CHAPTER IV.
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CHAPTER IV.
COULD we but search the records of the land,
Or listen to the tale each village tells
Of such like scenes, well might we lowly bend
In solemn awe; well might our grateful hearts
With transport bound, and rais'd on well plum'd win
Anticipating view the thickening crop. --
Scowling eternal hate, one lies conceal'd
Beyond the ken of man, but ever near,
And nearest when we think him most remote;
His darken'd brow, fierce eye, and close press'd lip,
Firm resolution show and dark revenge;
Trembling with rage he calls his chiefs around
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And points to inroads made on his domain;
Demands to know in whose especial care
These fields were plac'd; and why, when seed was sown
By One, whose very name he loathes to speak,
The ever ready tares were not well strew'd?
Cursing their sloth, as devils only curse,
He sent them forth at once to reassume
His rightful sway; to stir the heathen's rage;
The wav'ring scare; and, if allegiance,
Sweetest draught of all, be still denied,
The saint to torture, persecute, and slay.
Full well the mission thriv'd; with lightning's speed
They fly towards the north and rearouse
The dormant fires, which else, had smould'ring died.
Infuriately blind, tribe fights with tribe,
E'en though they worship at one hateful shrine.
Vain were the efforts made by holy men
To stay the plague and stem the rising storm;
Victorious hosts unheeding hear their cry,
Proffer a share of their unhallow'd feast,
And grasping by the hair their victims' heads
In proud defiance hurl them to the ground.
If, on the coast such wrathful feelings rage
Where Christian light had shed its truthful rays,
How dark must be the ire, how deep the hate,
Within theirbreasts, who, hearing day by day
Of vast secessions to the Christian faith,
Were fearful lest the concentrated light
Of circling truth should pierce their darken'd home.
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Once thoroughly alarm'd no time was lost
In vain and idle talk. Tribes quickly arm'd,
And in confederation close engaged,
To sweep with desolation's bloody hand
From Whanganu'i to mount Egmont's coast.
Though skill'd in strategy's most subtle art
They care not now their movements to disguise,
But march in all the pomp and pride of war.
Cleaving their way through intervening woods
They reach a narrow gorge through lofty hills
And not remote from whence, 'mid rapids, flows
The Whanganu'i's noble stream. 'Twas here
The threat'ned Christians had in council met,
And here they vow'd to hold their faith or die.
Though now the soldiers of the Prince of Peace,
Their ancient fires were kindl'd, and they long'd
To prove that though unwilling to attack,
No hand should chain the freedom of their minds,
No hostile step pollute their hearth and home.
Right well the vow they kept. In vain the waves
Infuriate lash the palisadoed gorge,
In vain they lavishly expend their blood
In fierce assault; entrench'd by faith and art
The Christians stand unblanch'd and undismay'd.
Wearied at length the heathen quit the field,
And homeward bend their steps in deep despair. --
'Tis not in human power at once to quench
The fiercely blazing flame, to stay the wind,
And bid the raging billows rest in peace.
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Deaf to the pleading voice of him through whom
They gain'd admission to the Christian fold,
These converts of a day, by passion blind,
In haste pursue and ruthlessly destroy.
------------------Five years elapse. --
Revenge, which sleeps, but never dies, awakes.
Close to the southern end of Taupo's lake,
'Mid clust'ring hills there lies a smiling vale
By name Te Rapa--to its chief is giv'n
By universal voice the high command
To organize a force and lead the host
Against their former foes. Te Heu Heu shews
A willing mind for such congenial work;
His energies revive the dormant tribes,
And at his call they rallying hopeful throng.
One chief I see in silent thought absorb'd
Before a human head, which once was part
Of brother dearly lov'd, who fighting fell
When last they southward march'd; he deeply drinks
Of hate's intoxicating draught; imbibes
Its very dregs, and, then, as if to fill
The measure of his wrath, if aught remain
Unfill'd, he leaves his home and stands erect
Before another head, by foe once own'd,
Conspicuous plac'd on high to feed
Undying hate, if nurture it require. --
1
But let us turn to more congenial scenes.
Beneath that roof lies one whom death has claim'd
As lawful prize; her voice and shrunken eye
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Too truly tell that life is on the wing.
"Words from such lips are sermons from the grave."
"Go, Erow, go and leave me here to pine,
"And weeping die; for never yet our tribe
"One recreant warrior shew'd. I know,
"Beyond a doubt, that ere your hosts return
"My spirit will have fled; to what abode
"I ceaselessly inquire. Yon slave you brought
"When last you southward march'd has spoken words
"Which instinct tells me are the words of truth.
"If others' instinct similarly tell,
"Then why this coalition? why conspire
"To smother nature's voice? to chain the mind
"Which God himself has left without a bond?
"'Tis not for man, though he be priest or peer,
"Or both combin'd, to circumscribe the bounds
"Of man's belief. To God he stands or falls.
"But why that starting tear? I will not urge
"What I but dimly see. Our God, and more,
"The God of grace be with you, and from ill
"Protect. One thing I will that thou would'st grant
"Before I die; if prostrate Christian foe
"Thy mercy crave for my sake pardon, shield;
"Because his faith is your own Hu'ia's faith.
"Death has no terror, life no joys for me;
"No joys unshar'd by thee, deserve the name;
"No sorrow sooth'd by thee can long invade,
"Let all around be dark as midnight gloom
"If thou art nigh the sun shines bright as noon.
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"No burden for my strength too great, but one,
"To see theesuffer; thatwere load indeed.
"May be, and oh if ever prayer avail,
"Be this the one, that we may meet again
"In such a heav'n as Christian truth reveals."
-------------------The morning dawns,
And quickly range the gath'ring host beside
Their noble chief. With war club and with spear
The mass are arm'd, but to a chosen few
Is giv'n the deadly dread inspiring gun.
The women slaves bring up the rear; each groans
Beneath a load which freemen scarce could bear.
And each before her drives, unwilling guest
By chord attach'd, a member of that race
Whose name is never heard in sober song.
They had, as usual, intimation sent
By mutual friend, of their intended march,
And vow'd, that though the gorge were fully mann'd,
Or mountains filled the gap, their blood should sweep
Obstructions clear, and leave an open path
For long deferr'd but dearly cherish'd wrath. --
They reach'd the fatal spot whence they recoil'd,
But see no signs of hostile force array'd
To bar advance. They send forth scouts to search.
Who, under cover of the gloom of night,
Pass through the narrow gorge, and then behold,
Screen'd by a belt of trees, their foes entrench'd
On rising ground. Cautious though they mov'd
The wakeful sentry caught their rustling tread,
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And loudly o'er the distant hills and vales
The war gong sounds its dull and heavy note.
Te Heu Heu forthwith sends a trusty guard
To hold the gorge; or, if by foes possess'd,
To seize the flanking heights, and holding these,
With steady aim to ply the deadly ball.
The scouts retrace their steps with breathless haste,
And tell of forces sent to gain the pass.
Erow, on whom devolv'd the envied post
Of leading the advance, with hurried pace
Ascends the narrow path and plants his troop
The entrance to command. Scarce had they breath'd
Than out the forest shade with stealthy tread
A Christian warrior moves to watch the foe;
No sooner seen than quiv'ring on the plain.
Scarce had the ball its fearful errand told
Than swarming hosts by Heu Heu led advance,
And like the rushing wind, whirl through the gorge,
And pour within the forest's friendly gloom.
Secure, they fell the lofty pine and form
A palisadoed front toward the south:
Short time is left for thought. Scarce had the sun
Its zenith reach'd, than with impatience,
Ill restrain'd, they marshall on the plain
In double rank well form'd, with slaves and boys
Close following in the rear. Erect in front
Te Heu Heu proudly stands, and loudly sings
The war song's harsh but soul inspiring strains.
It ceas'd, and from the host a deaf'ning shout
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Arose: demoniac like they dance
In strict accord, the blood inflaming dance;
With tongue protruded, and with nerves high strain'd
They hurl defiance on their self made foes.
Casting their mats aside they naked rush
Towards the pah, and after one discharge
They throw their muskets to the rearward slaves,
And club and spear in hand assault with shouts.
Like mountain torrent fed by surcharg'd clouds
Sweeps all before its mighty stream, so now,
Before this fiercely madden'd mortal horde
No power on earth could scatheless stand.
The outer palisade is gain'd, and rolling tides
The inner girt around and quickly pierce
Despite the heavy. storm of stones and darts
From terrac'd stages hurl'd. Success seem'd sure
As oft we know it may appear to us
When on the eve of ruin. A cheer is heard,
Aye, such a cheer as freemen only give,
And, like the whistling of the winged ball
It fore'tells death. From out each narrow lane,
As if from bows impell'd, the Christian host
Pours forth its strength against the breathless tribes,
And bears them back beyond the sacred bound.
Rallying at Erow's call a noble band
Withstands the shock, and Heu Heu quickly brings
His scatter'd troops to face the foaming foe.
They meet and fierce contest the bloody field;
Seizing each other's hair, with frantic rage,
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They, wrestling, fight. Amid the dying rush
With fearful shrieks the boys and women slaves
To seize the captives, or the bodies gain
From which, in closest fight, the warrior's hand
Had fiercely struck the blood disfigur'd head.
The gallant Erow falls, and with him fell
Full many a chief: his ancient fame
Had here, as ever, fresh accession gain'd.
Surrounding friends convey him from the field,
While under Heu Heu's charge the hosts retire
And reach their forest camp. Though foil'd, they view
The havoc made as triumph gain'd: in dance
And song they pass the night, while, fix'd on spears,
Encircling them around, are human heads,
Most precious trophies of a hard fought day.
At early dawn a council meets to learn
The general voice: they feast on slaughter'd foes
And quench in part their ever craving hate.
Again they homeward bend their steps, elate
At doubtful triumph. Close on the outskirts
Of their village home the aged and the young,
The wife and mother join their welcome song.
But, soon the tidings reach, that, though success
Had crown'd their arms, the price which vengeance paid
Was high indeed, almost too high to pay,
The sounds of joy give place to notes of woe,
As gently rises on the breeze the chaunt
Funereal: A mimic fight succeeds,
Bearing but faint resemblance to the dark
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Original of war. With solemn step
They bear the corpse of Erow, and of one
Scarce less renown'd, within the central space
Reserv'd for public use, and forthwith slay,
To wait their pleasure in another world,
Two slaves, less captives there than when on earth. --
Next day before assembled Chiefs arraign'd,
The Priest, who to his holy office adds
The healing art, minute description gives
Of Huia's latter end; he tells of herbs
Whose potent charms few ever tried in vain,
Of incantation deep and often poured,
Of captives slain to satisfy the wrath
Of At'ua incens'd; but nought avail'd.
She sunk in calm repose; her feeble voice
Her Erow's name pronounc'd, and then a name
Of one, with difficulty heard, with whom
She seem'd to plead, and, if a lovely smile
Be index true, she pleaded not in vain.
The priest resumes his seat; an aged chief
With grave demeanour and with weighty words,
Proclaims acquittal from all taint of blame.
2
Did time admit, and inclination prompt,
And were the pen in human gore deep dipp'd,
We might behold the midday meal, at which
The roasted swine, with blood unspill'd, provides
The earlier course; and afterward the slave,
Unconscious that on him the fatal choice
Had fallen, is mercilessly slain and forms
What fancy, if so pleased, may well conceive.
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