1840 - Polack, J. S. Manners and Customs of the New Zealanders [Capper reprint, 1976] - Chapter II

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CHAPTER II.

Among the most extraordinary of circumstances attending the native warfare, is the interchange of visits that take place between the belligerent warriors, and those natives known to be most bitterly opposed towards each other. Yet, such is the fact, a mutual exchange of visits takes place during the armistices that ensue, and they mutually enter into conversation with an apparent confidence as though they bore sentiments of unalloyed affection towards each other. Another singular incident is, that they rarely are known to take advantage of each other during the existence of such intercourse,

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and as most tribes are in some degree connected by relationship with each other, the most interesting information is mutually exchanged. Nor does the intercourse end here, as a system of barter is entered into. The besiegers, who may be in want of blankets, exchange their superabundant ammunition to the enemy who may be in want of those very articles, to pursue the war against the persons who thus put arms in the hands of their enemies against themselves. Confidence becomes the order of the day, no information is hidden on either side, the besieged make known the dearth of provisions existing among them, and the besiegers, absolutely state the ambuscades they intend to attempt, the intrenchments and weak points of the fort are pointed out, and the subjugation of the people and place would consequently ensue, but for the circumstance that each party are more engaged listening to their own details, than paying attention to their neighbours. To a European, such a detail of extravagant folly can scarcely admit of belief, but such is the fact. Sometimes, but rarely, a war ceases in consequence of the friendly intercourse that takes place: at other periods, the conflict is hastened, as some of the respective people quarrel in bartering: at the moment a blow is given, a fight ensues, which leads to a general action. During the intercourse, councils are held by both parties, each orator giving his "why and because," his "for and against." "My wrath" observed a war-

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rior to us, "has risen against the enemy as high as the puke Haupapa" (the mountain of Cape Egmont, 1400 feet above the level of the sea) "its effects shall be spread as far as the land of puhia Wakari," the volcanic isle off the Bay of Plenty. This unlucky orator was laid as low as the foot of the first mountain, and the fires of Wakari yet continue to shake the land on the main, (earthquakes are felt there,) but his fire is extinguished for ever.

Orations are generally the spur to a war, (during a period of idleness, when the grievances of their ancestors are elaborately dwelt upon,) and the war dance may be said to be the impetus that lengthens its continuance.

Similar war-cries, are made use of by either party, and as they are used for the same purpose, lose much of their effect in scaring each other. 1 Running away from the field is accounted individual prudence, and a wholesale retreat is not commented on as an act of cowardice, a wound received in a

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part, where gravity may centre, but not our nations of honour, is the subject of legitimate praise. 2 The Karari or Herald is an accredited personage in the native warfare. This office is generally undertaken by an old man, related to either party, and on his arrival in the camp of the enemy, he is generally received with every demonstration of affection, if he has held himself guiltless during the war. A circle of chiefs are instantly summoned round him, to hear his proposals, which are listened to with profound attention, the venerable employe dancing to and fro in the ring, shaking his hani (a short wand,) and torturing his body into numerous contortions. Should his proposal be acceptable, has terms are agreed to without a dissentient voice, if his auditors differ, the opposition commence a series of speeches, which, for prolixity and repetition, would rival a portion of the lethargic oratory, delivered at certain parliamentary houses, by which the night's rest of many a member is invaded by the interference of a sound nap, during the debate.

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From the hasty disposition of the natives, conflicts frequently occur. Jealousy in the supplying of European traders often causes ruptures that commence as suddenly as they terminate. During their ungovernable rage, the chiefs and people strip stark naked, apparelled only with the cartridge-box and belt, and acoutred with the musket and tomahawk. They run about like infuriated madmen, without order or attention to one object, and like an indiscriminate rabble, rush to the parley. Every horrible grimace is made to strike terror into each other. Muskets are hastily discharged, not by applying the butt to the shoulder, but the stock is hastily lodged against the hip, and thus discharged. In these rencontres the respective belligerents prudently keep at the most polite distance, so that etiquette herself (if she be a goddess) would award her approval. On the sudden termination of these hostilities, which may be truly termed martial bombast, the venerable heralds pass over from either party and settle terms of future peace, an attestation of which is made by all parties having a friendly dance, discharging their muskets, as they leap, in the air. Indiscriminate intercourse takes place, each of the combatants boasting with the tact of a gascon on the valour of his exploits. In this prudent kind of warfare, predatory excursions, or any expedition where great advantages are certain to be gained in their favour, this people greatly delight

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in. 3 They have no idea of military discipline, each chief, and even freeman and slave, are equally wayward, following the individual bent of their inclinations; in this absence of a bond of union, each becomes jealous of the other and envious of the spoil his neighbour may obtain. The causes of war are too frivolous to name, as a pig passing over a cemetery is as legitimate a cause for hostilities as the death and eventual mastication of a chief. On the first rush in a battle (if such a melee deserves the term) 4 the combatants hastily discharge at random their pieces loaded with shot and ball, which often does far more execution among themselves than the enemy. Previous to the battle, the combatants

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strip themselves of every garment. The muskets are then hastily thrown behind them, which are quickly picked up by the wives or daughters who attend for the purpose of securing the spoil. A close melee ensues, but the fortune of the day depends on the first onset. Yells of the conquerors, shrieks of the wounded and dying, screams of the women, is the music of the scene; and on either party taking to flight, no possibility exists of a stand being again made, as fear so much unnerves the conquered, that fifty men in pursuit would easily chase six times that number. Every cruelty and horror that man can perpetrate is inflicted on the captured wretches, the blood of the dying being quaffed by those insatiable cannibals before life is extinct. The heads of those persons who are well tattooed, are preserved, and the punctured skin of the breech is scalped, to cover the cartridge-boxes of the victors. The bodies are cooked on the spot. All the disgusting obscenities practised at such times by the North American Indians are rife among this people also. 5

The taxes or imposts for the carrying on of a war

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are levied in a very rude manner. Each chief is supposed to look after his own immediate family and dependants, who take the greatest part of their winter stock of dried fish and provisions, leaving the slaves and inferior women to shift as best they can. The village seines are often taken, the sea being a commissariat provision-branch in itself. 6

When the war is prolonged and the assailants encamp themselves in the vicinity for one or two seasons, provisions are sown, reaped, and forwarded to them; upwards of 3000 large baskets of kumeras and potatoes have been exported from the north to the army(!) at the south at one time. Much dependence is placed on foraging sorties, and it may be added, a native campaign is rarely productive of any great event, as to sudden impulses alone are to be attributed the greatest loss of life in war. The spoils taken in war are trifles unworthy of mention, 7

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human flesh being the principal in the estimation of this people, either living as slaves and wives, or the dying and dead for cannibalism.

The emblem of an ambassador is the branch of a tree, but this simple symbol of peace in use among the most ancient nations would be ill respected, did not the bearer equally belong to either party in relationship. Instances are far from rare, when neither the symbol nor relationship could save the body of the bearer from a violent death, and subsequent mastication, and his safety principally depends on the power of his tribe to inflict summary punishment, on his person being subjected to violence or insult.

The introduction of fire-arms into New Zealand has been of essential service in preserving amity among the tribes. The effects of their original introduction, as confined to the commencement, when they were partially distributed, as well as the intention of the Europeans in supplying the natives with ammunition, is much to be deprecated; and though every free native possesses at least one or more of those dangerous weapons, yet the natives have less to fear from each other than formerly, as physical force is equally on a level. With this feeling, the natives have not been so hasty to avenge old grievances or seek heedlessly for new ones. The bitter malignity that characterized the warfare of old is also past; fire-arms have prevented the close collision when those horrible enormities took place

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that admit not of description. A distance is now kept as respectful as convenient, and the vindictive implacability generated by the death-struggle, is now unthought of; the desire of accomplishing a scientific display of the musket having taken its place, and has eventually caused a diminution of cannibal ferocity and war. The best illustration that can be given of the above, took place in 1837, at the Bay of Islands (where, from its occupation as an emporium of trade, a native contest will in all probability never take place again.) There were at anchor during the period, perhaps eighty ships, and probably not less than thirty at one time, consequently from pride, which is the ruling passion of the New Zealand chiefs, they would essay their utmost abilities to bring their courage to the sticking point, and appear valiant in the sight of at least one thousand Europeans, of several nations, who were individually witnesses to the contest: Some hundreds of thousands of rounds of ball cartridges were discharged by the doughty champions against each other, and but three accidents took place during the first month. In the latter part of the contest a few persons lost their lives from what was termed fool-hardy exploits. Be it remembered, the fury of the combatants was raised to the highest pitch; the tremendous shouts of the war-dance resounded from every quarter of the compass; war-songs animated the strokes of the paddle, and the stillness of night was fearfully broke upon by the

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shrieks of the distant orators; but the returns of killed and wounded were demonstrative proofs that what has always been deemed the direst infliction, had in this instance been a safeguard to this people. To call them constitutionally brave would be about as correct as to designate a hungry shark as merciful; yet their noise, indecent gestures, and contortions of body, have scared many nervous white people. A native will never engage in a fair combat, advance to an attack, or fight, without a shelter in reserve, unless forced by circumstances to do so. That fool-hardy exploits do occur is true, but the young men who are goaded by pride to act so, will be found scarcely willing to repeat the experiment. The native military tactics may be comprised in one word, treachery (kohudu), to cut off (kotea) an unarmed party, for a number of warriors(!) to set upon some decrepit old people, or make captive some little boys and girls, is regarded as a stroke of consummate policy. How far back we may ascribe the commencement of the native wars of extermination, it is impossible to say, but from the earliest periods of their historical remembrance, they have been bred in continual fear of each other. Not a single family in the country is exempted from reciting its tales of horror and dreadful suffering inflicted on them at some period by distant enemies or nearer neighbours. Revenge 8 is as dear to these people, as the greatest enjoyment of life.

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When it is known (by spies) that a village is left unprotected by the warriors having quitted the place on an expedition for war, fishing, or planting; the wily tribes then gather together, and after lying in wait some time in the vicinity, to assure themselves from an ambush, pounce on the place and indiscriminately massacre the babe in arms, and the decrepit invalids, neither sex nor age being any protection. The miserable victims are hastily cooked on the spot, and the remains (if any) are carried in baskets to rejoice their friends. Every enormity that revenge can dictate, is committed by these people, and the most insulting abuse is expressed by the victors to a corse, which is not allowed to be buried 9 Head chiefs are rarely taken alive, being regarded as the oriflamme of their party, or as

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a banner around whom all should rally. A battlefield presents the appearance of an indiscriminate scrambling; military order is unthought of. Ransoms are often taken in exchange for prisoners, the articles consisting of arms, ammunition, dresses, canoes and slaves.

Many inferior chiefs have been killed on the spot when about to be captured, in consequence of the numerous ferocious applicants to obtain their persons, when the rough treatment ensures a hasty death. A traitor to his tribe and people is abhorred by the natives, and any person who has run away from his party, to give information to the enemy, is listened to with earnest attention, but as soon as he has delivered his treasonable knowledge, the struggles for his capture as to whom he shall be retained as a slave, speedily causes a retributive tomahawk to cleave his scull and body.

Travelling for a European, in time of war, is almost an impossibility, as the natives become too mutually tremulous to leave the precincts of their village. The mark of a single footstep in the sand has an effect similar to that experienced by Robinson Crusoe on the shores of Juan Fernandez, on beholding the impression of the human foot on the desolate beach; and it may be said with truth, that the fall of a rotten branch in a neighbouring forest would scare, at such times, the most doughty champion in the country.