1849 - McKillop, H. F. Reminiscences of Twelve Months' in New Zealand [Fac. ed. Capper, 1973] - CHAPTER I. JOHN HEKI... p 24-89

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CHAPTER I.

As few of my readers are likely to be acquainted with the dispositions of the aborigines of New Zealand of the present day, I shall endeavour, without presuming to lay claim to an intimate knowledge of them, to give a correct account of their prevailing character, by relating a few instances in which their actions speak for themselves. In their dealings with the Europeans, much depends upon who have been their first friends, and how they have been treated generally by them. But the native character varies a great deal in

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different parts of the islands. Of those who have become somewhat public men from their opposition to the Government, we may select a few, beginning with John Heki, who, although far from being a first-rate specimen, has gained a sort of notoriety from his successful proceedings in the Bay of Islands in 1845.

It appears he was employed, when a boy, in a missionary's house, as a servant, and consequently had the advantage of learning English, as well as a smattering of schooling; he also visited Sydney, where he became better acquainted with the habits of white men than his untravelled countrymen; which has been of great service to him. He appears to have been the first of the natives who ever made inquiries as to the result of colonising his country; and some of the settlers, as mischievous as stupid, put it into his head that the flag on the hill was the emblem of slavery to him and his countrymen: they little thought that this would make so deep an impression on

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him as it has proved in the sequel to have done. From this circumstance he was led to inquire as to our treatment of the aborigines of other colonies, and found many ready and willing to give him information little calculated to cheer him touching the fate of the nations already colonised by England and other European powers. It seems, by what I could learn, that he frequently alluded to this in any little quarrel which he had with the settlers, and made it a subject on which to display his eloquence when haranguing his own people.

Heki's first hostile visit to Kororarika was occasioned by one of the native women belonging to that place using bad language to him. He demanded a boat from her husband in payment for the offence; which being refused, he became discontented, and threatened to cut down the flag-staff, which no doubt was his original intention. He proceeded at daylight the next morning and cut down the

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flag-staff, afterwards crossed over with his party to Pahia, where he was met by a chief of some consequence (Pukututu), who became very angry on learning what had been done. Heki defended himself by saying, that what the white people had told him about the flag was a sufficient reason. Pukututu, though highly displeased, admitted that these statements were correct, as he had himself heard similar remarks made by the white people. A party of natives soon after this seized some horses from one of the settlers, in reparation for the supposed injury done to one of Kawiti's women by some of the police; which, however, could have no connexion with the person from whom the horses were taken; thus showing a decidedly unfriendly disposition towards the English. The flag-staff being again erected, and having no one to defend it, was a second time cut down. Much anxiety was at this time felt by the inhabitants of Kororarika, who, fearing the natives would

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think that they were afraid of them, on the arrival of the Government brig from Auckland with a few soldiers again displayed the Union-Jack; which, however, was not destined to fly long, as Heki and his party came over the next morning before daylight and again laid the flag-staff prostrate, the soldiers having been kept close in quarters, leaving only our native allies in charge of it, who were not sufficiently on the alert to defend it. This kind of thing appears to have gone on for some time, every day adding to the confidence which the natives began to feel of intimidating the Europeans. There were several meetings held about this time, for the purpose of explaining the intentions of Government with regard to the natives. Heki, however, observed that the Government promises were "all soap"--very smooth and oily, but treachery was hidden under them: the other chiefs appear to have been satisfied with the explanation.

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On March 3, 1845, hostilities commenced: some of Kawiti's tribe coming down the river and committing depredations near the town of Kororarika, and were chased by one of the Hazard's boats when they were returning. The boat not being equal to the canoes in speed, did not do much good, and the natives became much elated. There was one man wounded on each side Heki and Kawiti had joined each other, and having once exchanged shots, were soon reinforced by numbers of the discontented maories.

On the 11th of the same month, ill-fated Kororarika was attacked by the natives, who carried the place. I cannot enter into the particulars of this unfortunate occurrence, but, to illustrate the character of John Heki, who was the leading chief in this affair, will merely say, that when the natives had possession of the town, they gave up the bodies of four soldiers who had been killed, and urged the settlers to come and take away the property; some of Heki's men actually assisting in carry-

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ing down the goods to the boats. It is a remarkable trait in this man's, as well as the generality of the native character, that the supplies of provisions, ammunition, and stores were allowed to pass through the country at all times unmolested, when we have known that numbers of the hostile natives have on many occasions seen the drays pass close to them without a guard. Again, during the war between Waka and Heki, a young chief of the latter's tribe was severely wounded in the head, and fell into the hands of the enemy. On the following day he was restored to his friends, Waka sending a message requesting this might be remembered, and the drays not molested. The answer was, "I will remember." This promise was most inviolably kept.

The foregoing is the favourable part of Heki's character. He possesses a great deal of low cunning--has the tact of adapting his conversation to the various characters he has to deal with. In a letter from the Rev. Mr.

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Hobbs, he thus mentions Heki: "When he first commenced this war with the Government, he left no means untried which were calculated to enlist the sympathies and gain the assistance of his countrymen. He was aware that if he could make his rebellious proceedings appear consistent with religion, and give them the sanction of Archdeacon Williams's approbation, he would thereby greatly increase the number of his adherents. While, therefore, he pandered to the prejudices of the heathen party, and flattered the vanity of others by entertaining their superstitions, he at the same time influenced many Christian natives by taking the most unwarrantable liberties with the Archdeacon's name; asserting, among other things equally extravagant, that that gentleman approved of his cutting down the flag-staff, affirming constantly that he fought not against man, but against the wood of the flag-staff, which had no blood; and such was the perseverance with which he

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went about lecturing on the subject, that he was extensively successful in overcoming the religious scruples of the Christian chiefs, and inducing them to join him. To maintain his interest, he continued during the war to reiterate these statements to his adherents, by whom they were conveyed to Waka's natives, and through them to the British camp." Besides the duplicity and falsehood which this letter accuses him of, he has been at all times the most cruel to his European prisoners, endeavouring, by subjecting them to torture, to strike terror into the hearts of their companions. It is current among the troops who were present at Ohaiawa, that they heard the screams of two soldiers who had been taken prisoners undergoing a frightful species of torture, having burning gum, from the kawri-tree, poured on their breasts and stomachs.

The next man whom I shall give as an example of the species is Tommy Walker, or Waka Nene, a chief who has, by his faithful services,

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rendered himself respected by the Europeans, and by his never-failing good generalship, undaunted courage, and perseverance, looked up to by the natives of his own tribe, and all those who were not amongst the Queen's enemies; the latter fearing him with good cause, as he has on all occasions evinced ready zeal in a loyal cause. He withstood the attack of Heki's people, who were superior to him in number, before he was joined by the English force; and after the arrival of the troops he continued a faithful ally, displaying on many occasions great foresight and discretion, and in several instances saved many a brave fellow from throwing away his life. On one occasion, when the pah at Ruapekapeka was besieged, and it had been ordered that 200 men were to make an attack under cover of the great guns, in hopes of succeeding in storming it, he stood before them with his gun across the leading files, praying that they might not be sent to be murdered; and by

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great perseverance succeeded in stopping what would indeed have turned out a most unfortunate catastrophe, as, from after experience, we found the pah such a fortification that two thousand men would have been quite few enough to storm it; even then our loss must have been very great.

He afterwards volunteered to embark with a large party of his maories, to accompany the expedition going to the southern part of the colony, then in a disturbed state. I do not think any other chief could have answered for the willingness of his people to engage in so distant a war, particularly as the women and children would have been obliged to be left behind, which is not their custom when going far from home. They have also a great aversion to be ordered about without understanding the why and wherefore of every thing that is going on; their habit being to discuss every intended movement of the tribe at a general meeting, and in the time of war

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to talk over the mode of attack, as well as the policy and likely result of their intended proceedings; at which time any one of experience is at liberty to state the view he takes of the case. Notwithstanding all this, the whole of the tribe were perfectly ready to carry out any engagement which he might enter into with the Governor regarding them. Waka has wisely merged his title of chief into that of an officer, and acts much more in that capacity than any other chief I have met, His faithful services to the Government have secured him a pension for life. He generally dresses in a naval uniform, and when so dressed expects the customary salutation to which his assumed rank entitles him, being that of a post captain; which mark of attention we never failed to pay him when he visited the ship.

He has a nice little wooden house at Kororarika, and does the honours to his visitors very well indeed; he studies to do everything

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in European fashion. One of the most difficult habits to drop is to discontinue seating themselves on their ankles--a most peculiar posture, and to our stiff-limbed race as uncomfortable as the use of a chair is to a maori; he, however, seldom or never indulges in this luxurious attitude since his promotion. I have on several occasions dined in company with him, and could scarcely believe that so much good breeding and politeness could be worn with such ease by a man born and brought up a thorough savage. I was amused at his asking those he considered his juniors to take wine with him, and, when the cloth was removed, waiting patiently for her Gracious Majesty's health to be proposed, at which toast he left no heel-tap. He is always ready to know anything concerning Queen Vickytoria, of whom he asks the most particular questions. I should think him about forty-five years of age; but

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from being very much tatooed, and from his not knowing his own age, which none of them do, it is difficult to arrive at it.

A most ridiculous scene occurred at the return of his tribe from Ruapekapeka. Waka being in his full uniform--epaulettes, cocked hat, and all--which had been given him by Captain Sir Everard Home of the North Star, a war-dance took place in honour of their return: this was a series of the most extravagant distortions of features, accompanied by the most discordant yells and shouts, as well as dancing, which consists in jumping off their feet as high as extreme excitement and great activity alone could accomplish, flourishing their muskets and tomahawks over their heads at each fresh scream; the chief giving the time for these displays of diabolical manoeuvres, which, however, they execute in the most excellent measure, keeping the most correct time in these horrible choruses, as well as jumping together with the greatest precision, the

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200 muskets acting as one piece of machinery. At the first part of this spectacle Waka stood with the officers who were looking on, merely showing that his mind was with the dancers by a slight movement of the leg, and every now and then slapping his thigh with the palm of his hand, marking time; but gradually becoming more and more excited, forgot the dignity due to his uniform and new station, and in a few minutes snatched a musket from the willing hand of one of the soldiers standing by who had been watching him, and joined in the noisy throng, soon taking the prominent part which his energy of character rendered him so well able to perform, losing all control of his gentlemanly self: this ended in a sad catastrophe happening to his blue dress pants, which could not stand the repeated tests of strength they were put to. We all laughed most heartily; but so excited had our tatooed officer become, that he did not discover the damage done to his limited ward-

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robe until the dance was over, when he felt rather ashamed of the figure he had cut.

The next man whose character I shall try to describe, Rangahiata, one of the principal chiefs in the neighbourhood of Cook's Straits, is a regular savage, and glories in it; and, as such, is the best specimen in New Zealand I ever saw. He is averse to Christianity, because it deprives him of the power he formerly possessed over his tribe; to civilisation, because he sees that the chiefs are losing their position by the introduction of new offices, all filled by Englishmen, of whom he is excessively jealous, and has at all times shown his willingness to join in any undertaking likely to succeed in ridding the country of them. He pretends to despise the many luxuries which they have introduced; and, although an inveterate smoker, and passionately fond of spirits, of which he consumes enormous quantities when he can procure them, he continues to assert that he wishes

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he had never seen a white man's face; that there has been nothing but misery and disputes ever since their arrival; and that our anti-chivalrous mode of warfare against those we call rebels has quite sickened him. Not that we ever had any such decided advantage in our various skirmishes with his tribe as to dishearten him; and had we been unassisted by the friendly maories, I have no doubt that he would have held out and carried his point--unless the colony had created more interest at home, and been deemed worthy of a large military force, which at the time appeared not to be the case.

He has undergone many privations, and fought hard for what he considers the cause of liberty. He is, and always was, much feared and hated by the Europeans--partly from the prominent part he took in the Wairou massacre, and also from his prompt resentment of the slightest injury, real or imaginary, done to himself or any of his

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tribe by the Europeans. He has on several occasions sent to say that he must have a horse, or a pig, or some rum, or any other article he knew to be in the possession of any unfortunate settlers who happened to be located in his neighbourhood; who well knew that to refuse would only bring ruin on themselves, as it would have been a sufficient excuse for making what the natives call a tower on their property (which means, coming in such numbers as to defy resistance), and seizing everything on the premises, sometimes murdering the unfortunate possessors, and burning what they cannot remove. At one time, refusing assistance to Rangy would, in his opinion, have justified this treatment.

Frequent attempts have been made at the whale stations (at which places he was even more dreaded than elsewhere) to poison him; and I was credibly informed that on one occasion he swallowed a pint of raw rum

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largely drugged with arsenic, which, however, only made him violently sick.

He has been always ready to shelter natives who have been guilty of infringing our laws, as well as to render such assistance to those of his own countrymen whom he fancied unjustly dealt with by the New Zealand Company, or private individuals, regarding their land. He never forgives anything he considers an insult. In his late proceedings against us, he has frequently asked if any of those whom he fancied were very eager in his pursuit were relatives of any of the unfortunate band who were so cruelly murdered by him and his party at Wairou; it being one of his maxims to take life for life, not always being particular whether the person he sacrificed had anything to do with the death of the person for whose fate he suffered, so that he belonged to the same tribe.

Since hostilities have ceased between him and us, two officers of the Calliope, Lord

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Charles Butler and Mr. Carnegie, started from Wellington to visit him, accompanied by Mr. Servantes of the 96th, the Government Interpreter, and Tommy Rauparaha, son of the "Old Serpent," who is a near relative of Rangy's. They had great difficulty in getting across the country, the position he had chosen not being by any means easy of access. However, by persevering, they reached the swamp which surrounded the small hillock on which his present pah is built; and, meeting some of the natives, they sent them on to know if Rangy would receive them, waiting at some distance for an answer. A message was soon sent to say that Lord Charles Butler and Tommy Rauparaha might come on, but if Ewie (Servantes) showed himself he would be shot; Rangy thinking that he had been a spy in the late proceedings, from the fact of his having been a great deal with the maories previous to hostilities commencing; and from knowing their customs and haunts, as well as

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having a perfect knowledge of their language, he had at all times held a most prominent position in every expedition against them, frequently acting with our native allies without any other European being with him. He remained where he was, and Butler and Carnegie proceeded with their sable friend and his guide. On approaching the pah, they heard a deal of shouting, and saw that some excitement was caused by their appearance,, which they could not understand; and in a few minutes they saw several maories with their guns marching out to meet them, and some one or two pointing their guns at poor Carnegie, whom they took for Servantes, and abusing him in a very violent manner. The small party, however, continued to advance, and the guides, as soon as they could obtain a hearing, explained the mistake. They were then taken into the pah, where they found Rangy standing leaning against his ware (hut), with a gun in his hand ready pointed at the en-

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trance, having quite made up his mind to dispose of Ewie (William).

The introductions having been satisfactorily gone through, he put away his musket, and gave his hand to his guests: this was a signal for all to put away their arms. Accordingly everything was soon quiet, and on Butler's presenting him with a few pounds of tobacco and a red blanket, he became very friendly; they smoked their pipes together, and he soon had some fish and potatoes cooked and served, asking many questions about all the natives who had been prisoners with us, and also about such of the Europeans as he knew by name. He did me the honour of inquiring for me; and on being told I had left the colony, expressed his satisfaction at my conduct in my skirmishes with him, saying that I merely did as I was told. He was very communicative, and spoke of his misfortunes openly; regretting that so few maories had joined him since he had left his old quarters

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at Porirua. He complimented Lord Charles on the report he had always heard of him from the natives; and wished them to remain all night, offering to kill a pig and have a great feast. They, however, declined staying, not having much time to get back before their leave would expire. He was told it was quite a private visit, and he therefore sent no messages to any of the authorities. Rangahiata was particularly dirty, but a fine handsome man, very powerfully built, with piercing black eyes.

Last, though not least, I will take old Rauparaha, a brother-in-law of Rangy's, always looked on as the greatest chief in New Zealand. He certainly possessed great influence over most of the southern tribes, amongst whom he had intruded himself with a few followers; and by intrigue and stratagem, often by the most cold-blooded murders, he had rendered himself very conspicuous and notorious. He had on several occasions the most wonderful escapes from his enemies in his

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wars with his own countrymen, once making his escape by swimming out to sea, when every one of his party was either killed or made a slave of. 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; and 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 Rangy. So well did he play his part, that he brought himself into favour with the superintendent and commanding officer of troops at Wellington, and received several handsome presents from them whilst he was actually enticing natives from the neighbourhood of Wanganui to come down and assist Rangy and himself to expel

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us from the country. And, moreover, he went into Wellington, accompanied by the senior officers of the different departments, and took up his residence near the superintendent's house, with an orderly at his door; who, by-the-bye, acted as a guard over him, his share in the Wairou affair making it difficult to some of the unfortunate survivors of that massacre to keep their hands off him. His advice was much sought for, and in many instances acted upon at this time, during the absence of Captain Grey; on whose return, however, the old villain's duplicity was discovered, and then it required the greatest caution to prevent his suspecting its having come to his Excellency's knowledge.

I was with him on board ship for five months, and had frequent opportunities of conversing with him, and hearing him converse with other officers of the ship through the interpreter; I was astonished at his quick perception, particularly of anything meant to

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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, the tears would run down his cheeks. He was very grateful for any kindness shewn him during his captivity; and on Lieut. Thorpe's leaving the ship to return to England, he expressed the most bitter sorrow, and cried the whole day, repeating his name in piteous accents. This was not merely a temporary feeling, for, a year after, he sent him a very handsome mat, when the Calliope left the colony; begging the officer to whom it was entrusted to say how glad he should be to see him again, now that he was once more free, and how well he would treat him. On my leaving the ship, which was during his captivity, he earnestly begged me to tell Queen Victoria how fond he was of her, and how much he would like to see her; but that he was an old man, and had seen a great deal of trouble, and feared the

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long voyage; 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.

He became dreadfully angry if any of us ever hinted that the Governor knew of his former doings, --such as murdering the crew of a whale-ship after inviting them to his pah, and also taking the ship round to another part of the coast with an armed band on board, and enticing some natives off, whom he killed whilst unarmed; also that he entered into an engagement with the master of a merchant-brig to take him and his tribe over to Cloudy Bay, where he surprised and murdered the greater portion of another tribe, seizing every-

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thing they had; for which piece of service he was to give the master of the brig a cargo of flax: which part of the agreement he however declined, after he had obtained his object. This inhuman Englishman was washed overboard and drowned going round Cape Horn on his way home, being the only one of the crew who was lost. No wonder that, after such dealings with white people, the natives did not form a very high opinion of us. Rauparaha also invited a whole tribe to a feast to make up some old quarrel; and having procured some rum for the occasion, took advantage of them while under its influence, and fell upon them, killing or taking prisoners the whole tribe, and usurping their territory.

These charges, I believe, are well authenticated, but I feel sure that now he would not commit a murder: not that I believe he has any notions of Christianity, although he professes to be a Christian; his long residence on board the Calliope not benefiting him so

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much in a religious point, as in showing him how little we really thought of the importance of his country and its inhabitants, and what a very minor consideration they were in comparison with our Indian and other colonial subjects. The news of the war in the Sutlej reaching us during his captivity, he, observing the excitement, requested to be informed of the contents of the papers, and listened eagerly to every word as it was translated to him by the interpreter; the other prisoners also showing the same astonishment at the detail of such a war. The numbers engaged were beyond their comprehension; but they began to see their own insignificance, and to learn what our resources really were, on which point they had been very incredulous: but having now been some time with us, and knowing that we could have no object in deceiving them, they became amazingly eager to get any of us who could speak a little of the language to talk of our battles with European nations, both by sea

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and by land; and showed great interest, often becoming much excited.

It is remarkable that they evinced no great astonishment the first time they saw the Driver, the only steamer that had ever visited this colony; and although dying to know exactly how her machinery was worked, would not on any account show their curiosity, or ask any questions, as they never liked to betray any such feeling. Notwithstanding this, however, during the passage round from Porirua to Wellington, when they were on board they could not conceal their delight and surprise whilst looking down into the engine-room, as well as when watching the paddles. 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, waiting on him and paying him every attention for a period of eighteen months; knowing from

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the beginning that he was quite free to leave him at any time; for, being a smart and active young fellow, and very good-tempered, he became a general favourite with the sailors, who taught him enough of seamanship to have enabled him to have entered on board any English merchant-ship wanting hands. He was even offered a rating on the Calliope's books; which he refused, saying that there would be no one to wait on the old man if he was otherwise employed.

"The history of Rauparaha," says Colonel Wakefield, "is the most eventful, and worthy of record, of any existing New Zealand chief. His expulsion, and that of all his numerous and powerful tribe, from their native district, Kafia, by the Waikato and Bay of Islands hosts, is well known to you, from the mention it has received in numerous works on this country. Their forcible seizure and occupation in their turn of all the coast land on both sides of this strait has also been described;

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but the means he has employed for the aggrandisement of his people, and the causes of his pre-eminence and influence amongst all classes and clans, extending also to the foreign residents and visitors in the southern parts of these islands, have not been dwelt on." Rauparaha is at least sixty years old. When a young man, he acquired a reputation for strength and courage, founded on his skill in native warfare, which his wiliness and success in all his undertakings have preserved for him in his old age. He came from Kafia as the fighting general of Ti Pahi; and, after the death of the latter at Otago, by Tairoa and the Southern tribes, became chief of the tribe. To revenge Ti Pahi's death, which was accomplished by tying him up by the heels to a tree and cutting his throat, from which his enemies sucked his blood, Rauparaha engaged with a master of an English vessel, by name Stewart, to carry him and some of his people to Otago, under pretence of a trading voyage, where the

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master coaxed on board a leading chief of the tribe and his family. "Some of these were immediately killed; after which Rauparaha and Stewart, with their myrmidons, landed and laid waste the settlements, killing every man, woman, and child that came in their way. The chief who had been enticed on board was made fast in the cabin by a hook through his throat; and, in despair at seeing his daughter about to become the victim of these monsters, killed her with his own hands. During the voyage back to Kapiti, the old man was dispatched; and it is a fact that one of the ship's coppers was in use for cooking human flesh for his guest; and that Stewart and his crew participated, if not in the feast, in the atrocious murder and revolting preparations made for it."

By similar treachery has Rauparaha acquired his power in other parts, and become the terror of all the neighbouring tribes. Unable to cope with the Ngatiawas, whom he was forced to

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allow to live on the lands in Queen Charlotte Sound, Port Nicholson, and on the main abreast of Kapiti, when they were driven from Taranaki, he is occasionally in alliance with them; and more than once has led them into an encounter with their mutual southern enemies, for the purpose of deserting them with his people in the midst of the fight, in which manner they have suffered much loss. In all negotiations Rauparaha is considered skilful, and is referred to upon many occasions. In his dealings with Europeans and Americans, he makes use of alternate begging and extorting measures, according to the power of resistance to his demands he may meet with; and might, if he had been prudent, be now extremely rich by his trafficking for supplies for ships, and by the presents he has received.

He receives tribute from numerous petty tribes and slaves; and the stronger tribes are occasionally constrained to purchase peace at

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his hands. "No longer since than last week, to afford a treat to the chiefs of Nyatiroco, or Boiling-water tribe, who assembled at Mana upon the occasion of the mourning for his sister's death, he sacrificed a slave of the Rhangatanis, who had come from Admiralty-Bay with presents of dried fish;" but my informant, an Englishman, who saw the unfortunate man being dragged to his fate, says that more disguise as to the disposal of the body was made use of than heretofore, in consequence of Rauparaha having of late professed himself a missionary, and that he intended to discourage cannibalism.

In another place, the Colonel writes: "He seldom stays long in any place, but goes from settlement to settlement, often in the night, to avoid any design against his life from his foes on the main. He came on board in the afternoon on one of his pillaging visits, and, after talking largely, dropped into his begging tone. Finding me proof against

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threats and entreaties, as a last resource to obtain a present, he proposed to me to go on shore to see a young girl. Notwithstanding the many bad qualities of this old man--his blustering, meanness, and unscrupulous treachery--he possesses some points of character worthy of a chief amongst savages. He is full of resources in emergencies, hardy in his enterprises, and indefatigable in the execution of them.

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Dr. Dieffenbach, speaking of the same interview, which took place just after a battle excited by Rauparaha between two neighbouring tribes, and in which sixteen of his allies had been killed and fifty wounded, thus describes his appearance and manner--"We found him sitting on the ground with his wife Etope, wrapped up in mats and blankets,

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and painted with red ochre. He is between fifty and sixty years old, with remarkably Jewish features, an aquiline nose, and a cunning physiognomy." In another place Dr. Dieffenbach says-- "Individuals are occasionally met with who have six or more toes or fingers on a foot or hand. The well-known chief Rauparaha is distinguished by this peculiarity." "His manner was very restless. He was rather sparing of his words, and seemed much depressed at the issue of the battle. He was very generally considered to have been the instigator of this contest. However, he denied the charge, and said he wished for peace. There seemed no reason to doubt the truth of the accusation, as he bears an old hatred to the Ngatiawas. He went out on the morning of the battle towards Waikanaki, to await (in safety) the issue, and perhaps to partake of the spoil." About fifteen years since, Rauparaha headed an expedition against the natives resident in Blind Bay, and either

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drove into the bush or slaughtered the whole of the inhabitants, and divided their land amongst his followers and allies.

I shall conclude my list with Hoepa Tare, better known as Charley, who distinguished himself at the Wairou massacre by cutting out the interpreter's tongue; and has on many occasions displayed a vicious and ferocious disposition. I was struck with the expression of his face and shape of his head, indicating his tendency to brutality. He was one of the three prisoners so long on board the Calliope, having taken a prominent part with old Rauparaha in his treacherous design of attacking us whilst professing to be our ally. He was once part owner of a small schooner, and has a turn for trading, as far as making money is concerned; but had not perseverance enough to wait for the profits which this small craft might have brought him and the others, if they had been a little more generous in finding her in stores and other necessaries, as well as

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paying a man to navigate her who would have done them justice. As it was, from being badly managed and worse found, no one liked to trust their goods on board; consequently, she remained knocking about at anchor at Porirua, having no one to look after her, the owners going away to plant potatoes: during which time she drifted on shore, and soon after she floated off, leaking very much, and, having no one to pump her, sank.

Charley made a great fuss about this, saying he thought the sailors who were living near them (meaning my party) might have prevented it; he became quite violent when speaking to me on the subject, and kept repeating she had cost £120. Much, however, as this loss grieved him, neither himself nor the other natives who had an interest in the vessel would offer any payment to have an attempt made to raise her, which might have been done at first for a few pounds. They preferred selling her where she was for a very small sum.

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During the eighteen months of his captivity he made no friends on board the ship, and was frequently mixed up in some quarrel with the sentry that was kept over them, or any one else with whom he came in contact; and never failed on these occasions to shew the violence of his temper, as well as his dislike to the pakehas (strangers or foreigners); and I understand that since he has been liberated he gives himself great airs, having, in his own opinion, become a hero from his captivity and the notice which the curious took of him. He, not knowing why he was sought and looked at by white men, naturally took it all as complimentary, whereas generally he was exhibited to new comers in the colony as the most savage specimen of his savage nation.

If this should ever reach him, which it possibly may, as they delight in hearing about themselves, he will use many a useless threat to do me bodily harm. He and I are old enemies, so allowances may be made for my

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prejudice. He once made a tower or rush at me with his tomahawk, feigning extreme rage, in order to frighten me and turn me into ridicule before the bystanders: however, as I knew the custom, and disappointed him, he was much annoyed; and to make him still further my enemy, I challenged him to fight with our fists before the people whom he had been endeavouring to shew off before. He is a large, powerful man, big enough to eat me, in both senses of the word, but he would not accept my challenge, not knowing whether I was a bruiser or not; and having seen many a big maori thrashed by a small white man, he thought it advisable to decline, as such a defeat as this would have given him a new name amongst his own people, in some way referring to his being beaten by a small man. They are all very apt at giving nick-names, and there is scarcely a man amongst them who has not two or three such sobriquets as

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his own deeds may have suggested to his friends.

The following is the statement made by Mr. Barnicoat of the Wairou massacre, in which Rauparaha, Rangahiata, and Charley, all took prominent parts.

On the evening of Thursday, June 15th, and the following morning, the party landed at Wairou, where Mr. Barnicoat and his men joined them. Muskets, and a cartouche-bag of ball cartridges with each, were served out to the men, and cutlasses to as many as chose to avail themselves of them. On Friday afternoon they ascended the right bank of the river about five miles. On the way they met a chief named E. Puaha (a nephew of Rauparaha, and the individual who is favourably mentioned in Colonel Wakefield's early despatches under the name of Ebau), with a small party of natives. They had been engaged in clearing land, but had been stopped,

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they said, by Rauparaha, who had gone higher up the river. They appeared alarmed at the sight of the armed force; but their fears were allayed by Mr. Thompson's informing Puaha that the object of his journey had no reference to him or his party, but that he had a warrant against Rauparaha and Rangahiata on a charge of arson. Mr. Thompson also explained to him that no force would be used towards them, but that they would be required to go with him on board the brig, where the case would be investigated by himself and the other magistrates. Puaha replied that those chiefs would not but believe that he came to make war upon them; but agreed to carry them a message to the above effect. He then went off in his whale boat. Higher up, another party of natives was met with, and a similar explanation given. It being now too late to proceed, the magistrates and their followers then encamped for the night at a pine wood called Tua Mautine, and set a watch.

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Their movements, it appears, had been all along watched and reported by scouts; and Mr. Cave informed Dr. Dorset that "one of the spies they left behind at the pah went up with and among the English party, counted every man, and, a short time before the fight, crossed over the brook to his own party, gave the required information, and joined in the fight one of the foremost."

On the morning of Saturday, June 17th, two boats having been brought up, the Europeans embarked in them and ascended the river a few miles further. "They now amounted to forty-nine, thirty-three of whom were armed with muskets; one or two carried fowling-pieces; Mr. Howard had a cutlass. The remainder were apparently unarmed, but in general were furnished with pocket-pistols." When mustered, before setting out, Captain Wakefield having called "Order!" said to them, "Men, whatever you do, do not fire unless you get orders." "A caution," says

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Mr. Barnicoat, "which was several times repeated to them in the course of the journey."

Having ascended the river about four miles, the party perceived some smoke issuing from a wood, and soon heard the voices of the natives, that of Rangahiata being plainly distinguishable. On advancing they found them posted in the wood, which is about fifty acres in extent, on the right bank of a deep unfordable rivulet, called Tua Marina, which flows into the Wairou on its left bank, and is at this place about thirty feet wide. They were squatting in groups in front of the dense wood, on about a quarter of an acre of cleared ground, with their canoes drawn up on the banks of the stream. The white men halted on the left bank, with a hill behind them covered with fern and manuka, and sloping upwards with several brows or terraces. "All bearing arms were now bidden not to cross the stream, or even shew themselves, until ordered." All accounts agree in estimating

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the number of the natives at about one hundred and twenty or twenty-five, including women and children. The men amounted to eighty or ninety, about half of whom were armed with muskets, the rest in the native manner.

At the request of the magistrates, a canoe was placed across the stream to serve as a bridge, by a native named Piccawarro; and Mr. Thompson, Captain Wakefield, Messrs. Tuckett, Cotterell, and Patchett, Brooks the interpreter, and Maling the chief constable crossed over. The police magistrate then called on Rauparaha and Rangahiata. The former alone came forward; and Mr. Thompson told him that he was the Queen's representative; that he had warrants against him and Rangahiata for the destruction of the property of Mr. Cotterell; and that he must go on board the brig, with such of his followers as he chose, where the matter should be investigated.

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Rauparaha said that Mr. Spain would inquire into and settle the business in a little while.

Mr. Thompson explained that Mr. Spain's business lay in deciding as to land claims; that this was a question about destruction of property, and had nothing to do with the ownership of the Wairou. Rauparaha requested to have the matter decided on the spot; and professed his readiness to make the compensation to Mr. Cotterell required by the magistrates, provided their decision pleased him.

Mr. Thompson replied that the case must be heard on board the Government brig, whither Rauparaha must accompany him. On Rauparaha's reiterated refusal to comply with this proposal, put in direct terms to him, Mr. Thompson declared he would compel him. Rauparaha said that he did not want to fight, but that if the white people fought he would fight too.

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Mr. Thompson, pointing to the armed men, threatened that he and his party should be fired upon. Sixteen natives immediately sprang to their feet and presented fire-arms. Rangahiata now came forward and vehemently defied the magistrates and their power, exclaiming "that they did not go to England to interfere with the white people, and demanding why the latter came there to interfere with them."

The conversation now became very rapid and violent; and the chief Puaha--who, by frequently attempting to intercede, seems only to have rendered matters worse--again stepped forward with his Bible in his hand, and prayed that there might be no strife. At last Mr. Thompson called out, "Captain England, let the men advance." The conference with the chiefs lasted about twenty minutes or half an hour. Great trouble was taken to explain to them the non-connexion of these proceedings with the land claims; and

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every assurance was given them of a fair hearing of what they might have to say in their defence. It was, besides, abundantly explained, that they were not now to be taken to punishment, but to trial; that Mr. Cotterell had complained against them, and that the complaint must be examined into. Mr. Thompson addressed them through the interpreter Brooks; and a native of the Bay of Islands was present, who explained to them every word that was said. In the mean time, the men left on the other side of the stream had been divided into two bodies, consisting of sixteen and seventeen respectively, one under the command of Captain England, the other under that of Mr. Howard.

When the dispute was at the highest, Captain Wakefield, perceiving the danger of being separated from the men should a collision arise, proceeded to the creek with the intention of bringing them over in a canoe, which, as before stated, was laid across it.

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Mr. Thompson, it seems, just then called upon Mr. Howard for his men, with some allusion to the number of natives. "I don't care if there are five thousand of them," was that gallant fellow's reply, as he led his party to the stream. In the canoe they met Captain Wakefield, whom the rest of the gentlemen were apparently following. "Keep your eyes on them, my men; they have their guns pointed at us," said Captain Wakefield, with characteristic coolness, to the advancing men. At this moment, observing some movement among the natives towards Mr. Thompson or the gentlemen, he exclaimed in a loud voice, with great energy, "Men, forward!--Englishmen, forward!" and a shot was fired, according to the explicit and consistent evidence of Joseph Morgan, by one of the maories, which laid his comrade Tyrrell dead at his feet.

These two men, with Northam, also killed at almost the same time and spot, were in advance of their party, and on the opposite bank

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of the stream, when this occurred. It was then, apparently, that Mr. Thompson gave orders to fire--if any were given at all.

Before he could be obeyed, however, the maories had fired a volley, which was instantly returned. The gentlemen were crossing while this went on; Captain England, the last of them, wading through the water, into which he had fallen, holding on by the side of the canoe. Those of Mr. Howard's party who had reached the other bank, returned at the same time. The firing was kept up briskly on both sides for a few minutes; but in this skirmishing the maories had greatly the advantage, the bushes on their side being much closer, and affording far better concealment. This, and their previous confusion from meeting in the canoe, may account for the greater loss of life among the Englishmen. Immediately after crossing, Mr. Patchett received a shot in his left side. He leapt up, then fell, mortally wounded, on the spot where he had been

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standing. Mr. Richardson came to his assistance, and bent over him to receive his last commands. He said, "I am mortally wounded; you can do me no good--make your escape." Northam and Smith fell at this time, near the same spot.

Captain Wakefield, observing his men already retreating--as well, probably, as the disadvantage at which they were fighting would permit, their enemies being almost invisible and themselves exposed--ordered them to retire and form on the hill. At this moment, "it is ascertained that the natives were on the point of taking to flight, when Rauparaha, seeing the retreat--for there is no doubt that they retreated immediately--excited his men, who, raising a war-cry, darted across the stream in pursuit of the Europeans."

These latter retreated, without order, in the direction of the hill; Mr. Thompson, Captain Wakefield, Captain England, and Mr. Howard urging them "for God's sake to keep toge-

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ther;" but in vain. On the first brow, the most strenuous efforts were made by these gentlemen to induce the men to stand and form on the brow. Mr. Howard called on them to fix their bayonets and come to the charge; they, however, kept retreating up the hill, firing as they went. Captain Wakefield, therefore, in order to prevent a further sacrifice of life, ordered the firing to cease; and Captain England and Mr. Howard advanced towards the maories with a white handkerchief, in token of peace. Those in advance of the retreating party, however, still kept up a running fire as they pushed up the hill, which was returned by the natives on the whole party indiscriminately. Mr. Thompson was seen about this time, by one who escaped, stamping on the ground, and clutching his hair, as he exclaimed, "Oh, men! men!" in bitter regret and disgust at their conduct. "Here," says Mr. Barnicoat, "when we were assembled on the hill, like so many targets

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which the natives were shooting at, Mr. Cotterell stood out from the rest, and said (I suppose, in allusion to his principles as a Friend), "I have nothing to do with business of this kind. If there are any of my men here, they had better follow me." Captain Wakefield then turned round, and in the most earnest manner addressed him: "For God's sake, Mr. Cotterell, don't attempt to run away; you are sure to be shot if you do."

The retreating party and the natives continuing to fire, Captain Wakefield and the gentlemen about him were compelled to proceed further up the hill, in order, if possible, to put an end to the conflict. Mr. Cotterell, after accompanying them a short distance, sat down, intending to deliver himself up. "This is poor work, Dick," said he to one of the men passing him. As the natives came up, he recognised among them one to whom he had frequently shown acts of kindness; to him he advanced with open arms. The maori there-

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upon discharged his musket in the air; but two others immediately seized him, and dragged him by the hair down the hill into a manuka bush; there, as was afterwards found, they dispatched him with their tomahawks.

On the second brow, Captain Wakefield said, "Your only chance of life is to throw away your arms and lie down." He and Mr. Thompson, and Brooks, again shouted "Kati!" (peace), and waved a white handkerchief. Besides the last-mentioned persons, there were present Captain England, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Howard, some of the constables, probably Coster and Gardiner, Cropper, Macgregor, and a few others. Messrs. Tuckett, Barnicoat, and others, went off a little before. The rest fled up the hill in different directions, and were pursued a little way by some of the natives, who "had with them a dog, which they shouted to and encouraged in the same manner as when they hunt pigs." The natives now ceased firing, and as they came up the

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white men delivered up their arms, at Captain Wakefield's orders. He himself gave up a pistol to one of them. The whole party seem then to have gone a little further down the hill, where most of the natives, with Rauparaha and Rangahiata, immediately joined them. The maories having shaken hands with the prisoners, who were standing in a group, loaded their guns and seated themselves in a half-circle before them, the two chiefs occupying the extremities. Mr. Richardson, who had received a shot in the hip, from which the blood flowed freely, requested Mr. Thompson to examine it, which he did. The maories brandished their tomahawks over the heads of some of the defenceless men. Mr. Thompson observing this, said to Rauparaha, "Kati," which he repeated, and the others then desisted. Rangahiata had wounded his foot by treading on a sharp-pointed stump; and Captain England, seeing the nature of the wound, took a pen-knife from his pocket, which

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Bampton handed to him to cut out the splinter with. Having succeeded in doing so, he offered to return the knife, but Captain England signified that he would make him a present of it. Gold was offered as a ransom, but ineffectually. Two natives then approached Captain Wakefield, and, seizing him, attempted to strip off his coat. Colouring highly, it seems he endeavoured to draw another pistol, as Mr. Howard was heard to say, "For God's sake, sir, do nothing rash!" or words to that effect. Other natives laid hold of Mr. Thompson, and were taking his coat and watch.

Up to this point we have the evidence of white men and eye-witnesses for all we have stated. The only man that escaped, of all who surrendered themselves to the natives, and from whose deposition we have gathered the incidents we have related as occurring after the surrender, was George Bampton, who at this moment observing the attention of the natives drawn off him, slipped

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into the bush, and succeeded in concealing himself. While lying there, he heard some persons passing near him, one of whom (he believes Mr. Howard) said to the other, "For God's sake, if we are to die, let us die together." To whom this was said he cannot tell. After having lain there nearly ten minutes in all, he heard about five guns fired; and immediately after a heavy dull sound, as it appeared to him, of a beating or chopping on the ground. He heard no cries or screams. Another of the party, who left before the actual surrender, and lay hid at a greater distance, heard guns fired at intervals of about five minutes between each, and much shouting and hallooing by the natives. And this is all we learn of the fate of our unfortunate friends from any of their own party.

According to native accounts given on board the brig, on her second visit to the Wairou, or taken as evidence by the Wellington magistrates after the surrender of the

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white men to the natives, Puaha again endeavoured to become a peace-maker, and urged on his countrymen that enough blood had been shed, the number of killed being nearly equal on both sides. This was acceded to by Rauparaha, and the two parties shook hands. Whilst standing quietly in a group, they were joined by Rangahiata, who, having already killed the wounded on his way, demanded the lives of those who had surrendered. To this Rauparaha at first objected; but on Rangahiata's calling on him "not to forget his daughter" (one of Rangahiata's wives, who had been killed before by a chance shot), he offered no further opposition. Standing in the midst of the maories, the white men were easily separated; and whilst in this defenceless situation--perhaps without even a thought of treachery--Rangahiata silently glided round, getting behind each singly, and with his tomahawk brained them all in succession, in spite of the intercession of some of

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GENERAL CHARACTER

the women, who cried to him to "save some of the rangitaras (gentlemen), if only to say they had saved some."

With the foregoing remarks about the native chiefs, which I hope may throw some light upon the general character of the maories, I can only say, that I never knew one of them guilty of dishonesty, in any of the frequent dealings which I have had with them, although I have often trusted them with spirits, tobacco, and gunpowder, all of which they covet excessively. I always found them good-natured, and very quick at understanding the many new offices which they were called upon to perform when employed by me. They are more easily led than driven, and will always resent a blow if given in anger. I think that those who profess Christianity shew great care in attending to the forms of their respective faiths, and are mostly sincere. The only hypocrite I ever met amongst them,

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on a religious point, was John Heki, and he frequently perverted the Scripture to suit his own ends. His intimate knowledge of the Bible astonished me, making use of several lengthy quotations in my only interview with him; and on hearing that I was the person who took old Rauparaha prisoner, he sarcastically asked me how much the Governor gave me for taking a poor old man out of his hut when he was asleep; and was I not proud of the achievement? On my answering that I did not get much for this old chief, who was a brave man, but, little as I got for that, I would take him for half the amount, as he was a well-known coward, --his people, who were sitting round, laughed heartily at his expense--a point on which all maories are very sensitive. Nearly the whole of his tribe are missionaries, which is what the natives call all Christians; but they are not good examples to take as shewing the success which has attended the missionaries in this colony. Inhabiting a

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neighbourhood frequently visited by numerous ships employed in the whale fisheries and other trades, the crews of which have not improved the morals, or in any way assisted by their example or precept in impressing them with as favourable an opinion of their Christian brethren as they might have had if thrown amongst a steadier and better educated class of men, has done much to undo the little good they have ever learnt.

It appears to me unaccountable, but it is nevertheless true, that nearly the whole of the natives who took part with John Heki against the Government in the Bay of Islands were Protestants, and continued most strictly to attend to the forms of their religion throughout the war. They at the same time shewed some good feeling towards the missionaries, by respecting their property when they were destroying every one else's. I have observed, that where the natives had little intercourse with Europeans except the missionaries, not

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being in the habit of visiting the large settlements, or being near the harbours frequented by European vessels, they were always the best behaved; this telling greatly in favour of this much abused body of men.

The generality of settlers are not aware of the impressions which their thoughtlessness often makes on these ignorant people, who are very quick at detecting anything in a European inconsistent with what they have been told Christians ought to be. They are very superstitious regarding the rites to be attended to on the death of a chief--the keeping sacred the spot where his remains are deposited, which is called tabu: any one, even through ignorance, guilty of intruding on any spot under this kind of interdict, is likely to suffer for it, even to the loss of life. The principal chiefs hold the power of tabuing a road or plantation, or any other place; for instance, Rangahiata tabued the road leading from the principal settlements on the coast, by

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calling it his backbone; and consequently no one dared trespass on such tender ground: thus cutting off the only means which the out-settlers possessed of bringing their cattle and other goods to Wellington for sale. On its being attempted by an Englishman to drive some cattle along this road in spite of the tabu, his cattle were seized, and himself threatened with death. Some persevering natives of another tribe met with no better success in a similar undertaking: this took place after the Governor had strictly forbidden that such stoppages should be made on any account, and was the immediate cause of the commencement of hostilities in Cook's Straits.

Great complaints have been made of the filthiness of the New Zealanders, but I have met with very many exceptions to this imputed defect. Their usual mode of life prevents that cleanly appearance which they might have; they of course become dreadfully smoke-dried from their custom of having fires

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in their huts without any chimney, which not only discolours their skin, but their usual garment or mat naturally becomes very dingy. The habit of rubbing shark oil over the body is growing into disuse, and the wholesome substitute of soap and water superseding it. They are creatures of example, but I do not think naturally fond of dirt. As a proof of what may be done with them, I can safely say that the natives employed in the police force at Wellington and Auckland, in their neat green uniform, look as soldier-like and respectable as any of their comrades, their accoutrements always being well cleaned and kept; and it is astonishing how well these men did their mixed duty of soldier and constable. I have seen them walking about with their carbines under their arms when in charge of the prisoners working on the roads; watching them most intently, not allowing anything to take off their attention even for a second.