CHAPTER III. A ROW IN THE HOUSE.
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CHAPTER III.
A ROW IN THE HOUSE.
AS our canoe touched the strand we were startled by the most unearthly sounds that ever assailed human ears. Ancient patriarchs and young men were shouting and gesticulating with great fury, and wrinkled dowagers were getting up a most unearthly tangi, flinging their withered arms about with every hideous
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grimace, whilst festoons of unmentionable filthiness suspended from their noses, waved gracefully in the breeze; nay, the very curs of the pa did their best to swell the unearthly chorus: and the confusion of Babel was nothing to the confusion that reigned in Otaki that day. As soon as order was somewhat restored the evil tidings were communicated to the chief with great volubility. He listened with the most profound attention, interrupted now and then by a short ejaculated ugh! which seemed literally pumped up from the bottom of his chest; but when the tale was told, his orders were prompt and decisive. Five large war canoes, each manned by eighty warriors, were to be ready at the dawn of morrow to start for the Manawatu. It was the old old story told by poets when the world was in its infancy:--
"And like another Helen fired another Troy!"
It appeared that a native of the Ngatikahuhunu tribe, from a pa situated on the borders of the Table Cape, had seized upon a dusky beauty belonging to Rauparaha's people, and had borne her away a willing captive. It was therefore expedient that this modern Paris should be pursued to the very portals of the Maori Troy; and after a long korero, they solemnly resolved either to bring back the levanting damsel or the highly ornamented frontispiece of her amorous swain. I was very unwilling to accompany the party; --my anxious thoughts were far away with my wife and children! This was a threatening affair which might have had a most tragic ending-- a quarrel in which I had no earthly interest. But there was no way open for escape. Though treated with the utmost kindness and distinction, I was evidently a prisoner; and, so strict was the espionage kept up by Rauparaha, that turn which way I would some prying eyes were upon me. I therefore resolved to speak with the chief, and, if possible, persuade him to leave me behind. My arguments were most cautiously worded, but he overruled them in a moment. "No," said he, "you have taught me to shoot birds upon the wing; I have made you my Pakeha-Maori, and I will now teach you how we warriors fight." Saying this, he took down a Maori spear, highly ornamented with feathers, and placed it in my hand. This settled the affair at once. The morning dawned, and the canoes were duly manned. At the signal from Rauparaha hundreds of paddles simultaneously struck the water, and away we went with arrowlike swiftness. Arriving at the Manawatu we dashed into the river, and for eighty miles we were borne upon the bosom of that noble stream. Here we stopped, and the canoes were drawn up in front of a pa, amidst, much tangi-ing, and shouts of "Haeremai, Haeremai, Haeremai!" -- The usual amount of shaking hands and rubbing noses being over, a long korero, or talk, ensued. Supper was then announced, consisting of freshwater eels, taro, and potatoes in abundance. The
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meal being concluded, the korero recommenced; it was a long affair, and as prosy as a member of parliament's speech. So I fell asleep during the conference, and snored away until awakened by my vigilant friend, who kindly requested me to accompany him to an adjacent whare, where a bed awaited me; but I had not lain down many minutes before daylight came peeving in, and cooking recommenced. After breakfast we were all ready for a march eastward, ho! Our direction lay towards the Table Cape, when we traversed a most diversified country, over hills and dales, mountains and valleys, wildly grand and picturesque. My old friend Rauparaha, however, was rarely from my side; he had always "got his eye on the corporal." We had numerous camp followers carrying provisions; and wherever night brought us up there we encamped. The usual feasting was followed by singing and talking--the subject being invariably the devastation they would cause if the woman was not given up. Well, thinks I, this is a nice kettle of fish anyhow; there will be the devil to pay, and who will take the reckoning, however, it was impossible to retreat; so I resolved to make a merit of necessity and abide all chances. Like Mark Tapley again, I never felt jollier in my life. After each morning's repast, the war-cry of the chief would summon every man to his place, and the march would be resumed; and thus we travelled on for five successive days. Upon the afternoon of the fifth day, however, from the summit of a lofty hill we first sighted the pa, perched on the top of a corresponding eminence, about three miles distant. At the first view, a shout of defiance simultaneously burst forth from four hundred fighting men. Songs were sung, and volley after volley was fired into the air. They then impetuously dashed forward in all directions, like an irregular army. I was left far in the rear with the women and camp followers; indeed I saw no particular reason why I should play the first fiddle, and as to laurels, I had no ambition to win them. No, no, thought I, let those who are most interested take the bull by the horns: so walking along very leisurely, in about two hours I arrived at the pa. Now, thinks I, the best thing I can do is to look up my old friend, and stick pretty close to his side. He soon observed his man, and coming towards me whispered, "Have no fear, it is nearly over; we have frightened them so terribly, that they will make no resistance; the woman will be given up to us." He had no sooner spoken these words than a mat suspended on a long pole was hoisted in the pa, and the woman walked quietly towards us. On this Rauparaha sprang high into the air, uttered a loud shout, then all was tranquil. We marched into the pa, and became excellent friends, -- shaking hands and rubbing noses occupying at least half-an-hour. Introduced as a Pakeha-Maori, and an honoured friend of the chief, every eye was upon me, eager to press forward
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and give the usual salutation. At the conclusion of the ceremony my shoulder felt as though the bone was rent from its socket. By this time evening had set in. I was placed between Rauparaha and three Ngatikahuhunu chiefs, and feasting commenced. A box of tobacco was then brought in, and placed before us. Rauparaha instantly knocked the wood off, and whispered in my ear-- "I know you do not smoke; never mind that; take your share; you can then give it to me upon our return." Laughingly, I replied in English-- "Sensible to the last, old friend." The tobacco, however, was distributed around, but our shares were by far the largest. Eating again became the order of the day. They fell to with right, good will, smacking their lips and sucking their fingers, whilst the unctuous matter oozed plentifully down each tatooed cheek; it was truly a disgusting sight, and the accompaniment was quite as bad. The next thing was the eternal korero. Good heavens! what a din they kept up. Sometimes they appeared pleased--in another moment waxed quite furious; but, being imperfectly acquainted with the language, it was above my comprehension: indeed, they shouted so loudly and went at such a fearful pace, that few interpreters could follow them. Getting tired of all this, I strolled round the pa, which was one of considerable size; but soon retired to repose, and slept long and soundly until I was awakened by Rauparaha, who said laughingly as he shook me by the arm, --"How we did frighten them; we shall have lots of kai-kai; and take back the woman with us to-morrow." In the morning I strolled down to the beach accompanied by one of the Ngatikahuhunu natives. He had been told of my skill as a marksman; indeed, the old chief had uttered my praises in every ear: so he requested that I would exhibit my skill once more. I quickly brought down my bird, at which he was so much amazed that when I returned to the pa it became the grand talk of the community. At last I told one of the natives to give me a potato; it was thrown into the air, and I blew it to pieces. They kept me going for hours; in fact it ended the day's sport, which was wound up by the usual feast. They presented me with a very choice thrum mat, and I promised that I would teach any of them to shoot birds upon the wing should they ever travel our way.
On the morrow Rauparaha uttered his war-cry. At the sound all his warriors were in marching order. He had a most fatherly eye, however, upon the woman and myself, and would never lose sight of us. The order was given to march, and we retraced our steps amidst the cries of "E noho--Haere ra," which sounded in our ears until lost in the distance. In four days we arrived at the pa on the Manawatu, spent two days there; and, parting with the usual formalities, embarked once more in our canoes, which were propelled at about the rate of ten miles an hour, At different in-
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tervals they would cense puddling and have a smoke--then at it again they would go. Upon arriving at the mouth of the river there was a considerable surf to encounter, but dashing and yelling through we bounded over the waves without shipping a sea, and in a few hours were once more landed at Otaki. Of course there was a great to do on the occasion, and every soul was anxious to hear the detail of our adventures, but as the woman returned with us, they at once understood that we had gained a great victory: so, exhibiting the various presents, and singing triumphant waiata, the day closed.
I now began to be thoroughly wretched; --my thoughts were far away with my wife and little ones! I could picture to myself the anxious watching for my return, and tears would not unfrequently dim my eyes. I determined, therefore, even at the risk of life or death, to escape from the thraldom of my old friend Rauparaha. Another very powerful motive urged me on. From earliest infancy cleanliness and good order had been instilled into me by a most excellent and thrifty mother, until habit had become almost necessary to my existence; --and to what degradation had I now fallen! Solemnly constituted a Pakeha-Maori, bedaubed with dirt and feathers, and actually swarming with vermin--"To what strange uses may we come!" My readers of the present day may feel somewhat surprised that a white man should be thus kept an unwilling prisoner. They must remember, however, that the position of Pakeha and Maori was totally different then. They were the dominant race, and we held our possessions upon Maori sufferance. Therefore, in all our dealings with them the utmost caution was necessary; and the chief above referred to was a most crafty and unscrupulous foe. When once his evil passions were roused he would spare none; indeed, the subsequent career of this man, as historically recorded, will bear me out in my assertion. Accordingly, I resolved to withdraw very early to bed and cogitate upon the matter. I did so, and finally decided on a plan, intending to carry it out in a few days. So, on the following morning I commenced cleaning and brightening up my gun, neatly arranged the various gilts with which I had been presented, and made the sleeping apartment quite neat and tidy. I did so because he was pleased to see me thus employed: it impressed him with an idea that I was quite content with my lot. This done, I determined to get rid of my crawling friends; so hastening to the river I gave myself a thorough washing from head to foot, using a soft unctuous clay which the natives substitute for soap. Having no small-tooth comb, I got a native to hunt the cover for stray game, and once more felt quite clean and comfortable. At night I opened the matter to him, saying that tidings had been brought me by surveyors' men to the effect that a vessel was hourly expected
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from England bringing some goods for me. and that it would be requisite; for me to go to Wellington and receive them. "Taihoa," (wait), said he, "you and I will go together." Now, this I knew was merely a put-off, being well aware that he had previously decided upon taking a long journey in a very opposite direction. My hopes in a moment fell below zero, and 1 began to despair of success. Still I assumed a cheerful appearance, although my heart was desperately sad. At length, during the night, I was overheard by some of the people moaning in my sleep. They asked me was I in trouble. I replied yes--the vessel would arrive and all my goods would be lost. Upon this, two of my Maori friends had a conference with the chief, proposing to go with me and bring back some of the goods, as I had promised to make them some valuable presents on my return. This moved him a little; he pondered awhile, and finally consented. I then gave orders that nothing of mine should be molested. My wardrobe was scanty enough; still I left many things behind purposely to allay suspicion; in fact, so well did I assume my part that I am convinced he never for one moment suspected my real intention, in two days, to my inexpressible joy, we started, travelling on until we arrived at a pa on the extremity of the beach at the crossing point to Porirua. We halted for one night, and one of my companions falling lame, was induced to remain there until my return. On the morrow the two of us made our way across the neck to Porirua, arriving at Geordie Bolt's whaling station. There we remained another night, and I acquainted him with a detail of my adventures. Bolt's wife was a native woman; and by a little politic management my companion was induced to remain until my return: but I promised to come back well laden with calico and blankets: so, leaving the insignia of my Pakeha-Maori-ship in the care of Bolt's wife, and borrowing a jacket and pair of trowsers, I prepared for a final start in the morning. I accordingly was put across the river on the Wellington side, and traversing a Maori path for about fifteen miles reached Kaiwarawara. There I levied contribution on a publican for a billy-cock-hat, and in this melo-dramatic attire a long walk along the beach brought me once more home.
