblage of chiefs, bending +down towards them with a paternal smile, and softening +his voice to kindness and emotion. 'But what do I say?' +said he; 'what is my talk about? You are children! +It is not for you to talk. You talk of going here and +doing that. Can one of you talk when I am here? No! +I shall rise and speak for you all, and you shall sit dumb, +for you are all my children, and Rauparaha is your head +chief and patriarch.'"</p> + +<p>This fearless rejection of Ngati-Raukawa assistance, culminating in an +arrogant assumption of absolute authority over their movements, +completely won him his point, and one of the highest chiefs said to +Wakefield, "It is true, Tiraweke! He is our father and our +<i>Ariki</i>. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">{279}</a></span> +Rauparaha is the King of the Maori, like your Queen over +the white people." The others, full of conscious dignity +in being followers of such a leader, acknowledged his +authority by bowing a silent assent. Rauparaha remained +inflexible in refusing to permit the cattle to enter the +district, but, in deference to the urgent persuasions +of the chiefs, he subsequently relaxed his prohibition +against the white men already settled in the district, +but stoutly refused to sanction the coming of any +more.</p> + +<p>But this effort of Te Rauparaha to consolidate his forces was in no +sense the full range of his preparations. To augment his fighting +strength was as much his policy as to unite those who already +acknowledged allegiance to him. And this he sought to do in a quarter +which, in view of past events, he would have been least expected to +approach, and where his advances, once made, would have been least +likely to touch a responsive chord. His scheme involved no less a +delicate task than salving the wounds of the Ngai-Tahu tribe, and +negotiating a friendly alliance with the men whose <i>mana</i> he had +so rudely trampled in the dust at Kaikoura and Kaiapoi. To this end he +collected a number of the most influential prisoners whom he had taken +at the latter place, and, bidding them go back to their tribe, charged +them to use their utmost endeavour to promote a good feeling towards +him amongst their people. This unexpected act of clemency—or apparent +clemency—which restored to them their much esteemed chief Momo, their +great warrior Iwikau, and others equally noted in their history, went +far to soothe the injured pride of Ngai-Tahu, who, after much serious +debate, decided to forget the past, make peace, and accede to the new +proposals. As an earnest of their acceptance of Rauparaha's terms, +Taiaroa at once paid a visit to Kapiti, and, as he professed to be +aggrieved at the manner in which some land transactions had been +conducted in the south, there is little doubt that, had an attack upon +Wellington been contemplated, he and his people would have combined +with their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">{280}</a></span> +former enemies to effect the annihilation of the colonists.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_169" id="Ref_169" href="#Foot_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>A fearful uncertainty thus continued to agitate the breasts of the +settlers; and when H.M. ship of war, <i>North Star</i> arrived in +Wellington on 31st August, as the result of a memorial sent by the +settlers to Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales, she was +received with a salute of guns and a display of bunting, which +indicated a belief that the day of retribution was at hand. It was +not, however, for four days that her commander, Sir Everard Home, was +able to enter into communication with Major Richmond, the principal +officer of the Government in Cook Strait. By him he was assured that +"he had received various reports of meditated attacks upon Wellington +by the natives under Te Rauparaha; that the chief was at a <i>pa</i> +not more than fourteen miles away, with between five hundred and a +thousand of his fighting men; that Taiaroa, the chief from the Middle +Island, had joined Te Rauparaha, and, having been an ancient enemy to +him, had made peace; that the <i>pa</i> at Porirua was fortified, and +every preparation made for an attack on the town of Wellington." To +this Sir Everard, having regard to his explicit instructions not to +intervene unless the natives and the whites were at actual war, +replied that, in his judgment, the circumstances did not warrant his +interference, but that he would keep his ship in the harbour as a +salutary check upon Maori aggression. In the meantime he penned the +following letter to Te Rauparaha:—</p> + + <p class="block">"<span class="smcap">Friend Rauparaha</span>,—It + has come to my knowledge that you are + collecting the tribes round you, because you expect that I am going + to attack you. Those who told you so said that which is not true. + It was to keep the peace and not to make war that I came here. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">{281}</a></span> + You know that where many men are met together, and continue + without employment, they will find something evil to do. They had + best go home."</p> + +<p>Sir Everard Home, having satisfied himself that no immediate crisis +was likely to arise at Wellington, unless it was precipitated by the +settlers themselves, was constrained by reports of seething discontent +at Nelson to visit the settlements in Blind Bay. But, before +proceeding thither, he decided to call in at the island of Mana, and +there personally discuss the situation with Te Rauparaha himself. +Accompanied by Major Richmond and Captain Best, he left Wellington +Harbour on the morning of October 5th, and anchored the <i>North +Star</i> under the lee of Mana that afternoon.</p> + +<p class="block">"As soon as the ship anchored," says Sir Everard in his official + report, "I landed, attended by Major Richmond and Captain Best, + who commanded the detachment on board the <i>North Star</i>. We + first went to the whaling station, or great <i>pa</i>, where we found Mr. + Chetham (clerk of the Court), who had been sent to join us. We + also soon after met Mr. Clarke. He informed us that Te Rauparaha + had left that morning at daylight for Waikanae, which must have + been a voluntary movement, as no person knew our intention till + the Strait was entered. We immediately went round to the <i>pa</i> + where the tribe was established. Here we found no one on the + beach to receive us, and, having landed, walked to the huts, where + we found a few persons sitting together. Rangihaeata, they said, + had fled to the bush, Te Rauparaha was at Waikanae, and, finding + that nothing could be done, we returned on board."</p> + +<p>During this visit to Porirua, the attention of the official party had +been directed to the presence of the New Zealand Company's boat, which +had been brought by the natives from the Wairau, after the massacre, +and hauled up on the shore of Taupo Bay amongst some twelve or fifteen +canoes; and this fact was made a subject of discussion next day when +the frigate reached Kapiti.</p> + +<p>Landing at Waikanae, where the interview was to take place, Sir +Everard Home says—</p> + +<p class="block">"We were received by the Rev. Mr. Hadfield, a missionary, a + gentleman of high character and great intelligence, who, living in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">{282}</a></span> + the <i>pa</i> amongst the natives, knows every movement, for none could + take place without his knowledge. He at once declared all the reports + (of an intended attack upon Wellington) to be without foundation. + Having walked to his house, which is within the <i>pa</i>, we + proceeded to his school-yard, and the chiefs, Te Rauparaha, and Rere, + chief of the tribe inhabiting the <i>pa</i> of Waikanae, came, + accompanied by about fifty men. I then stated to the chief all that + was reported of him, and asked him what he had to say to contradict + it. He replied that, far from wishing to continue the quarrel with + the Europeans, which had been commenced by them, and not by him, his + whole time was occupied in travelling up and down the coast, + endeavouring to allay the irritation of the natives and to prevent + any ill consequences arising from the provoking language and threats + with which they were continually annoyed by the Europeans travelling + backwards and forwards. That, for himself, he believed them to be + lies invented by the white men, having been assured by the Police + Magistrate that no steps would be taken until the arrival of the new + Governor, or the pleasure of the Queen was known. He also declared + that they all stood in fear of the white men, and asked why I had + come if it was not to fight with and destroy them, for they had been + told that was my intention.</p> + +<p class="block">"I told them that the Queen's ships went to all parts of the world, + and that my object was to preserve peace rather than to make war, and + he was advised to believe no reports which he might hear, but to + inquire into the truth of them of Major Richmond, through Mr. Clarke + or Mr. Hadfield."</p> + +<p>The conference then dispersed, but at a later hour Te Rauparaha was +sent for to Mr. Hadfield's house, and asked if he would send a letter +to the principal chief at Porirua, requesting him to deliver up the +Company's boat to Sir Everard Home. His reply was that he had but +little influence amongst the Porirua people, but that, as he had +always been against the retention of the boat, he would assert what +authority he had to secure its return. He then became curious to know +if the surrender of the boat would end the quarrel; but Major Richmond +discreetly declined to commit himself on the point, and appealed to Te +Rauparaha's position as a chief to see that justice was done. Te +Rauparaha then penned the following letter, which he addressed to the +Porirua chiefs:—</p> + +<p class="block">"Go thou, my book, to Puaha, Hohepa, and Watarauehe. Give that boat + to the chief of the ship; give it to the chief for nothing. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">{283}</a></span> + These are + the words of Te Rauparaha. Your avarice in keeping back the boat from + us, from me, Mr. Hadfield, and Mr. Ironside, was great. This is not + an angry visit, it is to ask peaceably for the boat. There are only + Mr. Clarke, Mr. Richmond, and the chief of the ship: they three who + are going peaceably back to you that you may give up the boat.</p> + +<div class="sigbloc"> +<span class="hfright">"This is my book,</span> +<span class="right">"<span class="smcap">Te Rauparaha</span>."</span> +</div> + +<p>Armed with this authority Sir Everard Home returned to Porirua, where, +after lying at anchor all day on Sunday, he landed on the following +day, and made a formal demand for the return of the boat. At first, Te +Rangihaeata was inclined to resist the request, but, on receipt of a +private message from Te Rauparaha that a refusal might mean trouble, +he yielded the point, and the boat was ultimately handed over with +"the greatest good-humour."</p> + +<p>During the interview at Waikanae, Te Rauparaha had given the most +profuse assurances that he, relying upon the promise that there would +be no reprisals until the facts surrounding the massacre had been +investigated, was employing his best endeavours to pacify his people. +But his efforts, he said, were often nullified by the disturbing +rumours which reached them of armings and drillings<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_170" id="Ref_170" href="#Foot_170">[170]</a></span> +by the settlers at Wellington, which seemed to portend war rather than peace. +But the seeds of irritation and mistrust had already been sown much +further afield than Waikanae and Otaki; for the natives, on leaving +the Wairau, had taken with them, as well as the boat, the handcuffs +and leg-irons which had been foolishly brought down by Mr. Maling to +ensure Rauparaha's capture. These were sent from one <i>pa</i> to +another, and wherever they were exhibited, the enemies of the +<i>pakeha</i> were not slow to insinuate that, when the English became +numerous in the land, they would provide leg-irons for the whole of +the natives. The sight of these manacles, and the dark hints with +which they were everywhere accompanied, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">{284}</a></span> +created bitterness and resentment against settlers, with +whom the Maoris had always lived in perfect harmony; +so that before many weeks had passed away it only +required a single spark of indiscretion to set the whole +colony in a blaze of war. At no period of her history +has New Zealand stood so much in need of firm, discreet +and conciliatory guidance as in this critical juncture;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_171" id="Ref_171" href="#Foot_171">[171]</a></span> +and fortunately the hand of authority was strong enough +to prevent the spark being kindled. Acting-Governor +Shortland, taking a bold but unpopular initiative, on +July 12, 1843, issued the following proclamation:—</p> + +<p class="block">"Whereas it is essential to the well-being of this Colony that + confidence and good feeling should continue to exist between the two + races of its inhabitants, and that the native owners of the soil + should have no reason to doubt the good faith of Her Majesty's solemn + assurance that their territorial rights should be recognised and + respected. Now, therefore, I, the officer administering the + Government, do hereby publicly warn all persons claiming land in this + Colony, in all cases where the claim is denied or disputed by the + original native owners, from exercising rights of ownership thereon, + or otherwise prejudicing the question of title to the same, until the + question of ownership shall have been heard and determined by one of + Her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to investigate claims to land + in New Zealand."</p> + +<p>The wisdom of thus holding the hands of the settlers until the title +to their lands had been settled by a constitutional course was not at +first apparent to the pioneers, who treated the proclamation with +scant respect, and roundly abused it and its author in the public +press.</p> + +<p class="block">"If," said one writer, "it had been the desire of its framer to hound + a troop of excited savages upon a peaceable and scattered population, + to destroy the remains of friendly feeling existing between the two + races, to imbrue in blood the hands of both, and lead to the + extermination of one or the other, such a proclamation might have + served its purpose."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">{285}</a></span> +This style of exaggerated invective will serve to show the unreasoning +pitch to which even the better class of colonists had allowed +themselves to be worked by the news of the catastrophe. Nor were they +content with merely upbraiding the authorities in the press and at +public meetings; deputations waited upon the Acting-Governor at +Auckland, urging him to take immediate steps to avenge the death of +Captain Wakefield. The Nelson deputation consisted of Dr. Monro and +Mr. A. Domett, and the essence of their petition was contained in the +following paragraph:—</p> + +<p class="block">"We have no hesitation in stating that it is the general opinion of + the settlers at Nelson that our countrymen who were killed at Wairau + Plain lost their lives in endeavouring to discharge their duties as + magistrates and British subjects, obedient to British law, and that + the persons by whom they were killed are murderers in the eyes of + common sense and justice."</p> + +<p>They therefore hoped that impartial justice would be done, and that +the penalties of the law would certainly overtake those whom its +verdicts pronounced to be guilty. But to this and all other petitions +of a similar tone Mr. Shortland staunchly refused to accede. In his +reply to Dr. Monro and Mr. Domett he clearly set forth the error under +which the settlers were labouring, when they ascribed the disaster to +the performance of duty on the part of the magistrates, and pointed +out that it might be more fairly attributed to an excess of duty on +the part of those officials, in attempting to annex land which had +never been legally purchased. After dwelling upon the criminality of +those who were responsible for the final conflict, he proceeded:—</p> + +<p class="block">"But whatever may be the crime, and whoever may be the criminals, it + is but too clear that the event we must all deplore has arisen from + several parties of surveyors, without the concurrence of the local + Government, proceeding to take possession of and to survey a tract of + land in opposition to the original native owners, who had uniformly + denied its sale. His Excellency therefore deems it proper to inform + you that the New Zealand Company has not selected + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">{286}</a></span> + any block of land in the valley of the Wairau, nor has the local Government yet + received any intimation that it is the intention of the Company to + select a block in that district."</p> + +<p>To say that the Englishmen were trespassers is the mildest way in +which the case against them can be stated, especially in view of the +forceful opinion expressed by Mr. Swainson, the Attorney-General, who +described their conduct as "illegal in its inception and in every step +of its execution, unjustifiable in the magistrate and four constables, +and criminal in the last degree on the part of the attacking party." +Writing from Port Nicholson ten days after the massacre, Mr. Spain +confirmed Mr. Swainson's condemnation of their conduct, which he +declared to be "an attempt to set British law at defiance and to +obtain, by force, possession of a tract of land, the title of which +was disputed, and then under the consideration of a commissioner +specially appointed to investigate and report upon it." From the +information he had been able to collect, Mr. Spain arrived at the +conclusion that at the commencement of the affair the natives +exhibited the greatest forbearance, and the utmost repugnance to fight +with the Europeans. His views were cordially endorsed by Mr. Clarke, +the Protector of the aborigines, who reported to the Acting-Governor +that he was "satisfied that such an unhappy affair as that of the +Wairau could never have occurred had not the natives been urged to it +by extreme provocation." These emphatic opinions from men who were not +only capable of arriving at a judicial conclusion, but were impartial +in the sense that they were not concerned in the catastrophe, together +with the decision of the Attorney-General that no act of felony had +been committed by the natives in burning the huts, fortified His +Excellency in ignoring the violent clamour of the settlers for +revenge. They induced him even to go further, and prohibit the +military displays which they were beginning to organise amongst +themselves under the plea that they were in imminent danger of being +attacked by the natives. This prohibition was to their excited +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">{287}</a></span> +minds the crowning injustice of all; and in October, +when H.M.S. <i>North Star</i> arrived at Port Nicholson, the +Wellington and Nelson settlements were practically in a +state of open rebellion. When Sir Everard Home was +applied to by the colonists to execute a warrant against +Rauparaha and Rangihaeata for murder, he was compelled +to "decline the honour," and admit candidly that he did +not consider a force so necessary to put a check upon the +natives as to keep in subjection the irate settlers themselves. +The settlers further memorialised Sir Eardley Wilmot, +Governor of Tasmania, for assistance, and he immediately +sent a battleship to their aid. But he took the precaution +to warn Captain Nicholson not to land his troops unless +the natives and Europeans were in actual conflict; and +this not being the case when the ship arrived, she soon +after took her departure. In their extremity the settlers +then turned to a French frigate which was lying in +New Zealand waters; but Major Richmond, on hearing +of the proposal to call upon her captain for aid, +indignantly vetoed it as being "a stain upon British +arms."</p> + +<p>The social and political atmosphere was still in this condition of +ferment when, towards the close of the year, Captain Fitzroy, the +newly appointed Governor, arrived. It was not, however, until February +that he was able to give his undivided attention to the adjudication +of matters connected with the massacre; but he then spared no pains to +make himself master of all the facts upon which a decision was to be +based. He first studied the merits of the European case, and then +journeyed to Waikanae, where he landed on February 12, 1844, with his +suite, consisting of Sir Everard Home, Mr. Spain, the officers of the +<i>North Star</i>, Major Richmond and Mr. Symonds, the Wellington +magistrates, and Mr. George Clarke, the Sub-Protector of the +aborigines. There he met Rauparaha and Rangihaeata with upwards of +four hundred of their tribe, congregated for the <i>korero</i> in an +enclosure in the centre of the <i>pa</i>, the Governor being provided +with a chair, Rauparaha sitting by his side. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">{288}</a></span> +His Excellency, addressing the assembled natives +through Mr. Clarke, said:—</p> + +<p class="block">"I have heard from the English all that happened at the Wairau, and + it has grieved my heart exceedingly. I now ask you to tell me your + story so that I may compare the two and judge fairly. When I have + heard your account of that dark day, I will reflect and then tell you + what I shall do. The bad news I have just heard about killing the + English after they had ceased fighting, and had trusted to your + honour, has made my heart very dark, has filled my mind with gloom. + Tell me your story that I may compare it with the English, and know + the whole truth. When I first heard of the death of my friends at the + Wairau, I was very angry and thought of hastening here with many + ships of war, with many soldiers, and several fire-moved ships + (steamers). Had I done so your warriors would have been killed, your + canoes would have been all taken and burnt, your houses and your + <i>pas</i> would have all been destroyed, for I would have brought + with me from Sydney an irresistible force. But these were hasty, + unchristian thoughts: they soon passed away. I considered the whole + case. I considered the English were very much to blame even by their + own account, and I saw how much you had been provoked. Then I + determined to put away my anger and come to you peaceably. Let me + hear your story."</p> + +<p>Rauparaha then arose, and after being exhorted by several of his tribe +to speak out that all might hear, he began in slow and measured tones +to narrate their land troubles with the Company in the Wellington +settlement, and then he passed on to the Wairau. This land, he +declared, was taken away by Thompson and Captain Wakefield, and he +described the visit of Rangihaeata and himself to Nelson to protest +against its occupancy; nor did he omit to mention the threats then +used towards them by Captain Wakefield. Then he told how they had gone +over and stopped the survey, and brought Messrs. Cotterell and +Barnicoat down to the bar, and how they had afterwards met Mr. +Tuckett, and likewise refused him permission to remain.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 512px"> + <br /> + <a name="porirua" id="porirua"> + <img width="512" height="400" alt="porirua" src="images/321-porirua.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">TAUPO PA, PORIRUA.<br /> + Where Te Rauparaha was captured.</p> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="block">"After Mr. Tuckett had gone to Nelson," said Rauparaha, "we continued + our planting, till one morning we saw the <i>Victoria</i> (the + Government brig). Then were our hearts relieved, for we thought Mr. + Spain and Mr. Clarke had come to settle the question of our lands. + Being scattered about on the different places on the river, we + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">{289}</a></span> + took no further notice, expecting a messenger to arrive from Mr. Spain; + but a messenger came up to say that it was an army of English, and + that they were busily engaged in cleaning their arms and fixing the + flints of their guns. They met Puaha, and detained him prisoner. They + said, 'Where are Rauparaha and Rangihaeata?' Puaha said, 'Up the + river.' After Puaha and Rangihaeata arrived, we consulted as to what + we should do. I proposed going into the bush, but they said 'No, let + us remain where we are: what have we done that we should be thus + beset?' The Europeans slept some distance from us, and, after they + had breakfasted, came on towards us in two boats. We remained on the + same spot without food. We were much alarmed. Early in the morning we + were on the look-out, and one of the scouts, who caught sight of them + coming round a point, called out, 'Here they come! here they come!' + Our women had kindled a fire and cooked a few potatoes that we had + remaining, and we were hastily eating them when they came in sight. + Cotterell called out, 'Where is Puaha?' Puaha answered, 'Here I am, + come here to me.' They said again, 'Where is Puaha?' Puaha again + saluted them. Cotterell then said, 'Where is a canoe for us to + cross?' Thompson, Wakefield, and some other gentlemen crossed over + with a constable to take me, but the greater number stopped on the + other side of the creek. Thompson said, 'Where is Rauparaha?' I + answered, 'Here.' He said, 'Come, you must come with me.' I replied, + 'What for?' He answered, 'To talk about the houses you have burnt + down.' I said, 'What house have I burned down? Was it a tent + belonging to you that you make so much ado about? You know it was + not; it was nothing but a hut of rushes. The materials were cut from + my own ground; therefore I will not go on board, neither will I be + bound. If you are angry about the land, let us talk it quietly over. + I care not if we talk till night and all day to-morrow; and when we + have finished, I will settle the question about the land!' Mr. + Thompson said, 'Will you not go?' I said 'No,' and Rangihaeata, who + had been called for, and who had been speaking, said so too. Mr. + Thompson then called for the handcuffs and held up the warrant, + saying, 'See, this is the Queen's book, this is the Queen to make a + tie, Rauparaha.' I said, 'I will not listen either to you or your + book.' He was in a great passion; his eyes rolled about and he + stamped his feet. I said I would rather be killed than submit to be + bound. He then called for the constable, who began opening the + handcuffs and advancing towards me. Mr. Thompson laid hold of my + hand. I pushed him away, saying, 'What are you doing that for?' Mr. + Thompson then called out 'Fire!' The Europeans began to cross over + the creek, and as they were crossing they fired one gun. The women + and children were sitting round the fire. We called out, 'We shall be + shot,' After this one gun, they fired a volley, and one of us was + killed, then another, and three were wounded. We were then closing + fast; the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">{290}</a></span> + <i>pakehas</i>' guns were levelled at us. I and Puaha cried out, + 'Friends, stand up and shoot some of them in payment.' We were + frightened because some of them were very close to us. We then fired; + three of the Europeans fell. They fired again and killed Rongo, the + wife of Rangihaeata. We then bent all our energy to the fight, and + the Europeans began to fly. They all ran away, firing as they + retreated; the gentlemen ran too. We pursued them and killed them as + we overtook them. Captain Wakefield and Mr. Thompson were brought to + me by the slaves, who caught them. Rangihaeata came running to me, + crying out, 'What are you doing, I say?' Upon which some heathen + slaves killed them at the instigation of Rangihaeata; neither Puaha + nor the Christian natives being then present. There was no time + elapsed between the fight and the slaughter of the prisoners. When + the prisoners were killed, the rest of the people were still engaged + in the pursuit, and before they returned they were all dead. I forgot + to say that during the pursuit, when we arrived at the top of the + hill, Mr. Cotterell held up a flag and said, 'That is enough, stop + fighting!' Mr. Thompson said to me, 'Rauparaha, spare my life.' I + answered, 'A little while ago, I wished to talk to you in a friendly + manner, and you would not; now you say, 'Save me,' I will not save + you. It is not our custom to save the chiefs of our enemies. We do + not consider our victory complete unless we kill the chiefs of our + opponents. Our passions were much roused, and we could not help + killing the chiefs."</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of Rauparaha's address, Captain Fitzroy desired time +to reflect upon what he had just heard, and, at the expiration of +half-an-hour, he announced his decision as follows:—</p> + +<p class="block">"Now I have heard both sides, I have reflected on both accounts, and + I am prepared to give my judgment. In the first place, the English + were wrong; they had no right to build houses upon lands to which + they had not established their claim—upon land the sale of which you + disputed; on which Mr. Spain had not decided. They were wrong in + trying to apprehend you, who had committed no crime. They were wrong + in marking and measuring your land in opposition to your repeated + refusal to allow them to do so until the Commissioner had decided on + their claim. Had you been Englishmen, you would have known that it + was wrong to resist a magistrate under any circumstances, but not + understanding English law, the case is different. Had this been all, + had a struggle caused loss of life in the fight—wrong and bad as it + would have been to fight in the sight of God—I could not have blamed + you so much as the English. The very bad part of the Wairau + affair—that part where you were + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">{291}</a></span> + very wrong—was the killing of the + men who had surrendered, who trusted to your honour as chiefs. + Englishmen never kill prisoners; Englishmen never kill men who have + surrendered. It is the shocking death of these unfortunate men that + has filled my mind with gloom, that has made my heart so dark, that + has filled me with sorrow; but I know how difficult it is to restrain + angry men when their passions are aroused. I know you repent of your + conduct, and are now sorry that those men were killed. As the English + were very greatly to blame, as they brought on and began the fight, + and as you were hurried into crime by their misconduct, I will not + avenge their death."<span + class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_172" id="Ref_172" href="#Foot_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>In arriving at this determination, Captain Fitzroy may have been +actuated to some extent by considerations of expediency; for, had he +decided in any other way, the reprisals of the English would +undoubtedly have created a war with the natives, which the Government +was not in a position at that juncture to carry to a successful issue. +Therefore, to have provoked hostilities with Rauparaha would have +meant the obliteration of all the settlements before the necessary +reinforcements could have arrived. At the same time, there was a large +measure of justice in the course he chose to adopt, which, in the +calmer judgment of to-day, must receive the endorsement of all +impartial men, as it did that of Lord Stanley, the Secretary of State +for the Colonies, immediately the Governor's decision was known to the +Home authorities. In his despatches on the subject, Lord Stanley made +it clear that, in his opinion, Mr. Thompson and Captain Wakefield had +needlessly violated the rules of English law, the maxims +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">{292}</a></span> +of prudence, and the principles of justice; and having thus provoked an indefensible +quarrel with a barbarous tribe, they could not reasonably complain at +the barbarities practised in the subsequent conflict. He was therefore +satisfied that, in declining to make the Wairau massacre a subject for +criminal proceedings, the Governor had taken a wise, though +undoubtedly bold, decision. As might have been expected, the action of +Captain Fitzroy in refusing to arrest the two chiefs created a tempest +of ill-will against him amongst the settlers, but, on the other hand, +the Maoris were overjoyed at the prospect of once more possessing the +friendship of the <i>pakeha</i>, and instantly resumed a sociable +demeanour towards the colonists. This feeling, upon the advent of +Captain Grey as Governor, was gradually reciprocated by the Europeans, +who in time came to recognise the folly of their fears, and the +absurdity of their hostile attitude. In this way, the startling nature +of the catastrophe, which had paralysed the efforts of the New Zealand +Company and thrown a pall over the settlement of the whole Colony, +began to lose its deadly effect, and the splendid scheme of setting a +new gem in the British Crown was rescued from the disaster which +threatened it.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_154" id="Foot_154" href="#Ref_154">[154]</a> +On the 13th June, Captain Wakefield wrote to his brother from +Nelson: "The magistrates have granted a warrant, and Thompson, +accompanied by myself, England, and a lot of the constables, are off +immediately in the Government brig to execute it. We shall muster +about sixty, so I think we will overcome these travelling bullies."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_155" id="Foot_155" href="#Ref_155">[155]</a> +As told to the author by the late Mr. Barnicoat.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_156" id="Foot_156" href="#Ref_156">[156]</a> +Saturday, June 17, 1843.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_157" id="Foot_157" href="#Ref_157">[157]</a> +John Brooks had been engaged as a sawyer at Cloudy Bay. He was +thoroughly acquainted with the native language and habits, having been +eight years resident amongst the Waikato tribes.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_158" id="Foot_158" href="#Ref_158">[158]</a> +Rawiri Kingi Puaha was born at Kawhia, and belonged to one of +the best of the Ngati-Toa families. He migrated southward with Te +Rauparaha, and was married to one of Te Pehi's daughters. He died at +his own village, Takapuahia, Porirua Harbour, on September 6, 1858. He +was a man widely respected by the colonists, and to the day of his +death he "maintained a high character as a consistent and +conscientious Christian."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_159" id="Foot_159" href="#Ref_159">[159]</a> +"The conduct of Mr. Thompson has been unquestionably the means +of bringing about the fatal conflict in which he himself lost his +life. There is only one way of accounting for the part he has acted in +that affair; as far as he is concerned, no more blame can be attached +to him than to any other lunatic, for such he was to all intents and +purposes, and such he was well known to be, even to Mr. Shortland" +(<i>Martin's Letters</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_160" id="Foot_160" href="#Ref_160">[160]</a> +Te Rongo was not the <i>daughter</i> of Te Rauparaha, as that +word is generally understood by Europeans, but a much more distant +relative. She was the widow of Te Whaiti, a nephew of Rauparaha and a +first cousin of Rangihaeata, who married her because she was the widow +of his near relative. The story that she was shot while standing in +front of Rangihaeata to protect him is pure romance. She was killed by +a stray bullet while hiding in the swamp at the rear of the Maori +camp.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_161" id="Foot_161" href="#Ref_161">[161]</a> +"Yesterday we passed (near Maraekowhai) the grave of Te Oru, the +chief who killed Captain Wakefield at the Wairau" (<i>Crawford's +"Travels in New Zealand"</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_162" id="Foot_162" href="#Ref_162">[162]</a> +This referred to an incident which occurred in 1839. A +degenerate whaler named Dick Cook had cruelly murdered a native woman, +Rangiawha Kuika, who was the wife of an Englishman named Wynen. The +natives wished to deal with him in their own summary way, but the Rev. +Mr. Ironside persuaded them to send him to Wellington to be tried +according to the British forms of justice. He was charged with the +crime at the Supreme Court, but was acquitted, the evidence being +mainly circumstantial, his own wife (also a native woman), who saw him +do the deed, not being allowed to give testimony against him. This was +a delicate point which the natives could not understand, and they ever +after retained the firm conviction that an injustice had been done in +not punishing him.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_163" id="Foot_163" href="#Ref_163">[163]</a> +Mr. Clarke, Sub-Protector of the aborigines, estimated that in +1843 there were 11,650 natives capable of bearing arms inhabiting the +shores of Cook Strait. In a petition to Parliament signed by seven +hundred residents of Wellington shortly after the massacre, it was +stated "that it is in the power of the aborigines at any time to +massacre the whole of the British population in Cook Strait, and +Rauparaha has been known to declare that he will do it."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_164" id="Foot_164" href="#Ref_164">[164]</a> +On the 29th June, the Wellington magistrates met at Mr. +McDonough's house, and on the motion of Dr. Evans, seconded by the +Hon. J. Petre, it was resolved: "That Mr. Spain, the Commissioner of +Lands, be requested to go in his capacity as one of the magistrates to +communicate to the native chiefs and tribes of Cook Strait their +determination, which is not to take or to sanction any attempt to take +vengeance for the death of the white men at Wairau, but to leave the +whole matter to the decision of the Queen's Government, who will +inquire into it and decide according to law."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_165" id="Foot_165" href="#Ref_165">[165]</a> +Now known as Whanganui.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_166" id="Foot_166" href="#Ref_166">[166]</a> +Te Ahu karamu's son was travelling with Wakefield on this +journey, and under the impression that Wakefield would kill him in +revenge for the massacre, Te Ahu "had furiously urged the Otaki +natives to join Rauparaha and Rangihaeata in an attack upon +Wellington."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_167" id="Foot_167" href="#Ref_167">[167]</a> +"Some of the whalers present laughed at this, having too many +friends and relatives by their wives to fear being turned out. Taylor, +among the number, laughed outright, for he had lived with the tribe +for many years and was a general favourite among them. Rauparaha +turned to him and said, 'You must go too, Sammy'" (<i>Wakefield</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_168" id="Foot_168" href="#Ref_168">[168]</a> +Wakefield has said that Rauparaha not only rebuked the Queen, +but spoke offensively of her. But it must always be remembered that he +was naturally prejudiced against the chief, and that he was frequently +vindictive towards those from whom he differed.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_169" id="Foot_169" href="#Ref_169">[169]</a> +"Taiaroa talked to me for some time about land in a disgusting +jargon composed of whaling slang, broken French, and bad English, so +that I was obliged to beg him to speak in Maori, which I could better +understand. I then made out that he was angry with 'Wideawake' +(Colonel Wakefield) and other white people for taking so much land, +and he said he would turn the white people off to the southward if he +did not get plenty of <i>utu</i>" (<i>Wakefield</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_170" id="Foot_170" href="#Ref_170">[170]</a> +These displays had a distinctly disturbing effect upon the +native mind, the Maoris regarding them as a sure and certain sign that +the settlers meditated an attack upon them.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_171" id="Foot_171" href="#Ref_171">[171]</a> +The entire military force in the Colony at the moment of the +massacre was one weak company of infantry stationed at Auckland, and +there was no vessel of war on the station (<i>Mundy</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_172" id="Foot_172" href="#Ref_172">[172]</a> +This decision was written out in pencil and handed to Mr. Clarke +to read out to the assemblage. Because Governor Fitzroy did not claim +the Wairau district as having been paid for with blood—a course which +the chiefs fully expected would be taken, in accordance with their own +customs—British prestige and power are said to have suffered +considerably in their estimation, and Rangihaeata is reported to have +remarked, "<i>He paukena te pakeha</i>" (The Governor is soft, he is a +pumpkin). When the Middle Island was sold to the Government by Taiaroa +and the descendants of Tamaiharanui, Rangihaeata claimed part of the +payment as compensation for the death of Te Pehi and his friends +killed at Kaiapoi, and his claim was allowed by Governor Grey.</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">{293}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER VIII</span><br /><span +class="size070">THE CAPTIVE CHIEF</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">The</span> +decision of which Governor Fitzroy had delivered himself, as the +result of his hurried investigation into the circumstances attending +the tragedy at the Wairau, brought him into bitter conflict with the +more influential colonists, and added to his native troubles a +European difficulty, which ultimately played no small part in his +official undoing. Fitzroy had, with a patriotism worthy of the best +traditions of our race, sacrificed place and high prospects in the +homeland to assume the Governorship of New Zealand, a post which was +afterwards described by Lord Stanley as "a laborious, responsible, and +ill-remunerated office in a distant colony." Without money, or the +means of obtaining it, to carry on his civil administration, and +destitute of military support wherewith to assert his authority, he +found himself defied by the natives and thwarted by the Europeans. His +appeals for soldiers were unheeded, and his schemes for supplementing +his revenue were disallowed by the Home authorities, who, instead of +repairing their policy of parsimony, recalled the Governor. Thus was +cut short a career upon which Robert Fitzroy had entered with only the +highest motives, throughout which he had acted with the utmost +devotion, and in which he had failed only because with his limited +opportunities it was humanly impossible to succeed. His successor in +the arduous task of soothing the dual discontent was Captain Grey, +late of the 83rd Regiment, who was then serving the Crown with +conspicuous distinction as Governor of South Australia. His success +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">{294}</a></span> +in dealing with native difficulties there, his achievements as an +explorer, added to his valuable personal qualities, were his chief +recommendations for the new responsibilities which it was proposed to +ask him to assume. That the judgment of those responsible for the +selection was sound, history has proved; but the administrations of +Fitzroy and Grey cannot fairly be compared, for the reason that, while +the former was expected to rule a turbulent population without either +men or money, the latter was freely supplied with both. The new +Governor was further invested with the additional prestige derivable +from the title of Governor-in-Chief, and from the fact that he was +supported by a Lieutenant-Governor, who, in his subordinate authority, +was stationed in the Southern province. Captain Grey assumed the +duties of his new office on November 18, 1845. His first recorded +contact with Te Rauparaha was on the occasion of his receiving from +him and other chiefs a memorial, in which they expressed their anxiety +to know his political intentions, and begged him to give them someone +skilled in both native and European laws, who would advise them how +best to avoid conflict with the <i>pakeha</i>. They were, they said, +deeply anxious to obey the laws of the Queen, and just as they had +teachers amongst them to lead them to a proper understanding regarding +the will of God, so, in order to avoid misunderstanding, they desired +some one to act as their guide and friend in the matter of the +temporal law. Grey was more than gratified with this evidence of +loyalty and desire for harmony, and, in his reply, endeavoured to make +it clear that it was his duty so to direct his authority as to secure +the peace and happiness of all under his jurisdiction. "Maoris and +Europeans," wrote the Governor, "shall be equally protected and live +under equal laws, both of them alike subjects of the Queen and +entitled to her favour and care. The Maoris shall be protected in all +their property and possessions, and no one shall be allowed to take +anything from them or to injure them; nor will I allow Maoris to +injure one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">{295}</a></span> +another. An end must be put to deeds of blood and +violence." This clear and explicit declaration of his determination +to permit of only one law for the <i>pakeha</i> and +Maori, and to hold the racial balance justly before the eyes +of the world, touched a responsive chord in the heart of +the Maori nation; and Te Rauparaha was but expressing +the general sentiments of the people when he wrote in +reply to the Governor's message: "We have heard your +words, which are like the light of day to us; our hearts +are glad. Friend, now will I hold fast your words for +good, and for living in quiet, both of natives and +Europeans. Your protecting word has come forth for +one and for the other; your kind words are a light to us. +Now, for the first time, I can say the light has dawned +for the Maoris, and now no wrong-doing shall spring +from me. I mean the errors of the natives. If you +cannot come hither, will you write to me?" Not less +reassuring was the word of Wi Kingi Rangitake, of +Ngati-Awa.</p> + +<p>With these pronouncements of loyalty from the two most powerful chiefs +on the west coast, Grey felt more than equal to the task of subduing +the malcontent natives under Taringa-kuri, chief of the Kaiwara +<i>pa</i>, whose depredations in the Hutt Valley had been causing the +greatest anxiety to the Wellington settlers. Both Te Rauparaha and +Rangihaeata had laid claim to part payment for the land which the New +Zealand Company had purchased in this valley, their claim being based +upon the alleged conquest of the country. This conquest Mr. Spain held +to be incomplete, inasmuch as they had not resided on the land, which +was really occupied by Ngati-Awa. He therefore disallowed their claim, +although Mr. Clarke, junr., was anxious to pay out of the £1,500 +awarded to the natives a sum of £400 in liquidation of their rights, +he having come to some such arrangement with Rauparaha at an interview +which took place at Waikanae in the presence of the Governor. Hearing +of Mr. Spain's objection, Rauparaha, on February 3, 1844, penned a +letter to him, Mr. Clarke, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">{296}</a></span> +and the Governor, in which he warned them against +paying the purchase-money for Port Nicholson over to +"wrong parties," and listening to "strange men," at +the same time urging them to make haste and come to +Otaki for the purpose of explaining their intentions to +Rangihaeata and himself.</p> + +<p class="block">"<span class="smcap">Friend Mr. Clarke, Mr. Spain, and the + Governor</span>,—This + letter is from me and Rangihaeata, respecting your foolish work in + paying for the land. This was the cause of you and us going wrong + at the Wairau, the foolish paying to wrong parties. Do not listen to + strange men, but make haste and make known to us your intentions, + that the truth of what you have said may be seen. Friend Clarke, + make haste. Desist from listening to any man. Son Clarke and + Mr. Spain, desist also from carrying your payment to men who have + nothing to do with it, but bring it straight to us—myself and + Rangihaeata. This is all my speech to you by us.</p> + +<div class="sigbloc"> +<span class="right">"<span class="smcap">Rauparaha. </span></span> +<span class="right">"<span class="smcap">Rangihaeata.</span>"</span> +</div> + +<p>To this Mr. Clarke replied on the 29th, assuring Rauparaha that +anything that he had promised him in the matter of payment would be +carried out. Simultaneously, Mr. Spain arranged to hold a court at +Porirua, in order to comply as speedily as possible with Te +Rauparaha's request. This court, which was opened on 8th March, was +attended by most of the leading chiefs and upwards of two hundred +natives. After the preliminary addresses had been disposed of, Mr. +Spain formally opened the court by saying, "Rauparaha, I received your +letter asking me to settle the Port Nicholson purchase, and after +inquiry I have decided that the natives who owned the land are +entitled to more money, and I therefore offer you new terms." To this +Te Rauparaha answered, "My wish was to settle my claims at Port +Nicholson, but you want me to give up the Hutt." "Did you not consent +to receive £300 for Port Nicholson and the Hutt?" inquired Mr. Spain +in an injured tone; to which Te Rauparaha replied that he had not +regarded the bargain in that light. Efforts were made to convince him +that he had signed a deed in which the Hutt was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">{297}</a></span> +included, but he insisted that the boundary was not to go +beyond a creek known as Rotokakahi. "I am aware of +the cause of this objection," said Mr. Spain. "That +man sitting by your side, Taringa-kuri, is cultivating +land at the Hutt to which he has no right." Te +Rauparaha's answer was that the land belonged to +Taringa-kuri, as he was the oldest man of the resident +natives; whereupon Mr. Spain rose to depart, and as he +did so he turned, and, more in sorrow than in anger, +upbraided Te Rauparaha for thus breaking faith with him +in so flagrant a manner.</p> + +<p>The court then adjourned without either party having been able to +convince the other. But Te Rauparaha did not permit the grass to grow +under his feet, for he at once despatched Taringa-kuri to cut a line +through the scrub and bush dividing the Upper from the Lower Hutt +Valley, in order to define clearly what territory he considered +belonged to the <i>pakeha</i> and what to the Maori. On hearing that +this work was in progress, Mr. Spain felt it incumbent upon him to go +out and warn Taringa-kuri that he was committing an illegal act, and +that the boundary he was attempting to create would not be recognised +by the Government. Mr. Spain's reception was not an encouraging one. +"If you have come to make remarks about our cutting this line, you may +as well return, as we will listen to nothing you have got to say, nor +will we be deterred from it by you, by the Governor, or by the Queen," +was the truculent declaration of the first native whom he met. +Taringa-kuri was not less uncompromising. "I am cutting a line to +divide the lands of the settlers from our own, and I am doing it under +Te Rauparaha's orders," was his emphatic reply to Mr. Spain's demand +for information as to why this work was proceeding. And in answer to +the Commissioner's protest that the line being cut was not the line +agreed upon, the chief, with a fine show of indignation, accused him +of hostile intentions. "It is plain," he said, "you are not peaceably +disposed; you heard at Porirua that Rauparaha would not agree to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">{298}</a></span> +your boundaries, and you appear determined to insist +upon them. You had better return to the land of your +birth."</p> + +<p>Immediately upon his return to Wellington, Mr. Spain despatched a +letter to Rauparaha again severely censuring him for committing a +breach of faith in sending Taringa-kuri to cut the line contrary to +his (Mr. Spain's) decision, and concluding by saying, "Let me tell you +that after all that has occurred, Kuri is acting contrary to the laws +of the Governor, and, if he persists in his illegal acts, he will be +punished by the law accordingly." This letter Mr. Spain first showed +to Mr. Hadfield, who approved its contents, and translated it into the +native tongue for him, Mr. Spain thinking that this course would +enhance its value in the native estimation. On the 27th Rauparaha +replied that it was not he who was withholding the land, but +Rangihaeata, who had negatived his voice in the councils of the tribe. +But he still reiterated his former contention that he had never agreed +to sell the Hutt.</p> + +<p>The remonstrances on the part of Mr. Spain having proved fruitless, +the Governor first pacified Heke<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_173" id="Ref_173" href="#Foot_173">[173]</a></span> +and Kawiti in the north, and +then came south in February, 1846, with all the prestige of a +successful "fighting Governor," to direct his operations against the +truculent Taringa-kuri. In an interview, the Governor peremptorily +demanded the evacuation of the valley. The chief pleaded for time to +reap and remove the standing crops; but the Governor, strong in the +knowledge that he had right on his side, and an ample force to sustain +his demand, refused to consider any compromise, and gave the chief no +alternative between immediate compliance and a declaration of war. The +natives hesitated to test the question by an appeal to arms, and +sullenly withdrew from the disputed territory, but not from the valley +itself. They fell back upon a <i>pa</i> up in the ranges, which the +Governor afterwards described as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">{299}</a></span> +"the strongest position he had seen in any part of the +world." From this mountain fastness they made sudden +and destructive raids upon the peaceful settlements in the +vale below. Two hundred soldiers were left to render +the settlers what measure of protection they could, by +defensive tactics. Their instructions were not to attack +the rebels in their stronghold, but, by vigilantly preventing +them from securing supplies, to endeavour by +starvation to render its continued occupation impossible. +This policy had early the anticipated effect, and, acting +on Te Rauparaha's assurance that the rebels had abandoned +the <i>pa</i>, the Governor visited the spot, and has +thus described what he saw:—</p> + + <p class="block">"The forest which had been held by the enemy was traversed by a + single narrow path, almost impassable for armed Europeans. This path + ascended a narrow ridge of rocks, having a precipice on each side + covered with jungle. The ridge of rocks was so narrow that only one + person could pass along it at a time, and it led to a hill with a + broad summit, upon which a fortress had been constructed in such a + manner as completely to command the path, which was rendered more + difficult by an abattis placed across it. The rear of this position + was quite as inaccessible as the front, and on each flank was a + precipice; from the number of huts placed upon it, it must have been + occupied by from three hundred to four hundred men."</p> + +<p>No sooner was this position abandoned than another, almost equally +impregnable, was taken up, and from this lair in the depth of the +hills a band of marauders crept down through the forest early in April +of 1846, stole past the troops, and late in the afternoon murdered a +settler named Gillespie and his son, while they were engaged threshing +wheat. There were soldiers in the vicinity at the time, but they were +more intent upon getting grog from Burcham's public-house than upon +protecting the settlers; and so stealthily was the attack carried out, +that no one knew of the tragedy until Charles Gillespie, returning +home in the dusk, found his father and brother in the throes of death. +Te Rauparaha disclaimed, and probably with truth, all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">{300}</a></span> +knowledge of or participation in this treacherous act, +and even offered his assistance in bringing the murderers +to justice. Rangihaeata was not so frank—or it may be +that he was even more frank—for he instantly betook +himself to the hills, and openly declared himself in +sympathy with those who were thus contesting the +question of the supremacy of the races. He refused to +give the murderers up to the authorities, and busied +himself with preparations for continuing the contest. +Nor had the military long to wait for his onset. The +most advanced British post in the valley was known as +Boulcott's Farm, commanded by Lieutenant Page, who +had a force of fifty men with him. Here, just before +dawn, on May 16, 1846, the sentry, as he kept his +lonely vigil, was startled by seeing some dark body +creeping through the grass towards him. Without +waiting to challenge, he fired, and in an instant the air +was rent with the savage yells of a horde of warriors, +who, under Mamaku, had left Rangihaeata's <i>pa</i> at +Pahautanui on the previous day, and, scaling the +mountain range, had fallen upon the sleeping camp. +The sentry and the picket were soon overpowered and +killed, but not before the alarm had been given by +Allen, the bugle-boy attached to the company. Roused +from sleep by the commotion, he seized his bugle, and +was in the act of sounding the call to arms, when a blow +from a tomahawk struck the instrument from his hand. +He still had time to recover it, and blow a blast which +awakened his sleeping comrades, before he was laid +low by a second stroke of the murderous axe. A galling +fire was at once opened upon the outpost from the +surrounding bush by the secreted natives, and Lieutenant +Page and two men, who were with him in one of the +out-buildings, hurried off to join their comrades who +had been sleeping in the stockade. Intercepted by a +swift rush on the part of a band of natives, they were +only rescued from their perilous position by a determined +effort on the part of the sergeant, who rallied +some of the men and went to his commander's relief. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">{301}</a></span> +Three men went down with wounds, and the remaining +six fought the savages hand to hand, checking their +onslaught until the wounded were got safely away and +the remainder were able to retreat to the barn. Here +the available force was assembled, and, leaving a +sufficient garrison to defend the position, Lieutenant Page<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_174" id="Ref_174" href="#Foot_174">[174]</a></span> +and his men sallied out in extended order, firing +as they went. Under this pressure the attack soon +slackened, and, on the arrival of reinforcements, was +turned into retreat, but not before six men had been +killed and four wounded. During the following month +there was another skirmish in the valley, which did not +redound greatly to the credit of the British arms.</p> + +<p>These repeated raids convinced the Governor that he must lance the +lairs which were harbouring these human wolves, who represented all +that was worst in the native race. He had been desirous of deferring +field operations against these malcontents until the winter was over; +but, realising that every successful attack only encouraged the enemy +to further excesses, and diminished the enthusiasm of the loyal +natives, he now determined upon an immediate and active campaign. The +policy of road-making, which had been initiated some months before, +was vigorously prosecuted, the friendly natives, as well as the +soldiers, being employed in the work. The deep paths which were thus +cut through the luxuriant beauty of the wilderness to Porirua and into +the heart of the Hutt Valley robbed the forest of much of its terror, +and were masterly counter-strokes to the secret tactics of +Rangihaeata's followers. That chief's reply to the Governor's policy +was to build a <i>pa</i> at Pahautanui, so skilfully situated and so +strongly fortified that he openly boasted that nothing but British +artillery could drive him from it. But he did more than this. A +<i>tapu</i> placed on the Porirua track for a time disturbed and +paralysed our native allies; but the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">{302}</a></span> +inconvenience was only temporary, and the Governor succeeded +in gradually breaking down the chief's authority.</p> + +<p>An important military post was established at Porirua, garrisoned by +three hundred men, and the services of the friendly natives were +enlisted in the contemplated movement against the forces of +Rangihaeata. His <i>pa</i> was reconnoitred on the night of July 8th +by Lieutenant the Hon. Charles Yelverton, of the Royal Artillery, and +Mr. McKillop, then a midshipman on board H.M.S. <i>Calliope</i>, and +the conclusion at which they arrived was that the artillery might +easily be brought forward against the <i>pa</i>, and that in all other +respects its investment was feasible, so soon as the Governor had a +sufficient force at his disposal for the purpose. But there was one +other factor to be taken into account. What would Te Rauparaha's +attitude be if Rangihaeata were attacked? In his <i>pa</i> at Taupo, +on the shores of Porirua Harbour, he occupied a strong strategical +position; and, though he had consistently professed his friendship for +the Governor and his loyalty to the Queen, he was supremely +distrusted, both by the authorities and by our native allies. As early +as June of 1846, Major Last had reported to the Governor, from +Wellington, that he was "a little suspicious of Te Rauparaha";<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_175" id="Ref_175" href="#Foot_175">[175]</a></span> +but the insinuation of disloyalty coming to the chief's ears, he +challenged the Major's suspicions by offering to come to Wellington to +prove the contrary. In view of the intensely hostile feeling +prevailing amongst the European population against the chief, Major +Last deemed the proposed visit to be ill-timed and impolitic, and +declined to encourage Rauparaha in his intention. But the bold and +fearless proposal must have shaken the officer's confidence in the +grounds for his aspersion. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">{303}</a></span> +The position of the chief at this time was a most +unenviable one, for there is evidence that the Governor +had begun to share the doubts of Major Last. It must +not be forgotten, however, that the seeds of suspicion +may have been assiduously sown in his mind by +Rauparaha's tribal enemies, who would have exulted in +embroiling him in a dispute with the local authorities. +Even his friends who were with Rangihaeata in the field, +either to further their own schemes or out of resentment +at his passive attitude, sought to draw him into the +vortex of the struggle. The <i>mana</i> of the chief was still +great, and Rangihaeata and Mamaku endeavoured to conjure +with his name and claim his sanction for a letter to +some tribal comrades containing an appeal for assistance.</p> + +<p>The native carrying this letter was captured, and the intercepted +document placed in the hands of the Governor, who immediately sailed +for Porirua in H.M.S. <i>Driver</i>. On board the vessel he was +visited by Te Rauparaha, and, during the interview, the incriminating +message was produced and handed to the chief, who instantly denounced +its contents as falsehoods and its writer as his enemy. "I watched him +narrowly at the time," says Grey, "and his manner was such as to lead +me to think that he really had no knowledge that such a letter had +been written." Though thus frankly confessing that the letter was an +injustice to the chief, the Governor, either from some innate mistrust +of his visitor or a too ready disposition to listen to the sinister +suggestions made against him, resolved that he would take no risks as +to the future conduct of the man whom he believed he had to checkmate. +He therefore determined that, before moving against Rangihaeata, he +would forestall any possibility of an attack upon his lines of +communication by capturing Te Rauparaha and holding him hostage for +the good behaviour of his tribe. Without indicating by sign or word to +the chief that the friendship between them was at an end, and without +permitting him even to suspect the existence of any doubts as to his +loyalty, the Governor took his farewell +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">{304}</a></span> +of Te Rauparaha, and on the afternoon of July 22 left +Porirua. For the purpose of allaying suspicion, the +<i>Driver</i>, in which he sailed, ostentatiously steamed to +the north; but during the night she returned and +stealthily anchored at the entrance of the harbour. Boats +were lowered, and a company of a hundred and thirty +men, under Major Last, Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. +<i>Calliope</i>, and Lieutenant McKillop,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_176" id="Ref_176" href="#Foot_176">[176]</a></span> +landed, and silently surrounded the stockade of the Taupo <i>pa</i>, in which +the chief and his people were sleeping. The arrangements +of the capturing party were so admirably made +that no suspicion of what was moving around them +was allowed to reach the natives until the stormers +rushed into Rauparaha's <i>whare</i>, and, seizing the chief +in his bed, carried him, in spite of his struggles and +protestations, down to the boat side. Lieutenant +McKillop, who personally accomplished the seizure of +the chief, has left on record the following account of +the exciting incident:—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 380px"> + <br /> + <a name="rangihaeata" id="rangihaeata"> + <img width="380" height="600" alt="rangihaeata" src="images/339-rangihaeata.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">TE RANGIHAEATA.<br /> + After a drawing by C. D. Barraud. Esq</p> + </div> +</div> + + <p class="block">"I was sent for soon after we arrived, and had an interview with the + Governor, who informed me of Rauparaha's treachery, and his wish to + have him and three others taken prisoners, if possible by surprise; + and knowing that I was acquainted with their persons and locality, he + asked me if I would undertake the capture of the 'Old Serpent' + myself, allowing me to choose my own time and method of doing it, + Major Durie, the Inspector of Police, being selected to take the + others. Accordingly it was arranged that we were to leave the ship + before daylight the next morning and land quietly on the rocks some + little distance from the <i>pa</i> in which our treacherous allies + lived, taking a mixed force of bluejackets and soldiers, amounting to + two hundred men, to support us in the case of the natives rising + before we had effected our object. It was the Governor's particular + desire that we should not lay our hands on these men until we had + told them they were prisoners for treason, but on no account to let + old Rauparaha escape. I took Mr. Dighton with me to act as + interpreter, and four of our men unarmed, giving them instructions to + seize upon the old chief as soon as he was made aware of the charge + preferred against him, and to hurry him down to the boat before he + could rouse his people, the principal object being to secure him. We + landed at break of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">{305}</a></span> + day, and while they were forming the troops on the + beach, I with my small party ran on, as it was then light, fearing + that conscious guilt might sharpen their ears and frustrate our + plans. When we reached the <i>pa</i> not a soul was stirring, but our + heavy footsteps soon brought some of the sleepers to the doors of + their huts, knowing we were not of the barefooted tribe. We could not + wait to give any explanation, but pushed on to the hut which + contained the object of our search, whose quick ears had detected + strange footsteps. Never having liked me, he did not look at all easy + on perceiving who the intruder was, although his wife showed no alarm + and received me with her usual salutation. Upon informing him that he + was my prisoner, he immediately threw himself (being in a sitting + posture) back into the hut, and seized a tomahawk, with which he made + a blow at his wife's head, thinking she had betrayed him. I warded + the blow with my pistol and seized him by the throat, my four men + immediately rushing in on him, and, securing him by his arms and + legs, started off as fast as his violent struggles would allow of, + which for a man of his age (upwards of seventy) were almost + superhuman. He roared out lustily 'Ngati-Toa! Ngati-Toa!' + endeavouring to bring his tribesmen to his rescue, and in a few + seconds every man was on his legs and came rushing over to see what + was the matter with their chief; but the troops and bluejackets + coming up at the same time and surrounding the <i>pa</i> prevented + any attempt at a rescue, as he was already in the boat. His last + effort to free himself was fastening with his teeth on to my + coxswain's shoulder, who bore this piece of cannibalism unflinchingly. + I sent Mr. Dighton off to the ship with him, there being not much + chance of his escaping from the boat, particularly as he was informed + that he would be shot if he attempted to escape. I then returned to + the <i>pa</i> to search for arms and ammunition, and also to see if + the other prisoners had been secured. The interior of the <i>pa</i> + presented a woeful spectacle, the women all howling in chorus with + the pigs and the children, the two latter being much knocked about in + the search for arms."</p> + +<p>In the mêlée which ensued upon the capture of Te Rauparaha, four other +natives were also seized by Major Durie, and in the same arbitrary +manner were carried off to the ship.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_177" id="Ref_177" href="#Foot_177">[177]</a></span> +Two of these were the influential chiefs, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">{306}</a></span> +Te Kanae (the <i>ariki</i> of the Ngati-Toa tribe) and Hohepa, +and two were men of inferior rank. By some writers +who have been at no pains to conceal their hostility to +Te Rauparaha, it is alleged that upon his arrival on +board the <i>Driver</i> he manifested the most craven spirit, +until he was assured that it was not the Governor's +intention to hang him from the yard-arm. But, whatever +be the truth of this assertion, he at least retained +sufficient dignity and self-respect as a chief to strenuously +object to the additional humiliation of being imprisoned +in company with men of no standing in the tribe; and, +in deference to his injured pride and his vehement +expostulations, Pohe and his companion were sent ashore +and released from their brief captivity.</p> + +<p>Naturally, the little settlement at Taupo was thrown into a state of +intense excitement. The seizure of their chief was so sudden, so +unexpected, that its reality could not for the moment be grasped; but +when its full significance broke in upon the astonished tribe, the +startling tidings was immediately despatched to Te Rangihaeata, who +was still sitting in defiance in his stronghold at Pahautanui. He at +once made for the coast, but was too late. The Governor had several +hours' start of him, and he was compelled to make a wide detour to +avoid the British post at Porirua. He arrived on the wooded hill-side +above Te Rauparaha's <i>pa</i> only in time to see the war-ship with +her captives steaming down the coast.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_178" id="Ref_178" href="#Foot_178">[178]</a></span> +Enraged and disappointed at +what he must have regarded as the perfidy of the <i>pakeha</i>, and +disheartened at his own impotency, he gloomily retired to his lair, +there to sing<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_179" id="Ref_179" href="#Foot_179">[179]</a></span> +that beautiful lament, in which he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">{307}</a></span> +mournfully acknowledges the increasing ascendancy of the +stranger, and chides the waning loyalty of his own people.</p> + +<div class="poem"> + +<span class="i8q">"My brave canoe!</span> +<span class="i4">In lordly decoration lordliest far,</span> +<span class="i8">My proud canoe!</span> +<span class="i6">Amid the fleet that fleetest flew—</span> +<span class="i4">How wert thou shattered by the surge of war!</span> +<span class="i6">'Tis but the fragments of thy wreck,</span> +<span class="i6">O my renowned canoe,</span> +<span class="i4">That lie all crushed on yonder war-ship's deck!</span> +<span class="i6">Raha! my chief, my friend!</span> +<span class="i6">Thy lonely journey wend:</span> +<span class="i2">Stand with thy wrongs before our god of battle's face:</span> +<span class="i6">Bid him thy foes requite!—</span> +<span class="i2">Ah me! Te Raukawa's foul desertion and disgrace—</span> +<span class="i6">Ah me! the English ruler's might!<br /><br /></span> + +<span class="i6">Raha! my chief of chiefs!</span> +<span class="i6">Ascend with all thy griefs</span> +<span class="i2">Up to their Lord of Peace—there stand before His face—</span> +<span class="i6">Let Him thy faith requite!—</span> +<span class="i2">Ah me! Te Toa's sad defection and disgrace—</span> +<span class="i6">Ah me! the English ruler's might!<br /><br /></span> + +<span class="i6">One counsel from the first I gave,</span> +<span class="i6">'Break up thy forces, comrade brave,</span> +<span class="i6">Scatter them all about the land</span> +<span class="i4">In many a predatory band!'—</span> +<span class="i6">But Porirua's forest dense,</span> +<span class="i6">Ah, thou wouldst never stir from thence,</span> +<span class="i6">'There,' saidst thou, 'lies my best defence,'—</span> +<span class="i6">Now, now, of such design ill-starred,</span> +<span class="i4">How grievously thou reap'st the full reward!<br /><br /></span> + +<span class="i6">Hence, vain lamenting—hence, away!</span> +<span class="i6">Hence, all the brood of sorrow born!</span> +<span class="i6">There will be time enough to mourn</span> +<span class="i4">In the long days of summer, ere the food</span> +<span class="i4">Is cropped, abundant for the work of blood.</span> +<span class="i4">Now I must marshal in compact array,</span> +<span class="i2">Great thoughts that crowding come of an avenging day!"<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_180" id="Ref_180" href="#Foot_180">[180]</a></span> +</span> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">{308}</a></span> +The seizure of Te Rauparaha, at such a time and in such a manner, is +one of the many debatable points in the history of this period, and, +notwithstanding that many pages have been written upon the incident, +the ethics of the act are apparently as far from final determination +as ever. To the present writer its justification lies in its success. +There is no doubt that, however high-handed and arbitrary, it was a +tactical stroke which compelled waverers to pause, and paralysed those +who were already in active hostility. On the other hand, it might just +as easily have roused the whole Maori race into a frenzy of injured +pride, and plunged the country into the vortex of a retaliatory war. +Only one thing saved New Zealand from this calamity, and that was the +tribal dissensions. Had the Maori been a united people, this +unprovoked indignity put upon one of their greatest men must have +excited their bitterest passions against the perpetrators of the deed; +and one almost shudders to realise in what a hair-balance the fate of +the little Colony trembled at this moment of her history. In +criticising the Governor's policy, however, it must be borne in mind +that he, with his knowledge of Maori conditions, may have counted upon +these very intertribal hatreds to prevent anything in the nature of a +general rising. This being assumed, his action is shorn of some of its +rashness and impolicy, and he becomes entitled to credit for the +success of his methods of overawing the turbulent spirit of the +malcontent Maoris. On no other ground than that the end justifies the +means can the seizure of Te Rauparaha be defended, nor, so far as the +writer is aware, has any other defence ever been seriously attempted. +The most that can be urged against the chief is that, unlike Te Kingi +Rangitake, he did not join the allies and enter upon active +hostilities against the so-called rebels. Of the fact that he secretly +aided them there is little evidence and no proof. What evidence there +may be is confined to the intercepted letters, admitted by the +Governor himself to be forgeries, and to the unsupported statements of +natives, some jealous of his power, and others +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">{309}</a></span> +aggrieved at his previous treatment of them. In this +respect Te Rauparaha must have felt that, having sown +the wind, he was now reaping the whirlwind; for those +natives who had gone down under his hand in war, or +had been outwitted by his diplomacy, were only too +anxious to represent him in an unfavourable light to the +Governor, and were never tired of insinuating, and even +broadly asserting, that his spirit was behind the rebellion, +even though his hand might be invisible.</p> + +<p>In communicating with Mr. Gladstone on July 23, 1846, Grey described +his military operations, which were designed to check a company of +some two hundred rebels who, he had reason to believe, were marching +from Whanganui to join Te Rangihaeata. He landed at Waikanae, Otaki, +and Ohau, where he had a conference with the friendly chiefs. He +proceeded to say: "The whole of the chiefs with whom I had interviews +declared that these disturbances were to be entirely attributed to the +intrigues of Te Rauparaha." How much his mind was influenced by the +opinions of the chiefs may be judged by the fact that on the following +day he launched his successful stroke, but how little he had weighed +the value of their testimony may also be inferred from the +circumstance that a year later he wrote a despatch to Mr. Gladstone's +successor at the Colonial Office, in which he was forced to admit that +after retaining Te Rauparaha in captivity for ten months his +difficulties in deciding how to dispose of him were enhanced by the +fact that all his "efforts made to secure the evidence of Pohi<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_181" id="Ref_181" href="#Foot_181">[181]</a></span> +failed, consequently it was not possible to prove Te Rauparaha's guilt +in a court of law."</p> + +<p>It is strange, if so many chiefs knew that the brain of Te Rauparaha +was forging the balls which Rangihaeata was firing, that none were +able to testify to the fact in an established court of law, and, +travesty upon British justice though it may seem, it is nevertheless a +fact that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">{310}</a></span> +the man who had relied upon the Treaty of Waitangi to +secure him his rights and liberties was detained a prisoner +without formal charge and without the chance of a trial +until it was thought possible to prove his guilt. How +far Te Rauparaha's seizure and continued detention were +a palliation to the wounded feelings of the European +settlers it is difficult to pronounce, but it is not in the +least unlikely that the Governor paid some regard to the +popular effect of the step, even if he totally ignored its +judicial aspect. In all probability Te Rauparaha was at +this time the best-hated man in New Zealand. The +memory of the massacre at the Wairau had not yet died +out, and there were many who, misunderstanding that +fatal event, could not look upon the chief whose name +had been so tragically associated with it in any other +light than as a social and moral outcast. To this not +inconsiderable section of the community imprisonment +was much too good for Te Rauparaha, but it was preferable +to the negative attitude of Governor Fitzroy, and +Grey, no doubt, counted upon standing well with these +extremists by the initiation of a policy in which there +was a touch of retribution, however barren it might be +of justice.</p> + +<p>With the European population, then, the kidnapping of the Ngati-Toa +leader was, on the whole, a popular move, and with a number of the +natives it was hailed as an act of retribution, long delayed, but +nevertheless a judgment at last. Upon his own people the effect was +different. They were stunned by the swiftness of the blow and +confounded by its audacity. Here in a twinkling the very eye had been +plucked out of their head, the heart torn from their body, and that, +too, at a time when they had no quarrel with the Government, and by a +man whom they had been wont to regard as their friend. Their first +impulse was to fly to arms. To attack Wellington, to sweep the +<i>pakeha</i> into the sea, to avenge the wrongs of Te Rauparaha, was +the cry. Te Rangihaeata called his own followers about him and sent +out his appeals to the northern tribes: "Friends and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">{311}</a></span> +children, come and revenge the injuries of Te Rauparaha, +because Te Rauparaha is the eye of the faith of all men. +Make haste hither in the days of December." But his +design for the extermination of the Europeans was +doomed to be frustrated. His own particular faithfuls +were few in number, and the one great chief, Te Heuheu, +to whom he might have looked for encouragement in +such an emergency, was dead, buried beneath a huge +landslide which had overwhelmed his village on the +shores of Lake Taupo. Of others with whom he had +been accustomed to co-operate in the days gone by, some +were espousing the cause of the enemy, and some, +having embraced the Christian faith, had grown weary +of incessant war. Their reply, which was something in +the nature of a rebuke, betokened that they had realised +the futility of opposing the further progress of the +<i>pakeha</i>. "How can you dry up the sea? That is why +we say, finish fighting with the European." Such was +their answer to his summons to arms, and Rangihaeata +was left to fall back upon his small band of war-worn +desperadoes to carry on a struggle which was hopeless +from the first.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_182" id="Ref_182" href="#Foot_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>Abandoned to his own resources, he applied himself to his duties of +leader with the energy of despair. Realising that his position at +Pahautanui was no longer tenable, as its swamps and shallows were no +protection against the artillery which he knew was collected at +Porirua, he withdrew his forces into the deeply wooded Horokiwi +Valley. Through this forest defile, tangled and matted by an almost +impenetrable undergrowth, he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">{312}</a></span> +was pursued by a force of 1,000 men, composed of +militia and native allies, under Major Last. Te Rangihaeata's +generalship proved equal to the peculiar circumstances +in which he found himself, and his genius for +war won for him the warmest encomiums from British +officers, who have generously expressed their admiration +for the skill with which the chief conducted his retreat. +Into the density of the wooded valley he led his pursuers, +enticing them by a simulated resistance, but abandoning +his camps as soon as they pressed too closely upon him. +In one of these semi-fortified resting-places the British +soldiers discovered the bugle which had been taken from +the boy Allen when he was struck down at the fatal fight +at Boulcott's Farm.</p> + +<p>At length, retreat being no longer possible, the rebel chief turned at +bay and fought his pursuers at a point near the head of the valley. +His decision to throw down the gage of battle here was not the result +of accident or impulse, but was due to deliberate calculation. The +position was admirably chosen, and he held the enemy in check long +enough to enable him to fortify it effectively. He threw a rough +breastwork of tree-trunks across the narrow neck of a spur springing +from a densely wooded hill, the approach to which was flanked by steep +ravines, leaving so narrow a ridge that it could only be passed +abreast by a very limited force of men. This wooden rampart, which +presented so imposing a front to an enemy, was liberally perforated +with loopholes, through which the defenders were able to concentrate +their fire with deadly effect upon any approaching force. This +arrangement, combined with the inaccessible nature of the ground, made +its seizure by storm practically impossible. Nevertheless, an attack +was determined upon, and on the morning of August 6, 1846, fire was +opened upon the position, but with no other visible result than that +Ensign Blackburn<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_183" id="Ref_183" href="#Foot_183">[183]</a></span> +and two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">{313}</a></span> +privates were killed and nine others wounded. On the +following day the assault, which had been so inauspiciously +commenced, was suspended, for Major Last had +now seen enough to convince him that some projectile +more searching than bullets was necessary to dislodge +the defenders from their stronghold. He accordingly +sent to Porirua and procured two small mortars, which, +after infinite labour spent in dragging them into position, +were discovered to be absolutely worthless for purposes +of attack, for the high forest trees made accurate gunnery +impossible. Seeing his troops in a deplorable condition, +even after this short bush campaign, and hopeless of +driving Rangihaeata out, except at an enormous sacrifice +of human life, Major Last decided to withdraw the +regular troops and leave the friendly natives, under +Puaha, to watch and wait for hunger to work its effects +upon the stubborn garrison. A few days sufficed for +this. On the 13th the allies were surprised by a hail of +lead suddenly raining down upon their lines. No sooner +had they sprung to arms than they saw that the enemy +was afoot, the volley which they had fired being the +signal for retreat. Immediately the real nature of the +movement was ascertained, Puaha and his loyalists +rushed forward over the fallen trees and broken ground, +and reached the breastwork only in time to see the last +of the defenders escape by the thickly veiled forest track, +where they were swallowed up by the bush and lost to +human view.</p> + +<p>Hunger and cold had done their work, for there were no signs of food +supplies inside the camp except some edible fern. Nor did the escape +of the defenders to the open avail them much, for they were so harried +by the followers of Puaha as they fled along the snow-covered mountain +ridge that the opportunities for procuring food were few and +uncertain. Some made their perilous way to the coast, in the secret +hope of finding food and shelter amongst their friends in the +<i>pas</i>, but these were for the most part found by the vigilant +Wiremu Kingi, and either driven back into the mountain fastnesses or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">{314}</a></span> +promptly secured as prisoners of war.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_184" id="Ref_184" href="#Foot_184">[184]</a></span> +Deeming himself +fortunate to have so far evaded death or capture, +Te Rangihaeata retreated northwards with his famished +adherents until he reached the lowlands of the Manawatu. +There, beaten though still defiant, he retired to a +<i>pa</i> built in the midst of the swamps and marshes of +Poroutawhao, where he laid down his arms and, sullenly +drawing his mat about him, prepared to watch the +irresistible march of the <i>pakeha</i>, though refusing to +acknowledge defeat at his hands. "I am finished," he +wrote to the Governor, "but do not suppose that you +conquered me. No; it was these my own relatives and +friends, Rangitake and others. It was by them I was +overcome, and not by you, O Governor."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_185" id="Ref_185" href="#Foot_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>A new cause for anxiety, in the outbreak of hostilities at Whanganui, +now diverted Grey's attention momentarily +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">{315}</a></span> +from the fugitive chief, who improved the respite +thus given by refraining from any act of violence. +Although no formal peace was declared, Grey wisely +decided not to precipitate further trouble by following +him into the marshes of Poroutawhao. True, on the very +day (April 18, 1847) that the news of the outbreak at +Whanganui reached Wellington, the chief made a sensational +descent upon Kapiti. In the grey of the early +morning a whaler named Brown was awakened by a +sound at the door of his hut, and, as he raised himself on +his elbow, he saw the tall form of Rangihaeata enter the +room with a tomahawk in his hand. The whaler not +unnaturally thought he had come to take his life, and, in +his subsequent narration of the incident, he indulged in +some heroics, telling how he had challenged the chief to +slay him on the spot. But Rangihaeata was not in search +of a defenceless whaler's blood. He had come to demand +some powder which was rightly his, and which he had +left there for safe keeping. When he had secured his +property, he went harmlessly away, after shaking hands +in the most friendly manner with the frightened seaman. +Some of his followers, however, were not quite so +scrupulous; and, in searching the hut for the powder, +they had appropriated a bundle of bank notes and some +sovereigns, and secreted them about their persons until +they returned to the <i>pa</i>. Here Rangihaeata discovered +the theft, and immediately sent back the plunder to the +Governor, accompanied by a characteristic note, in +which he made it clear that, however much he might be +in opposition to the Government, he had no desire to be +esteemed a common thief.</p> + +<p>With Rangihaeata beaten out of the field, we may now return to Te +Rauparaha, whom we left in the hands of his captors. To ensure his +greater security, he was, immediately upon the arrival of the +<i>Driver</i> at Wellington, transferred to H.M.S. +<i>Calliope</i>,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_186" id="Ref_186" href="#Foot_186">[186]</a></span> +where he was placed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">{316}</a></span> +under the watchful eye of Captain Stanley, for whom, we +are told, he afterwards acquired a high regard. On +board this ship he was detained with some show of +liberty for upwards of ten months, visiting the principal +ports of northern and central New Zealand, as the duties +of the station demanded the presence of the vessel. +During all this period no attempt was made to bring him +to trial, though no pains were spared by the Governor to +secure the evidence which would ensure his conviction. +In a despatch written to the Colonial Office on December +1, 1846, Grey endeavoured to explain his position +and justify his halting attitude, but, in the trenchant +words of one of his critics, his was a justification which +itself required to be justified:—</p> + + <p class="block">"A number of designing Europeans, who are annoyed at my + interfering with their illegal purchases of land, have thought it + proper to agitate the question of the justice and propriety of my + arresting Te Rauparaha. Some most improper publications have + already appeared, and I regret to state that I find a great effect is + being produced upon the minds of the native chiefs. The difficulty + of my position is that I am not yet quite satisfied whether or not it + will be expedient or necessary to bring the old man to trial. In fact, + I am rather anxious to avoid doing so, and I fear that, were I to + make public the various crimes for which he has been seized by the + Government, and the proofs of his guilt upon which the Government + justify his detention, a large portion of the European population + would be so exasperated against him that it would be difficult + for the Government to avoid bringing him to trial; and, if I were + compelled to adopt this step from having made known the charges + against him, I should probably be accused of having ungenerously + prejudiced the public against him previously to his being brought to + trial."</p> + +<p>The only impression which the unbiassed student can +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">{317}</a></span> +derive from a perusal of this specious reasoning is that +the Governor, in seeking to excuse himself for an unjustifiable +action, has in reality delivered his own condemnation +for a grave breach of trust. If the "various +crimes" of which the chief was suspected were as +defined as the Governor implies they were, and if "the +proofs of his guilt upon which the Government justified +his detention" were clear and unimpeachable, obviously +then it was his bounden duty to the Colony and to Te +Rauparaha that the chief should be brought to trial at +the earliest possible moment. But the real fact was that +the offences of Te Rauparaha were as imaginary as the +proofs of his guilt were mythical, and he was kept captive +on a ship of war while the Governor was diligently +endeavouring to find Pohi, who was supposed to be +possessed of important secrets, or was sedulously filling +in the missing links in the chain of evidence which he +hoped would establish the fact that certain messengers, +who were known to have carried information to Rangihaeata, +were indeed sent by Te Rauparaha.</p> + +<p>A fruitless ten months was spent in these endeavours to bring home +guilt to Te Rauparaha, and at the end of that time Grey was forced to +admit that he was still unable to prove the chief guilty in a court of +law. He therefore began to consider how far he was justified in longer +detaining him, while still refusing to do him the justice of giving +him a clear acquittal. He temporised with other reasons, from which it +is clear that he regarded the step as one of expediency rather than of +right. "The detention of the prisoners," he wrote to Earl Grey, "has +caused expense and inconvenience to the Government"; and therefore, to +relieve his administration of something which it had forced upon +itself, he was magnanimous enough to loose the chains from off the +chief. But the Governor was also influenced by other considerations. +He believed that the capture and long captivity of Te Rauparaha had +completely destroyed his <i>mana</i>, so that he was now incapable of +originating any new mischief, even if he were so inclined. But we +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">{318}</a></span> +may also do him the justice of believing that he was +genuinely anxious to placate the Ngati-Toa people, who +had repeatedly petitioned him for their leader's release, +and to allay an ugly suspicion, which had gained +credence amongst them, that Te Rauparaha had been +murdered, and that his so-called detention was merely a +subterfuge to cover a desperate crime.</p> + + <p class="block">"Repeated applications," wrote the Governor, "have been made + by Te Rauparaha's tribe for his release, and this step seems to be + quite justified by his ten months of good conduct. Waka Nene and + Te Wherowhero also petitioned for his release, and went guarantee + for his good behaviour. Upon the whole, with the larger force that + will be placed at my disposal, and after the convincing proofs which + the natives have so frequently afforded of their regarding their + interests as identical with those of the Government, I entertain no + apprehension of Te Rauparaha being able to effect further mischief, + even if he were disposed to do so. I therefore determined to order + his release, merely requiring Te Wherowhero and Waka Nene to + pledge their words for his future good conduct, and although I + exacted no conditions either from themselves or from the prisoners, + I recommended them to require both Te Rauparaha and Hohepa to + reside on the northern portions of the island until I felt justified in + stating that I had no objection to them permitting Te Rauparaha to + return to his own country."</p> + +<p>Under the guarantee of good conduct given by Te Wherowhero and Waka +Nene, Te Rauparaha was released at Auckland, and was received as a +guest into Te Wherowhero's house, which had been built for him by the +Government in what is now the Auckland Domain. Here, though nominally +free, he must have felt the bitterness of his exile, for he frequently +displayed the humiliation which was surging within his soul by +relapsing into periods of deep melancholy, during which he doubtless +meditated upon the departed glory of the past and the hopelessness of +the future. With him times had indeed changed. From the imperious +leader of a victorious tribe, supreme and absolute, his word the word +of authority, his very look, his merest gesture, an unquestionable +command, he found himself shorn of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">{319}</a></span> +power, degraded by captivity, +destitute of influence, and little more than a memory—the hoary +vestige of a stately ruin. But his path was not all strewn with +thorns, and there were not wanting those, both Maori and European, who +strove to lighten his burden and salve his wounded soul. Visitors +frequently sought to cheer his drooping spirits, and, as a compliment +to the conqueror of Kapiti, Te Wherowhero brought the flower of the +Hauraki chiefs to do him honour. In September, 1847, two hundred of +these warriors, casting aside their tribal prejudices, came and +visited him. As the kilted band of strangers advanced, Te Rauparaha, +dressed in a dogskin mat and forage cap, went out to meet them. He +saluted several of the leading men according to native custom, and +then followed the speechmaking inseparable from Maori gatherings. +Squatting in a semicircle upon the ground, the assemblage listened +with rapt attention to the oration delivered by Te Rauparaha, of whom +all had heard, but whom few had previously seen. His speech was a +dignified recitation of his past deeds, and while he spoke of his +struggles with Waikato, his pilgrimage, and his conquests, he +delivered himself brilliantly and dramatically, for the fire of the +old warrior seemed to burn again within him and the blood of the +victor to pulsate once more through his veins. But when he came to +describe his seizure and captivity, the injustice and humiliation of +it all bore down his valiant spirit, and he concluded his oration with +difficulty and almost in tears. To this great effort of Maori +eloquence replies of a lengthy and ceremonial nature were delivered by +Taraia, Te Wherowhero, and several members of Hauraki's aristocracy, +and then food was served on a sumptuous scale to the strangers. It +was, however, noticed that Te Rauparaha ate but sparingly and was ill +at ease. He rose and walked to his house, into which he was followed +by two of the women, who there sang to him of the deeds of his +fathers, and of the heroes of the ancient line from which he had +sprung, the lament bringing a flood of tears to the old man's dim eyes. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">{320}</a></span> +Still under the surveillance of Te Wherowhero, Te Rauparaha spent six +months in the country of the Waikatos, the scene of some of his +youthful exploits; but, feeling his freedom to be liberty only in +name, and himself a stranger in a strange land, he preferred a request +to the Governor to be allowed to return to his own people by the +shores of Cook Strait, where was centred everything in life that he +valued. The Governor granted his request, believing that he had now +nothing to fear from the chief, and recognising that his return would +have a quieting influence upon Rangihaeata, who, during his uncle's +absence, had steadfastly refused to believe that the man by whose +orders Wareaitu<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_187" id="Ref_187" href="#Foot_187">[187]</a></span> +had been executed would be more merciful to Te +Rauparaha. Accordingly, in January of 1848, the Governor, Lady Grey, +Lieut.-Colonel Mundy, Te Wherowhero, Taraia, Te Rauparaha, and several +other chiefs, embarked on board H.M.S. <i>Inflexible</i> and steamed +for Otaki. Arrived there, the vessel was immediately boarded by +Tamihana Te Rauparaha, who, clothed in the garb of a clergyman, came +off to welcome his father.</p> + +<p>The morning of January 16, 1848, was the time appointed for the +restoration of Te Rauparaha to his people. When the boats had been +lowered to row the party ashore, the old chief came upon the +quarter-deck dressed in full naval uniform, even to the cocked hat and +the epaulets. His surprise and indignation were, however, considerable +when he observed that the Governor and his suite had no idea of +regarding the event as a State occasion, and were clothed in simple +undress coats. Nor was his ill-temper improved when the Governor +further robbed the incident of ceremonial importance by refusing to +accord to him the honour of a salute from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">{321}</a></span> +the ship's guns as he left the vessel's side. With eyes +flashing and nostrils dilated, he sprang back into his cabin, +and, throwing off his brilliant uniform, immediately +reappeared wrapped in the sombre folds of an ancient +blanket. Wounded in spirit at the absence of those +impressive features which would have made his homecoming +something of a triumph, he landed on the +Otaki beach in no enviable mood; and, as the party +proceeded towards the inland <i>pa</i>, he turned away from +them, and sitting down in the sand with his face towards +the ocean, covered his old grey head with his mat, and +for two hours sat and sobbed like a child. During this +meditation of tears no one approached him. Maori +etiquette forbade his kinsmen breaking in upon his +grief, and European courtesy dictated a discreet respect +for the feelings of one who had come back to find +the times so vastly changed, and for him so sadly out +of joint.</p> + +<p>In that brief time, as the old warrior sat sighing in sympathy with +the sobbing sea, there must have passed before him in vivid picture +the whole panorama of his eventful life—his struggles, his schemes, +his dreams, the anguish of defeat, the glut of victory, and then the +final triumph in which tribe after tribe went down before him, and his +name became wonderful and mighty throughout the land. But now, because +of the advent of the <i>pakeha</i>, power had melted in his hand like +snow. His life, like the wind-swept ruin of his old heathen <i>pa</i>, +which stood broken and dilapidated a few chains off, had become but a +shadow and a memory of the past; an exemplification of the fallible +and transitory nature of mundane things. At length, rousing himself +from his reverie, he proceeded to the new Christian settlement of +Hadfield, at Otaki, which had been built mainly by the efforts of his +son, Tamahana te Rauparaha, and his nephew, Matene te Whiwhi. A motley +crowd of five or six hundred people poured out of the little +settlement to welcome their chief, the Governor, and Lady Grey; and, +as an evidence of the elevating influences which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">{322}</a></span> +were operating amongst them,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_188" id="Ref_188" href="#Foot_188">[188]</a></span> +prayers in the native +tongue were read in the open air, before the feast which +had been prepared for the visitors was placed before +them. A glass-windowed, carpeted <i>whare</i> was the +banquet-room, and a clean damask cloth covered the +table at which the guests were seated, while a daughter +of Rangihaeata courteously discharged the duties of +hostess.</p> + +<p>On the following day Te Rauparaha presented himself before the people, +and was received with the usual evidences of Maori +jubilation—interminable speeches, wild and barbarous dances, and +endless feasting. Almost immediately he exercised the prerogative of +his freedom by visiting Rangihaeata, who was hovering in the +neighbourhood of Otaki, but with what intent no one knew. Te Rauparaha +was accompanied by Te Wherowhero +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">{323}</a></span> +and some of the visiting chiefs, and the <i>korero</i> +lasted several days. What the precise nature of their +discussions was will never be known; but that they +were not of a treasonable nature may be inferred from +the fact that the Governor, hearing that Rangihaeata was +at that time harbouring a notorious murderer, whom he +refused to deliver up to justice, sent a letter to Te +Rauparaha calling upon him and his compatriots to show +their displeasure at Rangihaeata's conduct by instantly +withdrawing from his presence. At the time the letter +arrived, the chiefs were on the point of sitting down to +partake of Rangihaeata's hospitality; but without hesitation +they rose and left, though not before telling the +obdurate chief their reason for doing so.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_189" id="Ref_189" href="#Foot_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>This evidence of unfailing loyalty to the Crown was as gratifying to +the Governor as it must have been aggravating to Rangihaeata, who, +when he met His Excellency at Otaki, roundly abused him and all the +<i>pakehas</i> for their presumptuous interference with his affairs. +He declared that he was not tired of war, but evidently men and women +had changed with the times, and now preferred to fight with the tongue +rather than the <i>mere</i> or the musket. His contempt for the +Europeans and all their doings was still as vehement as ever,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_190" id="Ref_190" href="#Foot_190">[190]</a></span> +and in his violent denunciation of their encroachment upon his privileges +as a chief, he declared that he wanted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">{324}</a></span> +nothing of them, and he wore nothing of their work. +He was then standing before the Governor, a tall and +picturesque figure arrayed in a lustrous dogskin mat, +with adornments in his hair; and when Grey quietly +exposed his inconsistency by pointing to a peacock's +feather dangling about his head, he angrily muttered, +"True, that is <i>pakeha</i>," and cast it scornfully from him.</p> + +<p>Though Rangihaeata never accepted the Christian faith, in course of +time his feelings mellowed and his attitude somewhat modified towards +the occupation of the land by the white people. He not only acquiesced +in the policy of road-making, which he had at first so strenuously +opposed, but in 1852 he constructed two lines at Poroutawhao at his +own expense. A school was even established at his <i>pa</i>, and +subsequently his declared principles not to use British goods were so +far modified that he purchased and drove in an English-made buggy +along roads made by British soldiers. His feelings, too, towards the +Governor considerably softened, and when, in 1852, Sir George Grey was +about to proceed to England for a holiday, the chief wrote to him in +terms of genuine friendship, which gave proof of the surprising change +which had come over the hitherto untamable spirit of "the tiger of the +Wairau":—</p> + + <p class="block">"O Governor! my friend, I send you greeting. I need scarcely + call to your remembrance the circumstances attending my flight + and pursuit: how it was that I took refuge in the fastnesses and + hollows of the country, as a crab lies concealed in the depths and + hollows of the rocks. You it was who sought and found me out, + and through your kindness it is that I am at this present time + enjoying your confidence and surrounded with peace and quietness. + This, then, is the expression of my esteem for you, which I take + occasion to make now that you are on the point of leaving for your + native land."</p> + +<p>The release of Te Rauparaha was the signal for a furious outburst of +hostile criticism against the Governor, and Colonel Wakefield led the +agitation in one of the biased and bitter effusions usual with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">{325}</a></span> +him where Te Rauparaha was concerned.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_191" id="Ref_191" href="#Foot_191">[191]</a></span> +But the anticipation of the Governor that the chief could, or +would, cause the authorities no further trouble, appears +to have been amply justified. So far as is known of him +from this time until his death, he lived quietly and +unostentatiously at the Otaki settlement. It would seem +that he accepted with as good grace as he might the new +order of things, and even sought to assist his people in +reaching a higher plane of civilisation than at his advanced +years he himself could ever hope to attain. It is at +least accounted unto him for righteousness by his son, +Tamahana, that it was at his suggestion the Ngati-Raukawa +people built the now famous church<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_192" id="Ref_192" href="#Foot_192">[192]</a></span> +at Otaki, wherein the tribe has so often heard the glad tidings of +"peace on earth and goodwill towards men," so strongly +contrasted with their old heathen doctrine of blood for +blood. A striking feature in the architecture of this +church is its central line of large totara pillars, which +rise to a height of 40 feet, carrying the solid ridge-pole +above. These wooden columns were hewn out of the +forest on the banks of the Ohau, which in those days +ran into the Waikawa, forming one large stream. The +trees were felled in the bush, floated down the river +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">{326}</a></span> +to the sea, and thence dragged along the coast, one +native standing on the tree with pole in hand to guide +it through the surf, while a string of stalwart men tugged +at the heavy tow-ropes, as they marched along the sandy +beach. Column after column was, in this way, eventually +landed at Waitohu, near Otaki, and then hauled across +the sandhills by hundreds of brawny arms to the site +where the church now stands. There the trees were, +with infinite labour, dressed and prepared with native +adzes, which are still kept in the church as interesting +mementoes. No machinery of any kind was available +to assist in the construction of the sacred edifice. Hand +labour was everywhere brought into requisition, and only +the most cunning workmen were employed, men of +reputed skill being brought from the Manawatu to design +and execute the carvings of the interior, while the reed +lacework round the walls was also dexterously woven by +these same masters of Maori art.</p> + +<p>Some attempt has been made, but with dubious success, to prove that Te +Rauparaha ordered the building of this church because he had become +deeply and genuinely religious, and his son has given us the pious +assurance that he spent these last of his days "continually +worshipping."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_193" id="Ref_193" href="#Foot_193">[193]</a></span> +"I saw," says an intelligent but newly arrived +clergyman, who visited him at this time, "amongst the other men of +note, the old and once powerful chief, Te Rauparaha, who, +notwithstanding his great age of more than eighty years, is seldom +missed from his class, and who, after a long life of perpetual +turmoil, spent in all the savage excitement of cruel and bloody wars, +is now to be seen every morning in his accustomed place, repeating +those blessed truths which teach him to love the Lord with all his +heart and mind +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">{327}</a></span> +and soul and strength, and his neighbour as himself." +This amiable picture, drawn in a spirit of enlarged +charity, is unfortunately dimmed, and the sincerity of the +chief's religious convictions discounted, by the story +related of him by a conscientious, if unfriendly, critic. +"A few days before his death," says this writer,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_194" id="Ref_194" href="#Foot_194">[194]</a></span> +"when suffering under the malady which carried him off, two +settlers called to see him. While there, a neighbouring +missionary came in and offered him the consolations of +religion. Rauparaha demeaned himself in a manner +highly becoming such an occasion, but the moment +the missionary was gone, he turned to his other visitors +and said: 'What is the use of all that nonsense?—that +will do my belly no good.' He then turned the conversation +on the Whanganui races, where one of his +guests had been running a horse." Such an incident, +if true, leaves behind it the impression that the chief +was shrewd enough to observe that the Christian faith +had taken root amongst his people, and conventional +enough to adopt it for fashion's sake, without realising +any real spiritual change. But we will not attempt +to pass judgment upon one who was at so manifest a +disadvantage in grasping the mysteries of a faith which +centuries of science and learning have left still obscure to +many more fortunately circumstanced. But, whatever +the chief's spiritual condition may have been, it was not +vouchsafed to him to witness the completion of his +building scheme. He had long passed man's allotted +span, and life's last stage was closing in upon him. He +was in his eighty-first year, and was stricken with an +internal complaint, the precise nature of which has not +been ascertained, but which necessitated his taking much +rest. His last days were therefore spent in enforced +inactivity, and, while practically an invalid, his greatest +delight was to recount to those capable of appreciating +his narrative the stories of his early campaigns. The +late Bishop Hadfield was especially favoured in this +respect; and when he grew weary of the company +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">{328}</a></span> +of his own people (of whose intellectuality he had so +small an opinion that he once remarked that they could +talk of nothing better than dogs and pigs), he would +send for the missionary, and regale him with stories of +the past, told with a native force which aroused astonishment +and admiration in the mind of his hearer. His +descriptions of former fights were generally dramatic, +frequently graphic, and always eloquent, for his vocabulary +was rich in words and phrases which were far +beyond the linguistic capacity of the natives by whom +he was surrounded. It is to be regretted that these +recitals have perished with the good Bishop. Until quite +late in his life a vivid impression of them remained in his +memory, and his constant readiness to refer to them +confirms the claim that Te Rauparaha was a man of +superior intellect, in so far as that term may be applied +to a Maori of his day.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of November, 1849, the complaint from which he was +suffering begun to assume a more malignant form. On the 24th of that +month he received a last visit from Rangihaeata, and bade farewell to +his erstwhile comrade in arms. Three days later he was dead; the event +was consummated for which Colonel Wakefield so devoutly wished when, +ten years before, he wrote: "It will be a most fortunate thing for any +settlement formed hereabouts when he dies, for with his life only will +end his mischievous scheming and insatiable cupidity." Had Te +Rauparaha been asked to pen his opinion of the promoters of the New +Zealand Company, he might have couched his judgment in much the same +terms. But now that he was dead there was no need, and little desire, +to keep open the floodgates of vituperation, and there were many who +in his lifetime could find no kindly thought for him, but were willing +to bury the bitterness of racial misunderstanding in the grave wherein +the chief was so soon to be laid.</p> + +<p>The news that Te Rauparaha was dead spread like a prairie fire, and +natives from all parts of both islands flocked to Otaki to swell the +weeping multitude who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">{329}</a></span> +wailed around the bier of the dead chief. So altered, +however, had the times become, that, though there was +a feast, there was little <i>tangi</i> of the barbarous sort, for his +son Tamahana, who was sincere and consistent in his +emulation of European methods,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_195" id="Ref_195" href="#Foot_195">[195]</a></span> +discouraged in the +native people, as far as possible, the indulgence in their +time-honoured mourning customs, and, according to a +contemporary authority, the whole proceedings were +conducted "in a most decorous manner." The interment +took place on 3rd December, the last resting-place being +a spot chosen by his friend Rangihaeata, within the +church enclosure, and immediately in front of the unfinished +building. A procession of fifteen hundred people +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">{330}</a></span> +followed the body to the grave, where the beautiful burial +service of the Anglican Church was read by Mr. Ronaldson, +the native teacher from Whanganui. The coffin, +made in the usual manner, was covered with black cloth, +and the final chapter in the life of this remarkable man +was written on the brass plate which adorned the casket:—</p> + +<p class="center">KO TE RAUPARAHA I MATE I TE<br /><br /> + +27 O NOWEMA 1849<br /><br /> + +[Te Rauparaha died on November 27, 1849.]</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_173" id="Foot_173" href="#Ref_173">[173]</a> +Heke had asked the pertinent question, "Is Rauparaha to have all +the credit of killing the <i>pakeha</i>?"</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_174" id="Foot_174" href="#Ref_174">[174]</a> +"From what I know of the young lieutenant, I have no doubt he +laid about him vigorously. Even had burly Rangihaeata confronted him, +I should not have feared the result" (<i>Mundy</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_175" id="Foot_175" href="#Ref_175">[175]</a> +It was quite the orthodox thing for natives on opposite sides to +hold intercourse with each other during war, and Rauparaha, having +many relations engaged with Rangihaeata, would, in accordance with +this custom, keep up a certain connection with them, and they with +him. This, not being understood by the British authorities, was +probably mistaken for treachery.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_176" id="Foot_176" href="#Ref_176">[176]</a> +Afterwards McKillop Pasha, an Admiral of the Khedive of Egypt.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_177" id="Foot_177" href="#Ref_177">[177]</a> +Grey, in his despatch to the Secretary for the Colonies, +describing the seizure of Te Rauparaha, states that a "considerable +quantity of arms and ammunition belonging to the disaffected portion +of the Ngati-Toa tribe" was also seized, though he makes no attempt to +explain what steps were taken under the exciting circumstances to +ascertain who the precise owners were.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_178" id="Foot_178" href="#Ref_178">[178]</a> +On the voyage to Wellington the prisoners were quartered in the +workshop above the boilers. During the night a great disturbance was +heard in this direction, and, on an examination being made, it was +found that the room was full of steam. One of the boilers had sprung a +leak, but the natives imagined that their vapour bath was an ingenious +contrivance to compass their death.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_179" id="Foot_179" href="#Ref_179">[179]</a> +Mr. Percy Smith is my authority for saying that Rangihaeata did +not actually compose this lament, as is generally supposed, but merely +adapted it from a very old original.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_180" id="Foot_180" href="#Ref_180">[180]</a> +In October, 1850, Dr. Dorsett, as Chairman of the Settlers' +Constitutional Society, in a letter addressed to Earl Grey, complained +of the inadequacy of Te Rauparaha's punishment. Sir George Grey +replied by quoting two laments, of which this was one, "to show the +light in which the natives regarded the punishment inflicted on him."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_181" id="Foot_181" href="#Ref_181">[181]</a> +Pohi was one of the inferior chiefs arrested with Te Rauparaha +and afterwards released. Subsequently, Grey discovered that this man +was supposed to possess "important information."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_182" id="Foot_182" href="#Ref_182">[182]</a> +For the passive attitude adopted by many of the Ngati-Toa people +some credit must be given to Te Rauparaha, who had already advised his +son to go to the tribes and tell them to remain in peace. "I returned +on shore," says Tamahana, "and saw Ngati-Toa and Rawhiri Puaha. We +told them the words of Rauparaha respecting that which is good and +living in peace. Two hundred Ngati-Raukawa came to Otaki. Rangihaeata +wished to destroy Wellington and kill the <i>pakehas</i> as +satisfaction. I told them the words of Te Rauparaha, that they must +put away foolish thoughts, live in peace, and cast away bad desires. +They consented."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_183" id="Foot_183" href="#Ref_183">[183]</a> +Ensign Blackburn, who was a fine officer and a great favourite +with the troops, was shot by a native secreted in a tree, and he in +turn was almost immediately brought down by an artilleryman.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_184" id="Foot_184" href="#Ref_184">[184]</a> +Under the chilling atmosphere of bleak winter the enthusiasm of +our native allies soon began to cool and the vigour of their pursuit +to slacken. Power, in his <i>Sketches in New Zealand</i>, gives an +amusing account of a big <i>korero</i> held at Otaki to decide whether +or not they would continue the chase, in which he says: "Rangihaeata's +sister was present and addressed the meeting in favour of her absent +brother, making at the same time some very unparliamentary remarks on +the aggressions of the <i>pakehas</i> and the want of pluck of the +Maoris in not resisting them, as her illustrious brother was doing. An +old chief requested her to resume her seat, informing her at the same +time that she was the silly sister of a sillier brother. He then put +it to the meeting whether pigs and potatoes, warm fires and plenty of +tobacco, were not better things than leaden bullets, edges of +tomahawks, snow, rain, and empty bellies? All the former, he distinctly +stated, were to be enjoyed on the plain; the latter they had had +plentiful experience of in the mountains, and was it to be expected +that they—and he confidently relied upon the good sense of the +meeting—could be such fools as to hesitate for a moment? The applause +of the old man's rhetoric was unanimous, and it received no slight +help from the timely appearance of a procession bearing the materials +for a week's feasting."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_185" id="Foot_185" href="#Ref_185">[185]</a> +Lieutenant McKillop, writing on this point, says: "We never had +any such decided advantage over him in our various skirmishes with his +tribe as to dishearten him, and had we been unassisted by friendly +Maoris I have no doubt he would have held out and carried his point."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_186" id="Foot_186" href="#Ref_186">[186]</a> +While the <i>Calliope</i> was lying at Wellington, Te Rauparaha +was visited by his son Tamahana, who has left it on record that, in +that trying moment of his life, his father displayed a spirit of calm +forgiveness towards those who had so treacherously deprived him of his +liberty. His advice was: "Son, go to your tribes and tell them to +remain in peace. Do not pay for my seizure with evil, only with that +which is good. You must love the Europeans. There was no just cause +for my having been arrested by Governor Grey. I have not murdered any +Europeans, but I was arrested through the lies of the people. If I had +been taken prisoner in battle, it would have been well, but I was +unjustly taken."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_187" id="Foot_187" href="#Ref_187">[187]</a> +In his <i>Travels in New Zealand</i>, Crawford remarks: "During +the march to Pahautanui, a Maori named Martin Luther (Wareaitu) was +taken prisoner and was some months afterwards tried by court martial +and hanged. I cannot help thinking that this was a blunder." Dr. +Thomson is even more emphatic, and declares that "Luther's death is a +disgrace to Governor Grey's administration."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_188" id="Foot_188" href="#Ref_188">[188]</a> +Visitors to modern Otaki cannot fail to notice a tall pole +erected near the roadside opposite the church. The totara tree out of +which the pole was hewn was brought there at the outbreak of the Maori +war. It was intended as a flagstaff, but Mr. Hadfield persuaded the +Maoris to remain perfectly neutral and make no demonstration one way +or the other. The tree lay for many years on the common until the Rev. +Mr. McWilliam induced the Maoris to shape the tree into a tapering +obelisk 40 feet high, with the dates 1840 (the year when Christianity +was established at Otaki) to 1880 (the year the obelisk was erected) +going spirally round it from bottom to top, and so it became a +memorial of the English Church Mission at Otaki. It was first erected +in the middle of the common, but in 1890, that is, the fiftieth year +of the mission, it was moved into the corner opposite the church gate. +It is called by the Maoris the "Jubilee." There was a great gathering +of Maoris on that occasion, and fifty of them were clad in white and +took part in the ceremony. The chief speaker was Kereopa Tukumaru, an +old chief from Kereru, who had been one of the first converts to +Christianity, and was now able to tell what great things the religion +of Christianity had done for the Maoris. "This man," says Mr. +McWilliam, "was the most consistent Christian I have ever had the +privilege of knowing." He was most industrious, but when not working +he was reading his Bible. He knew nearly the whole of it by heart. His +grave may be seen near the Kereru railway station on a small natural +mound. It is an oblong raised vault, built of concrete, with a +beautiful white marble angel standing over one end.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_189" id="Foot_189" href="#Ref_189">[189]</a> +Colonel Mundy mentions that a remarkably plausible report was +circulating in Wellington at this time, to the effect that +Rangihaeata—in order to prove himself a convert to civilisation—had +signified his intention to kill and eat the aforesaid murderer, and +then "go into the best society."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_190" id="Foot_190" href="#Ref_190">[190]</a> +As illustrating Rangihaeata's intolerance of Europeans, +Crawford, in his <i>Travels in New Zealand</i>, mentions that when he +visited Fraser's whaling station on Mana in 1839, he saw sitting in +the corner of the room a large Maori wrapped in his mat. "He listened +to the conversation, but said nothing. At last, as if displeased, he +uttered a hideous and prolonged grunt, and rose to his feet: I was +struck with his height and imposing, although savage, appearance—he +grunted again and walked out of the room without speaking. This was +Rangihaeata, the great follower or coadjutor of Te Rauparaha—the Ajax +of his tribe, as the other was the Ulysses."</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_191" id="Foot_191" href="#Ref_191">[191]</a> +As illustrating the feeling of the time, we may mention that +very great indignation was expressed in Wellington because Bishop +Selwyn had taken Te Rauparaha to the house of the Rev. Mr. Cole, a +clergyman of Wellington, to stay there during a visit to the city. +Major Richmond, the Superintendent, and the Sub-Protector, Mr. +Forsaith, had gone to Porirua and provided for his safe escort to +Wellington. The Bishop had publicly refused to shake hands with +Rangihaeata, showing to the natives his horror of the massacre at the +Wairau on every occasion. But he refused to recognise Te Rauparaha as +responsible for it, and did no more than his clear duty in providing +for his safety on this occasion. The outcry raised against him was +bitter, but was quietly ignored by him (<i>Brett's "Early History of +New Zealand"</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_192" id="Foot_192" href="#Ref_192">[192]</a> +The church, which is a noble specimen of native architecture, +was built under the supervision of Archdeacon Hadfield and Rev. H. +Williams. It was commenced in 1849 and opened in 1851. Its length is +80 feet, its breadth 36 feet, and its height 40 feet. The ridge-pole +is hewn out of a solid totara tree, 86 feet long.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_193" id="Foot_193" href="#Ref_193">[193]</a> +"Te Rauparaha was not baptized, and, although his son wished the +burial service of the Church to be used at his funeral, the minister +did not feel himself justified in doing so; however, a lay member of +the Church Missionary Society from Whanganui, opportunely passing +through the place, read the service over him, and thus terminated the +eventful life of the New Zealand warrior" (<i>Rev. Richard +Taylor</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_194" id="Foot_194" href="#Ref_194">[194]</a> +The late Sir William Fox in his <i>Six Colonies of New +Zealand</i>.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_195" id="Foot_195" href="#Ref_195">[195]</a> +In 1868, Tamihana te Rauparaha and his wife Ruta (Ruth) lived by +themselves about half-way between Otaki and Waikanae on his sheep run, +but he now and again came to his town house in Otaki and stayed a few +weeks. He was a fine, handsome man, tall and stout, but active and +mentally energetic. He always dressed well, and in cleanliness and +neatness was a thorough English gentleman. He had been home to England +and presented to the Queen. He never forgot what he saw there, and he +wished to be considered an English gentleman. For that reason he lost +influence with his tribe. He held aloof from <i>tangis</i> and other +Maori feasts, but was most hospitable and generous to Europeans. His +wife was a most ladylike and charming woman. She was not so well +educated as Tamihana, but for all that she had the manners and taste +of an English lady. She died several years before him, and he erected +a small marble stone over her grave; but when he died, and was laid by +her side, no monument of any kind was erected to his memory; the +cast-iron fence, which had been broken accidentally, was not even +repaired. The Maoris did not care much for him, because he was too +civilised and <i>pakeha</i>-like for them, so they made no general +mourning at his death. In his youth, Tamihana te Rauparaha and Matene +te Whiwhi had journeyed all the way to the Bay of Islands to beg for a +missionary, and in response to their request Mr. Hadfield (who was +afterwards Bishop of Wellington and Primate) came back with them to +Otaki, and lived amongst them and taught them Christianity for thirty +years.</p> + +<p class="nodent">The graves of Tamihana te Rauparaha and his wife are enclosed with an +iron railing. On the tombstone of the wife is the inscription: "<i>Te +ohatanga tenei mo Ruta te Rauparaha wahine O Tamihana te Rauparaha, i +mate ki Otaki i te 10 o nga ra so Hurae, 1870.</i>"</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">{331}</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="size090">CHAPTER IX</span><br /><span +class="size070">WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE</span></h2> + +<p class="nodent"><span class="smcap">Te Rangihaeata</span> +survived his uncle by seven years, living during this +time quietly at Poroutawhao. Though ceasing his violent opposition to +the occupation of the land by the settlers, he still clung to his +refusal to traffic in the native estate, either with individuals or +with the Government. Almost immediately after the close of the war, +Lieutenant-Governor Eyre and the Rev. Richard Taylor penetrated +through the bush and swamps which surrounded Poroutawhao, and met the +chief in the very heart of his stronghold. He was then, says Mr. +Taylor, an old man with a head as white as the top of Tongariro, and a +spirit somewhat resembling that active volcano, always fuming. His +white hair strongly contrasted with his bronzed features and highly +tattooed countenance. The missionary thus describes the retreat in +which they found him, and the reception they met with:—</p> + + <p class="block">"A long, low, narrow strip of land, running through deep swamp, led + to his retreat; the name of the place aptly describes it, being a + cork, or stoppage, to war, and few would have liked to draw it out. + The <i>pa</i> was on a mound, the only one in the vicinity, and + strongly fortified in the native style, with thick, lofty posts + deeply sunk in the ground, and bound together with a <i>huahua</i>, + or connecting pole, running round at a height of about ten feet. + Inside the outer fence there was another, behind which the defenders + could post themselves, and take aim through the outer one. The + <i>pa</i> was divided into a number of small courts, each equally + well defended, and connected by very narrow passages. We found the + chief with his wives and his head men assembled in the chief court, + or <i>marae</i>, sitting on mats in front of his house. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">{332}</a></span> + Fresh fern was strewed on the ground, and new mats laid on it for us; we were + received with great respect, and welcomed with a loud + <i>haeremai</i>: we sat down on the chief's right hand, and conversed + on various subjects, until we were invited to enter a neighbouring + house, where no one followed us, except a neatly dressed and + good-looking lady, who was appointed to wait upon us according to + Maori etiquette: there was a kind of table formed of two boxes, one + placed on the other, with a new red blanket placed over it, and a + form similarly covered in regal style. On the table was placed a dish + of good fresh-baked cakes, another containing sugar, a knife, spoon, + and two basins, one nearly allied to a wash-hand basin in size. The + lady then brought a tea-kettle, and filled our cups with an infusion + of mint, which she called tea. The wash-hand basin was, of course, + placed before the representative of Majesty, who viewed with dismay + its enormous capacity, which, being given him from respect, he could + not well avoid draining to the bottom. After enjoying the Governor's + perplexity, when the lady left the room, I emptied the contents of + our bowls into a calabash, from which our natives were drinking; our + repast being ended, we returned to the chief and sat by his side. The + Governor requested me to ask the chief to sell some land, which I + respectfully declined doing. He then attempted to do so himself: at + first he was not understood, but when the chief comprehended what he + meant, he gave a savage look of defiance, thrusting out his tongue + and rolling about his eyes in such a way, that his Excellency, who + had never seen such a display before, stared in amazement, and + evidently felt anything but at ease. It need not be said that the + land negotiations were speedily terminated, and we were soon + threading our way back along Rangihaeata's swamp-girt road."</p> + +<p>Not less interesting was the experience of Lord Charles Butler and Mr. +Carnegie, two officers of the <i>Calliope</i>, who, upon the cessation +of hostilities, conceived the adventurous idea of visiting the chief +in his lair at Poroutawhao. Starting from Wellington, accompanied by +Lieutenant Servantes of the 96th, who during the war had acted as +interpreter with the Government troops, and Tamahana Te Rauparaha, +they experienced considerable difficulty in pushing their way across +the country to the place of Rangihaeata's retreat. By dint of +perseverance they at length reached the borders of the swamp +surrounding the small hillock on which the <i>pa</i> was built, and, +meeting some of the natives there, they sent them on to the chief to +ascertain if he would +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">{333}</a></span> +be prepared to receive them. A messenger soon returned +to say that Lord Charles and Tamahana might +come on, but that if Ewie (Lieutenant Servantes) attempted +to do so, he would be shot. Rangihaeata had +persuaded himself that Servantes had been acting the +spy in the late proceedings against him. This impression, +which was quite erroneous, doubtless arose +from the fact that this officer had been a great deal in +the company of the natives before the outbreak of hostilities, +that he was thoroughly conversant with their +language, customs, and haunts, and consequently was +frequently acting in conjunction with the native allies +when no other Europeans were near. There being no +opportunity to offer explanations which might remove +the chief's prejudice, Servantes deemed it prudent to +respect Rangihaeata's mandate, and remained where +he was, the others proceeding to the <i>pa</i>. As they approached, +sounds and evidences of excitement, which +they were at a loss to understand, greeted them, and +as they drew nearer, several armed natives came out of +the <i>pa</i>, pointing their muskets at Mr. Carnegie, at the +same time abusing him with a tornado of picturesque +native epithets. This hostile demonstration arose from +the fact that they had mistaken the naval officer for +Servantes; but, when the guides had silenced the +clamour sufficiently to obtain a hearing, the necessary +explanations were made, and the party was led into +the <i>pa</i>. They found Rangihaeata leaning against his +<i>whare</i>, and taking aim at the gateway with his gun, +having fully determined to end the days of the supposed +spy if he dared to enter the <i>pa</i>. The introductions were, +however, satisfactory, and, putting away his musket, he +gave his hand to his guests, whereupon his tribe likewise +disarmed themselves, and prepared to extend hospitality +to the visitors. Lord Charles opened the proceedings +diplomatically, by presenting Rangihaeata with a +few pounds of tobacco and a red blanket; and, as soon +as the chief had filled his pipe with the fragrant weed, +and adjusted the blanket to his brawny shoulders, he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">{334}</a></span> +sat down and entered into a most amiable conversation +with the <i>pakehas</i>, for whose refreshment he took care +that food should be brought. He plied his visitors with +many questions concerning Te Rauparaha and those +natives who were prisoners with him, and closely inquired +of those Europeans with whose names he was +acquainted, making special reference to Lieutenant +McKillop, of whose conduct in the war he had formed +an excellent opinion. He was also exceedingly complimentary +to Lord Charles, of whom he said he had +received very flattering reports, but he was equally +regretful of the conduct of his own people in deserting +his standard, and spoke bitterly of his experiences since +he had abandoned his <i>pa</i> at Porirua. These misfortunes +did not, however, detract in the least from his hospitality +to his visitors. He begged them to remain with him +until next day, in order that he might have the opportunity +of killing a pig and regaling them with due +splendour on the morrow. This kind invitation they +modestly declined, and, after explaining that their visit +was of purely a private nature, and not one which +would warrant them in carrying back any message to +the authorities, they took their leave of the chief, whom +they have described as being particularly dirty, but a +fine handsome man.</p> + +<p>By his winning ways and the generous use of presents, Governor Grey +several times induced Rangihaeata to leave his retreat at Poroutawhao +for the purpose of holding conferences with him; and when he believed +that he had sufficiently ingratiated himself into the good opinion of +the chief, he ventured to propose the sale to the Government of the +Waikanae district. "It would have been the subject for an artist," +says one writer, "to picture the indignant look of the chief as he +flatly and rudely refused, telling the Governor to be content with +what he had already got. 'You have had Porirua, Ahuriri, Wairarapa, +Whanganui, Rangitikei, and the whole of the Middle Island given up to +you, and still you are not content. We are driven up into a corner, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">{335}</a></span> +and yet you covet that also.'" But, though his overtures +were thus indignantly spurned and rejected, the <i>mana</i> +of the Governor did not suffer any diminution in the +estimation of the chief, who to the end of his days +continued to regard Grey with that chivalrous respect +which is extended by one warrior to another whom +he deems to be worthy of his steel.</p> + +<p>In 1856, while still residing at Poroutawhao, Rangihaeata was stricken +with measles in a particularly malignant form, but, with his +characteristic recklessness of consequences, he refused to take the +ordinary precautions to facilitate his recovery. Though still in a +high state of fever, he decided to visit Otaki, and ordered his groom +to drive him thither. When passing the Waikawa River, he thought to +abate the fever by taking a cold bath; and, stopping the buggy, he +plunged into the river, from which he emerged with the hand of death +upon him. He was taken on to Otaki, where his malady rapidly increased, +and two days afterwards he passed away. His body was taken back, at +the head of an enormous procession, to Poroutawhao, where he was +buried beside his wife, the <i>tangi</i> in his case being marked by +all the barbarous features of native mourning, interspersed with not a +few of the prevailing European vices.</p> + +<p>When in the prime of life, Rangihaeata stood over six feet in height, +a handsome man, magnificently built. Like his more notorious uncle, he +too had features of aquiline mould, lit up by a pair of piercing black +eyes, which instantly flashed out their resentment on any real or +fancied insult. He was exceedingly jealous of his <i>mana</i>, and quick +to blaze into a fit of indignation at any word or act which he might +construe to be a reflection upon his authority as a chief. That +authority he frequently asserted by levying toll upon the settlers and +whalers, but never in any case from pure cupidity, or where he did +not, by Maori law, have some good and valid claim to <i>utu</i>. Against +these extortions, as they were pleased to regard them, the whalers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">{336}</a></span> +appealed to such authority<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_196" id="Ref_196" href="#Foot_196">[196]</a></span> +as they could find in the islands; and +when they were unable to obtain what they deemed to be justice in that +quarter, they took the law into their own hands, and tried to rid +themselves of their tormentor by means of the poison-cup. Frequent +attempts were made to poison him at the whaling stations; and we are +credibly informed that, on one occasion, he was induced to swallow a +pint of raw rum heavily drugged with arsenic. But, in their excess of +zeal to compass the chief's death, they had been led to apply too +great a quantity of poison, and instead of its acting as they +anticipated, it merely acted as an emetic. If this statement be +well-grounded, or if the whalers were as Major Bunbury described them +to be, when he visited Mana in order to procure Rangihaeata's +signature to the Treaty of Waitangi, it is not to be expected that +such dissolute associates would afford the chief much light and +leading in the path of rectitude.</p> + +<p>The reckless disregard by the settlers and whalers of the sanctity of +native custom was responsible for many of the misunderstandings, which +they have debited against +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">{337}</a></span> +Rangihaeata for malice and mischief; while no attempt +has been made to exonerate him on the ground that he +probably saw the act only from the point of view of his +native origin and upbringing. He was in spirit and in +the flesh a Maori, and gloried in it, openly professing a +detestation for the <i>pakeha</i> and all that he had brought to +the country. He affected a supreme contempt for the +luxuries of the white man; but the weakness of human +nature had blinded him to the inconsistency of which he +was daily guilty in acquiring and gratifying an uncontrollable +love of tobacco and rum. When under the +influence of liquor he was querulous and violent; but +his drinking indiscretions were generally redeemed as far +as possible by the payment of ample compensation, for, +savage though he was, Rangihaeata was not destitute of a +liberal sense of justice.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_197" id="Ref_197" href="#Foot_197">[197]</a></span> +This he applied to himself as +rigorously as to others. When he was flying before the +troops in the Horokiwi Valley, he frequently inquired if +those who were hottest in pursuit were relatives of the +victims of his anger at the Wairau; for to him "a life for +a life" was an inexorable law, to which even he must +bow, if the friends of the massacred men should overtake +him. In the cause of what he believed to be the liberty +of his people he did and dared much, enduring intense +hardships for the maintenance of a principle, and when +we charge him with harbouring criminals and refusing to +deliver them over to justice, our resentment against his +conduct may be mitigated by the reflection that his +loyalty to these misguided friends was not so much +due to a sympathy with crime, as it was a practical +protest against what he believed to be their unfair +treatment by the New Zealand Company. Rangihaeata +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">{338}</a></span> +stoutly resisted all attempts to convert him to the +Christian faith, clinging to his heathen gods as closely +as he clung to his antipathy to European settlement. +His convictions on these points were deep-rooted and +irrevocable; and he died as he lived, a savage, guilty +of much bloodshed, yet not altogether devoid of nobility. +Though he never rose to the level of Te Rauparaha as a +warrior or a statesman, he was, nevertheless, a strong man +amongst his people, opposed alike to the missionary and +the settler, but only because he saw with a prophetic +eye that the growing ascendancy of the <i>pakeha</i> meant the +ultimate subjugation of the Maori race. Viewed from +this standpoint—the only one equitable to Rangihaeata—his +policy of hostility cannot be characterised as that of a +stubborn rebel, but may with greater justice be regarded +as the policy of a patriot.</p> + +<p>The character and personal attributes of Te Rauparaha have been the +subject of much conflicting comment, and the pen-portraits of him +which have come down to us have consequently varied, in sympathy with +the mood or interest of his critics. In physical appearance, all, +however, agree that he was short of stature and aquiline of feature;<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_198" id="Ref_198" href="#Foot_198">[198]</a></span> +and, though at times obsequious in manner, he was +equally capable of displaying an imperious dignity of deportment which +marked him as a man accustomed to wield unquestioned authority. While +in repose, the general expression of his countenance was placid and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">{339}</a></span> +thoughtful; but when under the influence of excitement +or agitation, a receding forehead, a furtive glance, and +tusk-like teeth, revealed by a curling lip, detracted considerably +from his impressive appearance. Though +upwards of sixty years of age when he came into contact +with the Europeans (for he claimed to have been a boy +when Cook visited the country), he was still possessed of +a wiry frame, and was capable of exerting great physical +strength and activity, his limbs being straight, his step +elastic, and his athletic vigour little diminished by age. +Perhaps the most graphic description given of the chief +is that penned by Mr. Jerningham Wakefield, whose +cameo-like portrait may be accepted as faithful, and typical +of others given by contemporary writers of equal integrity, +if of inferior literary skill. Wakefield saw Te Rauparaha +for the first time on the morning after the battle of +Kuititanga, from which the chief had just returned; and +to the excitement of that event may be attributed the +agitation observable in his manner, the "wandering +watchful glances" he threw around him, and the air of +"evident fear and distrust," all of which contributed so +forcefully to the creation of an unfavourable impression +on the minds of his visitors.</p> + + <p class="block">"As we leaped from our boat, he advanced to meet us, and, with looks + of evident fear and distrust, eagerly sought our hand to exchange the + missionary greeting. During the whole of the ensuing conversation he + seemed uneasy and insecure in his own opinion, and the whalers + present described this behaviour as totally at variance with his + usual boastfulness and arrogance. He made us a pious speech about the + battle, saying that he had had no part in it, and that he was + determined to give no encouragement to fighting. He agreed to come on + board the next day, and departed to one of the neighbouring islands. + He is rather under the average height, and very dignified and stately + in his manner, although on this occasion it was much affected by the + wandering and watchful glances which he frequently threw around him, + as though distrustful of every one. Although at least sixty years + old, he might have passed for a much younger man, being hale and + stout, and his hair but slightly grizzled. His features are aquiline + and striking; but an overhanging upper lip and a retreating forehead, + on which his eyebrows wrinkled back when he lifted his deep-sunken + eyelids +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">{340}</a></span> +and penetrating eyes, produced a fatal effect on the good prestige +arising from his first appearance. The great chieftain, the man +able to lead others, and habituated to wield authority, was clear at +first sight; but the savage ferocity of the tiger, who would not +scruple to use any means for the attainment of that power, the +destructive ambition of a selfish despot, were plainly discernible on +a nearer view."</p> + +<p>Such was the man who, in or about the year of Bonaparte's death, began +to play the Napoleonic <i>rôle</i> in New Zealand.<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_199" id="Ref_199" href="#Foot_199">[199]</a></span> +Like the Corsican conqueror, to whom his life affords an interesting historical +parallel, he derived no especial advantage from hereditary lineage, +for his place in the Maori peerage was only sufficient to lift him +above the native plutocracy. In his rise to eminence birth played but +a minor part, his path to fortune being carved out by innate +enterprise, inherent courage, wonderful executive capacity, and that +dash of political unscrupulousness which is seldom absent from leaders +of men. From his youth up he displayed masterful qualities of mind,<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_200" id="Ref_200" href="#Foot_200">[200]</a></span> +which infallibly lift their possessor above the level of +mediocrity, and when such qualities are found, whether in savage or +civilised society, the measure of success attained is only limited by +the degree of opportunity offered. Te Rauparaha's escapades as a boy +reveal his natural bravery; his care as a young man for the generous +entertainment of his visitors indicates an appreciation +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">{341}</a></span> +of the value of a good social impression; his +exertions to master the art of war were sustained by a +clear recognition of the fact that authority in an age of +strife was impossible without military success; and his +ambition to furnish his people with guns was just as +clearly the result of the knowledge that military success +was impossible without a weapon as efficient as that +wielded by the enemy. It was not any doubt of the +bravery or fidelity of his people that induced his anxiety +regarding their safety at Kawhia, but a conviction that, +unless they could procure muskets and fight Waikato on +equal terms, their doom was sealed.</p> + +<p>But there was also that in him which made him hunger for conquest just +as keenly as he desired to evade being conquered; and if the discovery +of an escape from his dilemma at Kawhia was accidental, he was, as a +rule, careful to leave nothing to accident in the execution of his +fully matured plans. The migration from Kawhia to Kapiti was a bold +and daring conception, fraught as it was with difficulties of +transport, peril to old and young, and, more than all, with the +certainty that every inch of the way would have to be either bargained +for or fought for. Yet it is the manner in which the idea was executed +rather than the idea itself that calls for our admiration. It was +characterised by wise planning, discreet forethought, accurate +calculation, clever diplomacy, skilful strategy; and, when all else +failed, there were the strong right arm and the courageous heart to +compel compliance, if compulsion were needed. That Te Rauparaha was +blessed with abundant confidence in his own prowess is demonstrated by +the lightheartedness with which he assumed the rank and +responsibilities of the dying Hape Tuarangi; and it was just this +spirit of cheerful self-sufficiency which inspired others with that +unbounded trust and confidence in him, which enabled him to lead his +people away from the ties of their ancestral home, and induce them to +share with him the dangers and uncertainty of a great enterprise. It +is at least a tribute to Te Rauparaha's talents as a leader that, so +long as the Maori +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">{342}</a></span> +remained unchanged by European influences, he continued +to receive the loyal support and unfailing +allegiance of his people. He was always popular with +the masses, otherwise he could not have accomplished a +tithe of what he did. No criticism of Te Rauparaha is +sound which represents him as wholly bad. There is in +human nature a rough method of arriving at what is +right; and no public, whether savage or civilised, will for +long tolerate, much less venerate, a leader whose only +policy is his own aggrandisement.</p> + +<p>The undisputed position which Te Rauparaha enjoyed in the affections +of his own people, the fidelity with which they followed him, till the +<i>mana</i> of the chief was superseded by the ascendancy of the +<i>pakeha</i>, afford proof that they, at all events, were able to +discern some meritorious qualities in him, even though not endowed +with the higher ethical vision of a modern critic. It has been +suggested that, in after years, when dissensions arose amongst the +tribes which acknowledged his chieftainship, the revolt was due to +shattered confidence, this shaken faith being traceable to a belief +that he was treacherously plotting with Ngati-Raukawa to compass the +expulsion of Ngati-Awa from Waikanae. But it must not be forgotten +that, by this period, the advent of the <i>pakeha</i> had created a +new atmosphere around the Maori, and the policy of the missionary in +extolling the convert to the disparagement of the chief had, in a +measure, destroyed the power of the people's leaders. And, in the +general decline of hereditary authority, Te Rauparaha's <i>mana</i> +had suffered with the rest. It had therefore become more +difficult—and it may have been impossible—for him to quell +internecine strife by the peremptory means which he would have +employed in the days of his absolute supremacy.</p> + +<p>No candid review of the chief's career can, however, fail to take +cognisance of the fact that his methods frequently gave rise to +suspicions of deepest treachery, the doubtful honour of these +proceedings having long since passed into song and proverb. In common +with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">{343}</a></span> +all successful leaders, he possessed the virtue of keeping +his own counsel. He made his plans, nursed them in +his own mind, and, in the fullness of time, gave his +orders accordingly—a secretive habit which gave origin +to the saying: "No one knew his thoughts, whether +they were good or evil." This reticence has, by some +writers, been given an interpretation which does not +rightly belong to it: because he was reserved, therefore +he was treacherous. Such a deduction does not necessarily +sum up the whole position. But, even when this has been +admitted, there still remains the imputation of treachery, +left by the derisive songs and proverbs, to be either +admitted or combated. The unblushing apologist for +Te Rauparaha might conceivably argue that these chants +were but the creation of prejudiced or malignant minds; +but the charges of deception, amounting to treachery, +are too frequently reiterated to be rejected as altogether +groundless. Barbarous though the Maori was, he had a +code of honour which could not be lightly violated; and +when a member of a tribe was killed, it was not the fact +that he was dead which agitated his friends, but the +circumstances of his dying. "Was his death <i>tika</i>?<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_201" id="Ref_201" href="#Foot_201">[201]</a></span> +Had it been compassed in fair fight? Or was it <i>kohuru</i>?"<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_202" id="Ref_202" href="#Foot_202">[202]</a></span> +These were questions always demanding a satisfactory +answer, for the laws governing life and death were well +defined. And, judged by these laws, it is impossible to +hold Te Rauparaha blameless of the crime of treachery. +The killing of the Rangitane chief, Toki-poto, the capture +of the Hotu-iti <i>pa</i>, the seizure of Tamaiharanui, and +possibly many another similar deed not so specifically +recorded, were all acts of treachery, and serve to dim the +lustre of his larger achievements conducted strictly in +accordance with Maori military law. Nevertheless, it is +possible that there has been much exaggeration in relation +to this phase of the chief's character. When his troubles +with the New Zealand Company began to develop, and +more particularly after the Wairau massacre, it became +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">{344}</a></span> +the mission of a section of the European community to +represent him as the incarnation of all that was cruel, +treacherous, and unspeakably wicked. In this connection +it becomes especially dangerous to accept unreservedly +the judgment of the Wakefields, who were early prejudiced +against him by his opposition to their colonising +methods, and were afterwards deeply embittered towards +him by the death of their relative at the Wairau. Impartiality +under such circumstances is almost too much +to expect; and it is only just to Te Rauparaha to say +that they availed themselves fully of their special opportunities +for disseminating a prejudice against him, so +that a view so long uncontradicted can hardly now be +eradicated.</p> + +<p>In no respect has the reputation of Te Rauparaha suffered more from +bitter hostility than in connection with the Wairau massacre. And we +cannot wonder; for at the time of its occurrence he had arrayed +against him a galaxy of literary talent, such as the Colony has never +seen since, and day by day these wielders of facile pens fed with +scholarly vituperation the flames of racial animosity, which were +already burning at white heat. They spoke of murder; they clamoured +for revenge; and all who failed to see as they saw were exposed to the +darts of their merciless sarcasm. But, with the softening influence of +time, men's hearts have mellowed, stormy passions have subsided, and +we of this day are able to review the facts with more sober judgment +than was possible to those who lived and wrote in the heated +atmosphere of the time. In this unhappy quarrel it must now be +accepted as an established fact that the New Zealand Company were the +aggressors. The Wairau Valley may, or may not, have been included in +their original purchases; but Captain Wakefield knew that this point +was being contested by the natives. He knew further that the dispute +had been by them referred to Mr. Spain, and therefore no reasonable +excuse can be advanced for his attempt to seize the valley while its +title was still subject to judicial investigation. Te +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">{345}</a></span> +Rauparaha's attitude in the early stages of the trouble +amounted to no more than a temperate protest. He +personally interviewed Captain Wakefield at Nelson; he +was as conciliatory in requesting the surveyors to leave +the field as he was decided that they must go; he calmed +Rangihaeata's violence at the conference with Mr. Tuckett; +and, as Mr. Spain's final decision was fatal to the Company's +claim, the charge of arson preferred against him dwindles +into a legal fiction. The conciliatory tone thus manifested +by the chief was equally marked in the more acute stage, +which arose at Tua Marina. While the magistrate fumed +and raged, the chief stood perfectly calm. He more +than once begged that time should be taken to talk over +the case; but the mad impetuosity of Thompson would +brook no delay in determining a cause the merits of +which he, the judge, had already prejudged in his own +mind. For the precipitation of the conflict which +followed, who shall say that the fault was Te Rauparaha's? +It was neither his hand nor his command which put the +brand to the bush, nor does it appear that it was ever +within his power to control the outburst of human +passion which flamed up upon the firing of the first +shot. What part he took in the fight is uncertain. It +has never been suggested that he bore arms, and therefore +we may assume that he was an excited spectator, rather +than an active participant in the mêlée. That he was +early on the brow of the hill, after the retreat had ceased, +would appear to be beyond doubt; but his first act on +reaching the Europeans was to shake hands with them, +a proceeding which seemed to imply that, even after all +that had passed, his friendship had not been irretrievably +lost. Indeed, there is nothing to lead us to suppose +that he harboured any thoughts of retaliation, until +Rangihaeata violently demanded <i>utu</i> for the death of +Te Rongo.</p> + +<p>This demand placed Te Rauparaha in a serious dilemma. Against any +feeling of friendship for the Europeans which may still have lingered +in his heart, he had now to set a claim which was wholly in accord +with native +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">{346}</a></span> +custom; a right, in fact, which had been recognised by +his forefathers for more centuries than we can with +certainty name; a feature of Maori justice supported +by ages of precedent, and which, imbibed from infancy, +had become a part of his nature. This was undoubtedly +the crisis of the tragedy. Had Te Rauparaha decided +against Rangihaeata, there would have been no massacre; +but where his detractors are unfair to him is in appearing +to expect that he should have suddenly risen superior to +his Maori nature, and, in place of allowing his actions +to be governed by Maori law, that he—a heathen—should +have viewed the attempt to seize his land and his person, +together with the death of Te Rongo, in the forgiving +spirit of a Christian. No Ethiop was ever asked to +change his skin more rapidly; and if Te Rauparaha +failed in the performance of the miracle, he only failed +when success was morally impossible to him. In the +massacre itself he had no share; and, beyond the fact +that, under intense natural excitement, he gave a tacit +consent to Rangihaeata's deed, he appears to have stood +outside it.</p> + +<p>Of his relations with the whalers, accounts vary. If we accept the +Wakefield view, we must believe that by them he was heartily detested +and distrusted. That he was acquisitive to the point of aggression is +possible; that he was often overbearing towards them may be equally +true, for these are characteristics frequently seen in the powerful +savage; but there are also instances recorded in which he showed a +ready generosity and a strict sense of justice towards the whaling +community.</p> + + <p class="block">"The whalers and traders, who had the best opportunity of being + intimately acquainted with him, and that, too, at a time when his + power to injure was greatest, invariably spoke of him as ever having + been the white man's friend. He always placed the best he had before + them, and in no instance have I heard of his doing any one of them an + injury. Speaking of him to an old whaler, he said emphatically that + Te Rauparaha never let the white man who needed want anything he + could give, whether food or clothing; in fact, his natural sagacity + told him that it was his interest to make +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">{347}</a></span> +common cause with the Europeans, for it was through them that +he acquired the sinews of war, guns, powder, and shot, and everything +else that he required."<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_203" id="Ref_203" href="#Foot_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>The impartiality with which he held the balance between the two races +may be gathered from the following incident: A whaleboat had left +Waikanae to proceed to Kapiti, the crew taking with them a native, who +sat in the bow. On the journey over the Maori managed to secrete +beneath his mat the small hatchet which the whalers used to cut the +line, and was quietly walking off with it when the boat reached the +island. Before he had gone many steps one of the crew whispered to the +headsman what had happened, whereupon that worthy picked up the +harpoon and drove it straight through the Maori's back, killing him on +the spot. The native population was at once thrown into a state of +uproar and fury, threatening dire vengeance upon the whalers, but Te +Rauparaha quelled the disturbance in an instant, and, after inquiring +into its cause, walked away, declaring that the native had only met +with his deserts.</p> + +<p>Towards his native enemies Te Rauparaha was unquestionably merciless +and cruel, though not more so, perhaps, than was sanctioned by the +spirit of the times in which he lived. Yet that he was not wholly +incapable of admiration for a worthy opponent is shown by his seeking +out and sparing Te Ata o Tu, the Ngai-Tahu warrior, who fought so +bravely against him at Kaiapoi. Even in this case there are persons +who affect to believe that self-interest rather than chivalry may have +been the moving impulse in his conduct, for he possibly counted upon +so skilful a fighter being invaluable to him in his northern troubles. +But surely we can afford to be magnanimous enough to concede to so +fine an example of generosity a less mercenary motive?<span +class="fnanchor"><a name="Ref_204" id="Ref_204" href="#Foot_204">[204]</a></span> +Though relentless to a degree +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">{348}</a></span> +towards those tribes who came between him and his +ambitions, it must always be remembered that his ruthlessness +is not to be judged from the Christian standpoint. +His enormities, which were neither few nor small, +were those of a savage, born and bred in an atmosphere +into which no spirit of Divine charity had ever entered. +Compared with the excesses practised in civilised warfare +by such champions of the Cross as Cortés and the Duke +of Alva, his deeds of darkness become less repugnant, if +not altogether pardonable.</p> + +<p>The attitude which he adopted towards the European was in exact +opposition to that assumed by Te Rangihaeata. He welcomed rather than +resented the coming of the white man, although he found reason to +protest against the methods employed by the New Zealand Company in +acquiring land on which to settle them. Nor in this respect can it be +said that his objections were captious or ill-founded; in fact, with +the exception of the Hutt dispute, the Commissioner's decisions were +invariably a vindication of his contentions. Some doubt has +necessarily been cast upon his loyalty to the Government (which he +accepted when he signed the Treaty of Waitangi), by virtue of the fact +that he was seized and held captive because of his supposed +infidelity. There are those with whom it is only necessary to accuse +in order to condemn. In this case accusation carried condemnation with +it, but condemnation without proof of guilt is injustice. Whatever the +measure of Te Rauparaha's duplicity may have been, the Governor +conspicuously failed to do more than suspect him, and as conspicuously +failed to bring the chief face to face with his accusers. It was never +proved, nor was any attempt ever made to prove before a court of +competent jurisdiction, that Te Rauparaha had held communication with +the enemy. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">{349}</a></span> +Even if he had so communicated, an easy explanation +might have been found in the native practice, under +which individuals in opposing forces frequently visited +each other during the progress of hostilities. Te Rauparaha +had many friends with the rebels, and it would +appear perfectly natural to him to hold friendly correspondence +with them, whilst himself maintaining an +attitude of strict neutrality. Considering the contemptuous +disregard which many British officials displayed +towards rites and customs held sacred by the +Maori, it is not to be expected that they would trouble to +understand, or try to appreciate, this subtlety in the native +character. And so, what was to the Maori a well-established +and common custom, was by them translated +into treachery, for which Te Rauparaha was made captive +in a manner which leaves us but little right to talk of open +and honourable tactics.</p> + +<p>His conduct while a captive on board the <i>Calliope</i> appears to +have been exemplary enough, and he succeeded in impressing those with +whom he came into contact by his quick perception, particularly of +anything meant to turn him into ridicule, of which he was most +sensitive. He frequently became much excited and very violent, and at +other times, when talking of his misfortunes, he would become deeply +moved, and the tears would run down his wrinkled cheeks. It is +recorded that he was very grateful for any kindness shown him; and +when Lieutenant Thorpe left the ship to return to England he expressed +the most intense sorrow, crying the whole day, and repeating the +officer's name in piteous accents. This, it was noted, was not merely +a temporary affection. When, a year later, the <i>Calliope</i> was +leaving the New Zealand station, he sent his favourite a very handsome +mat, begging the officer by whom it was sent to tell Lieutenant Thorpe +how glad he would be to see his face once more, and how well he would +treat him now that he was free. Similarly, when Lieutenant McKillop +was proceeding home, Te Rauparaha took him aside and entreated him to +go, on reaching England, and convey to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">{350}</a></span> +Queen Victoria his regard for her and express his keen +desire to see her, only his great age and the length of the +voyage standing between him and the consummation of +that desire. "He hoped, however, she would believe +that he would always be a great and true friend of hers, +and use all his influence with his countrymen to make +them treat her subjects well, and that, when he became +free again, there would be no doubt as to his loyalty, as he +would himself, old as he was, be the first to engage in a +war against any who should offend her or the Governor, +of whom he always spoke with the greatest respect." +During his captivity the news of the outbreak of the war +in the Sutlej reached the Colony, and, noticing the excitement +on board the <i>Calliope</i>, he asked to be informed of +the contents of the papers giving details of the battles. +In this subject he maintained the liveliest interest; and, +when he had sufficiently grasped the details, he was perceptibly +impressed by the magnitude of the armies +engaged and the tremendous resources of the Empire, +about which he, in common with all natives, had been +distinctly incredulous. That his release was marked by +no exhibition of resentment is at least something to his +credit, and the ease with which he afterwards adapted +himself to the strangely altered order of things is proof +that his nature was capable of absorbing higher ideals +than are taught in savage philosophy, although it is doubtful +if he ever reached the purer heights attained by a clear +conception of the beatitudes of the Christian religion.</p> + +<p>In the life of Te Rauparaha there is much that is revolting and +incapable of palliation. But, always remembering his savage +environment, we must concede to him the possession of qualities which, +under more enlightened circumstances, would have contributed as +fruitfully to the uplifting of mankind as they did to its destruction. +His superiority over his fellows was mental rather than physical; his +success lay in his intellectual alertness, his originality, strategic +foresight, and executive capacity. He was probably a better diplomat +than he was a general, but he had sufficient of the military instinct +to make him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">{351}</a></span> +a conqueror. And if, in the execution of his conquests, +the primary object of which was to find a safe home for +his people, the weaker tribes went down, history was but +repeating amongst the Maoris in New Zealand the story +which animate nature is always and everywhere proclaiming, +and which, in the cold language of the +philosophers, is called "the survival of the fittest."</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_196" id="Foot_196" href="#Ref_196">[196]</a> +"On shore, I was much tormented by the zeal of some European +sailors, who appeared to be a drunken set of lawless vagabonds, +belonging to the different whaling establishments in the neighbourhood. +The only respectable person amongst them was a stock-keeper in charge +of some sheep and horned cattle, and the captain of a whaling vessel +ahead of us. I asked the sailors, who were complaining that some of +the property taken was theirs, if they had any specific charge to make +against Rangihaeata, who was the most powerful chief in the +neighbourhood. However, I could get nothing from them but vague +declarations against native chiefs in general, to which I replied that +the fault was probably as much on their side as on that of the +natives. The old chief, who was present, appeared to understand the +drift of the conversation, for he went into his hut and brought out +several written testimonials of good conduct; on which I desired Mr. +Williams to explain to him how much I was gratified in perusing them, +and that I trusted that under the Queen's Government he would continue +equally to deserve them: that he would find the Government just and +even-handed, and that punishment would follow evil-doers, whether they +were natives or Europeans. To which he replied, 'Kapai,' apparently +much satisfied" (<i>Major Bunbury</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_197" id="Foot_197" href="#Ref_197">[197]</a> +"On Saturday (November 24, 1849), Rangihaeata and a party of his +followers paid a last visit to Te Rauparaha. At the Ohau ferry +Rangihaeata demanded some spirits from the temporary ferryman (the +regular one being absent). On being refused, he knocked him down, and +then helped himself, but afterwards tendered <i>utu</i> for the +violence offered and the spirits taken" (New Zealand <i>Spectator</i>, +December 1, 1849).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_198" id="Foot_198" href="#Ref_198">[198]</a> +In an enclosure opposite the Maori church at Otaki there stands +upon a pedestal a marble bust of Te Rauparaha. The bust was procured +in Sydney by Tamihana te Rauparaha at a cost of £200, and the +likeness, which is said to be a very faithful one, was copied from a +portrait painted by Mr. Beetham. Because Te Rauparaha had not become +even "nominally Christian," Mr. Hadfield refused to permit the +erection of the bust within the church enclosure, and for two years it +lay upon the common, packed in the case in which it had come from +Sydney. Subsequently, Mr. McWilliam, the native missionary, collected +a few pounds with which to purchase the pedestal, and had the bust +erected where it now stands. On the authority of Dieffenbach and +Angas, it is said that Te Rauparaha possessed the physical curiosity +of six toes on each foot.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_199" id="Foot_199" href="#Ref_199">[199]</a> +It is estimated that during the course of Te Rauparaha's +campaigns no less than 60,000 lives were sacrificed.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_200" id="Foot_200" href="#Ref_200">[200]</a> +Mr. Spain, in one of his reports, has said: "Rauparaha is the +most talented native I have seen in New Zealand. He is mild and +gentlemanly in his manner and address; a most powerful speaker; and +his argumentative faculties are of a first rate order."</p> + +<p class="nodent">"He must have been a most powerful man, and, if his mind had been +cultivated, would, no doubt, have been a most clever one. As it is, he +seldom gets the worst of an argument about his own proceedings, puts +such searching questions and gives such evasive answers, that he +puzzled the best of our logicians on many occasions when endeavouring +to get him to give a decided answer about his not giving us the +assistance he promised when we were trying to capture the murderers +from Rangihaeata" (<i>McKillop</i>).</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_201" id="Foot_201" href="#Ref_201">[201]</a> +Correct, according to prescribed rules.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_202" id="Foot_202" href="#Ref_202">[202]</a> +Treachery, amounting to murder.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_203" id="Foot_203" href="#Ref_203">[203]</a> +Rev. Richard Taylor.</p> + +<p class="nodent"><a name="Foot_204" id="Foot_204" href="#Ref_204">[204]</a> +"I must not omit to mention that, cruel and bloodthirsty as this +man appears to have been, he must occasionally have made exceptions, +as one of his slaves voluntarily accompanied him into captivity on +board the <i>Calliope</i>, waiting on him and paying him every +attention for a period of eighteen months, knowing from the beginning +that he was quite free to leave him at any time. He was offered a +rating on the ship's books, but this he refused, saying there would be +no one to wait on the old man if he was otherwise employed" +(<i>McKillop</i>).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 350px"> + <br /> + <img width="350" height="596" alt="list" src="images/388-list.jpg" /> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">LIST OF TE RAUPARAHA'S WIVES AND CHILDREN</p> + </div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="max-width: 400px"> + <br /> + <a href="images/389-map-large.jpg"> + <img width="400" height="601" alt="map" id="map" src="images/389-map.jpg" /> + </a> + <div class="caption"> + <p class="center">MAP OF NEW ZEALAND<br /> + Shewing routes taken by Te Rauparaha and Te Puoho in their various raids</p> + </div> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44726 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44726-h/images/004-frontis.jpg b/44726-h/images/004-frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbe65d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/004-frontis.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/005-emblem.jpg b/44726-h/images/005-emblem.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e27053b --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/005-emblem.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/035-fleet.jpg b/44726-h/images/035-fleet.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..260742a --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/035-fleet.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/053-kawhia.jpg b/44726-h/images/053-kawhia.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b3701a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/053-kawhia.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/071-boyd.jpg b/44726-h/images/071-boyd.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d14a817 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/071-boyd.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/089-arawi.jpg b/44726-h/images/089-arawi.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aaa059d --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/089-arawi.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/155-kaiapoi.jpg b/44726-h/images/155-kaiapoi.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6feeb43 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/155-kaiapoi.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/173-gillett.jpg b/44726-h/images/173-gillett.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef815a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/173-gillett.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/287-wairau.jpg b/44726-h/images/287-wairau.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..36124d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/287-wairau.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/321-porirua.jpg b/44726-h/images/321-porirua.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0f6019 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/321-porirua.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/339-rangihaeata.jpg b/44726-h/images/339-rangihaeata.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e71acae --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/339-rangihaeata.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/388-list.jpg b/44726-h/images/388-list.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6685776 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/388-list.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/389-map-large.jpg b/44726-h/images/389-map-large.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd3dc8d --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/389-map-large.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/389-map.jpg b/44726-h/images/389-map.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f03af2b --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/389-map.jpg diff --git a/44726-h/images/cover.jpg b/44726-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..24b12a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/44726-h/images/cover.jpg |
