CHAPTER II. [SOME ARE BORN TO HONOUR]
[Image of page 14]
CHAPTER II.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
MY first object was now attained. I had provided my family with a home, ---humble enough indeed, but in many respects truly comfortable snugly embosomed in the foliage of the surrounding bush, and well sheltered from the inclemency of the weather, it presented advantages which few of my neighbours could boast, --and I bethought myself of some further employment. Hearing that the surveyors under the New Zealand Company were in want of men to out the lines, I tendered my services, and was duly enrolled under Captain Smith, the Surveyor-General. In company with forty others, I was directed to go to the Company's stores for provisions, where each man received eighty pounds weight. This, with blankets and cooking utensils, made a very formidable kit. Our starting point was Porirua; from thence we commenced cutting and slashing in the direction of the Manawatu river, a distance of about fifty-four miles, which was completed in fourteen days; and here our trouble begun upon the fourth day of our labour on the banks of the Manawatu. Whilst in the act of crossing a branch stream we were impeded by a vast assemblage of hostile natives, who, having previously plundered our tents, now stood prepared for a personal attack. The result was that we were stripped of nearly all our clothing; indeed some poor fellows had nothing left but their shirts. The usual stereotyped reason was assigned by the natives for their unfriendly raid upon us, viz., that they had not been sufficiently paid for the land under the circumstances. I had no alternative but to turn back with some of the natives to the pa at Otaki. I was most kindly treated by the inhabitants, especially by the chief Rauparaha, --the same who afterwards obtained so fearful a celebrity in his resistance to British power. I won his heart completely by my skill in shooting birds upon the wing; and in truth, as a marksman, my aim was unerring. At each discharge, as the birds came whizzing down, he would be lost in amazement and delight, and seemed to commune within himself, like King Ahasuerus of old, --"What shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour?" In the meanwhile, Captain Smith had dispatched an order to Wellington, requesting that the schooner Ocean should be sent to the Manawatu
[Image of page 15]
with clothing for the surveyors' men, and a supply of stores for the natives, so that the surveyors might resume their work without let or hinderance. Accordingly, in about a fortnight, the vessel arrived, and discharged her cargo upon the banks of the river. I had walked from Otaki, and was just in time to witness a rush on the cargo. It was really a most laughable sight; each seized an armful of whatever came to hand first, and started off as if Old Nick was at his heels. In a very short time they made a clean sweep of everything; even the clothing designed for the poor fellows they had robbed before was taken by them. Rauparaha earnestly implored me to turn back with him, assuring me that the surveyors could never proceed, for the same thing would occur again in a few days. Convinced by his arguments, I agreed to return; and it was a most fortunate movement, for things turned out precisely as the wily old chief foretold. Upon arriving at Otaki once more, I proposed returning to Wellington: to this, however, he would not listen: he requested me to remain and teach him to shoot birds flying, presenting me at the same time with a very handsome double-barreled gun. I accordingly remained an honoured guest, and great havoc was made amongst the feathered tribe. In a few days the Ocean arrived at Otaki. Rauparaha and myself, and about fifty natives, launched a canoe and boarded her. Rauparaha's object was to get up a little barter transaction with Captain Fergusson. In this he was successful; Fergusson agreeing to supply him with rum, powder, and muskets, for a cargo of pigs. It was requisite that these pigs should be seen before concluding the bargain, so the Ocean towed us over to Kapiti upon a friendly visit to the porkers. The stock being approved of, the Ocean proceeded to Wellington for the articles in question, and returned in about eight days. The rum, muskets, and powder, were duly landed at Kapiti, and the pigs consigned to the care of Captain Fergusson: and now commenced a bacchanalian festival such as no pen can accurately describe. A puncheon was broached, and the contents distributed without stint. For fourteen days there was not a sober person to be seen. Rauparaha was very anxious that I should drink deep, and evinced great displeasure whenever I appeared to hang back; so, in order to retain my prestige, I found a customer who could drink my share, his own too, and still cry out for more; and my policy succeeded famously. At last, however, when all became sodden and exhausted with rum, the tapu was put upon the cask, and all parties soon regained their usual sobriety: then we became better friends than ever. Once or twice during their furious intoxication I felt a little anxiety for my personal safety, and was quite relieved when the tapu was solemnly put upon the raw material. My stock of clothes being worn out Rauparaha presented me with a new blanket, and a kaitaka mat.
[Image of page 16]
This last is considered a garment of honour, usually worn by chiefs of high rank. Rubbing kokoai, or ochre, over my face, and sticking feathers in my hair, he declared that I should be his Pakeha-Maori for ever. Again we commenced our sharpshooting, but not a bird could he wing. So anxious indeed was he to accomplish the feat, that he promised to sacrifice any amount of pigs whenever the wished-for triumph arrived. Now, having existed on fish for a very long time, I really began to long for a little pork; and, to effect the object, had recourse to a stratagem which might have been attended with serious consequences to both. I proposed loading his gun myself. To this he consented; so half filling the barrels with charges, I presented the weapon to him, pointing at the same time to birds hovering above our heads. The first barrel missed; the second brought down the bird blown to atoms. But the rebound was terrific; his right arm was literally forced behind his back, for the gun flew back like an arrow from a bow. He must have suffered very acutely; but so great was his delight, that there was literally no room for anger in his bosom. A few ejaculations indicative of pain escaped him; but it was followed by a song of triumph so loud and joyful that its echo was heard by every inhabitant of the pa, and all hastened to congratulate the chief on his memorable exploit. In a short time not a man, woman, or child for miles round was unacquainted with the fact. The affair therefore ended much better than I anticipated. It was a most thoughtless act on my part; and even now, at this lapse of time, I actually tremble when I think on what the consequences might have been. His vow, however, was duly registered. The pigs were forthwith sacrificed, and for the space of three days, eating, drinking, and Maori games, were the order of the day. This affair was the winder-up of the first puncheon of rum. The canoe was manned on the following morning, and, at a rapid rate, we bounded over the water on our return to Otaki.
