CHAPTER VII.
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CHAPTER VIII.
"Some time after this," says Wiremu Hau, an intelligent Ngapuhi Chief who assisted us in collecting the information contained in these pages--"Pomare and Kawiti were desirous to regain Kororareka, and in order to embroil the tribes, murdered a woman named Kirimahore." This being a declaration of war, according to Maori usage, the challenge was accepted by the Kororareka people, who raised an army of eight hundred men, and despatched it to Otuihu for the purpose of avenging the death of the murdered woman. A powerful Hokianga chieftain joined the Kororareka tribes with four hundred strong, and subsequently the number was considerably augmented by other allies. This force was opposed to the brave Mauparaoa whose followers numbered several hundreds. The belligerants met at Opua, where a smart skirmish took place, and Mauparaoa was driven back to the pah where Kawiti was awaiting the general attack with two thousand men. The Kororarekans attempted to storm the fortress, but were repulsed, leaving about sixty dead on the field, amongst whom were the following distinguished personages:-- Pi, Moetarau, Te Nana, and Te Koukou. All the inhumanity of the barbarian was called forth on this occasion. The bodies of the dead were shamefully mutilated, and exposed to view on the fencing around the fortification. This act was accompanied by loud yells--yells of defiance and savage joy. Disconcerted and sad, the Kororareka army returned to its home, to await doubtless an opportunity of avenging the indignity shown to its unfortunate friends.
The following lament is the production of Takahorea the father of Pi; though Moetarau and Te Koukou are referred to, they belonged to tribes not located on the Hokianga. It would seem that the bodies of the last mentioned Chiefs were given up to their relatives, but that of Pi retained:--
High in the heavens, above old Maiki's steep,
A host of stars their nightly watches keep;
But sire! thou dost in endless slumber lie,
Bound by the charms of great Tumoetai.
The prows' were launched upon the stormy wave,
And passed Haunui where the surges lave;
The splashing, of the paddles too was, seen,
By wandering tribes beside Panui's stream;
And when the army met upon the land,
The slain were many by Opua's strand;
While the dark bosom of Waikare's tide,
Tumultuous rose as in her ancient pride;
Then Tuakaurinui heaved a sigh
And all its sandy shores and shoals grew dry.
Thy ornamental box of feathers rare
Attendants brought to deck thy waving hair;
That graceful, with thy weapon in thine hand,
Thou might'st appear amid the foremost band;
With nimble foot the hilly range along,
Thou didst with kindred spirits lead the throng;
Some mystic spell possessed and swayed my heart,
And then alas! I said that we should part,
That with thy voice the storm of wax might cease,
And rival tribes together dwell in peace.
As the bird Kawau in its onward flight,
To seize its prey will suddenly alight,
So Pi the brave, the bold, with panting breath,
Rushed on the foe and nobly fell in death.
Now thou art gone, Te Hiwi's mirthful songs,
Will far resound, for in thy death, his wrongs,
At Tara are avenged; Awhe, like thee
And Ewa too, went forth to Urge this plea
For peace; but they alas! did not escape
The cruel hand of foes, nor could'st thou wake,
In yonder house from that alluring snare,
For all the train of magic arts were there.
Urgent like thee for peace Whetu and Tai,
Hoped that the lightsome cloud would gild the sky;
Hoped that the eyes of many lands would sleep,
And snow-like foam would nestle on the deep;
But how could eyes be closed, and still the heart,
When ye of white men's rum had quaffed your part?
O my canoe! carved, beautiful and rare,
My famed canoe adorned with nicest care!
Lo! thou art drifting with the flowing tide
Where the deep streams of Kerepuru glide.
And who will move Tuihu's mountain great
Where Pi the mighty Chieftain lies in state?
Ah! Moetarau and Te Koukou brave,
At Hokianga found a friendly grave;
While Taumarere's springs scarce bubbled by,
And all the springs of Moehau seemed dry.
The Awarua's waters ceased to flow,
While famed Kaiwaka's rapid tides grew slow;
Into a heap, the waves of yonder sea
The western airs that sweep across the main
Will fill the sails and ye shall quickly gain,
Horeke where M'Donnell's dwelling stands
And where ye often sat with numerous bands;
Ah! heed not now the white man's cry of woe,
But let Ngapuhi overwhelm the foe.
During this affray Kawiti's nephew was killed, which 'caused his heart to be very dark,' and he determined to seek 'satisfaction.' On the following day therefore he embarked in his war canoes with a strong force, and proceeded in the direction of Kororareka with the intention of surprising that settlement. The approach of the prows was announced to Rewa the Chief in command, who ordered the people to man their canoes, pursue the enemy on the water, and bring him if possible to an engagement. 'We must not' said Rewa 'permit Kawiti to land, lest he should say that the soles of his feet have rested on the soil of Kororareka.'
The summons of the commander-in-Chief was instantly obeyed, the canoes were manned, and the party paddled off to encounter the hostile fleet, on the discovery of which Kawiti changed the course of his canoes to escape if possible his furious pursuers. Rewa's party gained considerably upon Kawiti's followers, who were of necessity much fatigued from their long pull, and dreading
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a battle on the water, a landing was urgently proposed, again and again; but the locality pointed out as a good position not being sufficiently near to the fortress, they toiled on till reaching Opua. By this time Rewa had overtaken the enemy, 'and scarcely,' says the narrator, had the feet of Kawiti's party touched the shore, when they fired upon the Kororareka people who were in the act of landing, the result of which was the death of two men.' The fire was vigorously returned and five men fell. Kawiti deemed it advisable to retire to the heights; in his retreat however, he was exposed to the sharp shooters of Rewa's party, but on the arrival of the army at a place named Ngaruawahi,' says Wiremu Hau, 'Kawiti thrust his spear, into the earth, which signifies' continues he, 'a determination to conquer or die.'
"Conquer or die!" This is the natural feeling of the human heart, --a feeling in which not only numerous untutored tribes are indulging, but a very great portion of enlightened Christendom. the continued rebellion of man against his maker arises from the pertinacity with which he clings to this Satanic prop; and here we discover the wonderful goodness and wisdom of the Almighty, in limiting the power of his creatures; --in setting it within bounds, so that the voice which speaks to the swelling flood, 'Hitherto shalt thou come but no further,' may equally influence the sos of men, and deter them from carrying their evil propensities to 'the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.' Perhaps there is not a man to be found since the days of Adam who has not more or less abused the power given him by his Creator. Not that it need be so, for there is grace to be had, by applying for it, which will dry up the foundation of sin, rectify every error, and make us 'perfect even as our father which is in heaven is perfect.' This doctrine will no doubt be scouted by the religionists of these dark days; it is nevertheless written in indellible characters on the page of God's revelation to men
