War to the Knife or Tangata Maori

ging. A well-found yacht, presided over by an owner of royal hospitality and fastidious friendships, with carefully selected companions, and the pick of the mercantile marine

inst Fate, presented no cheering features. The weather was cold and stormy; while, in crossing the Bay of Biscay, such a wild outcry of wind and wave greeted them, that with battened-down hatches, a deeply laden vessel, frightened passengers and

t is called "a good sailor," and his present frame of mind rendering him resigned, if not defiant, he endeared himself to the officers by refraining from useless questions, and awaiting with composure the change which, as they were n

ly harbour of Auckland one fine morning, presenting to the eager gaze of the wayfarers the charms of

e North Head. Passing this guardian headland, "a most living landscape," the more entrancing from contrast to the endless ocean plain which for so many a day had limited his vision, was

g

and copses which reminded him of the last day's "cock" shooting at the Court; while trim villas and even more pretentious mansions gave assurance that here the modern Vikings, having wearied of the stormy seas, had made themselves a settled home and abiding-

s slight marks and tokens, the English aristocrat. Most probably the stranger had made similar deductions, as he had commenced their first conver

this way

admitted

rm-sheep and all th

my plans on arrival. I suppose it's as

at New Zealand's worse than the rest of the lot. Australia-all black fellows-kangaroos-sandy

rtile and well watered

to end; must go yourself t

d by this wholesale depreciation of a country which

this infernal New Zealand Company. Wish I'd broke

country in the world for British occupation, for finding homes on smiling farms for the crowded population of Great Britain, for Christianizing the natives as well as instructing them in the arts of peace; or, as a syn

ngs of the New Zealand Land Company; but accounts

as we've got so far, [Pg 69] permit me?" and extracting a card from a neat por

udley

he New Zealand

and Chr

" he said. "I am not sure that I

xcuse me. Reasons, no doubt; but if I had the luck to be the owner of Massinger Court-born to it, mind you-I'd have seen all the colo

dn't have had an empire, should we?" suggested the othe

t maxim. And as mine are mixed up in this blessed company, if you'll look me up in Auckland, I'll put you up to a wrinkle or two in the matt

g

mutton chop was preceded by a grilled flounder, and flanked by eggs and toast, convinced him that the Briton of the South had no occasion to fear degeneration as a consequence of unsuita

e departure in the air and bearing of these last. The recognized orders and classes of British life, hardly distinguishable from their British types, were all there. Rich and poor, gentle and simple. The farmer, the country gentleman, the tradesman, the lounger, the doctor, the banker, the merchant, the peasant, and the navvy, all were there, with th

old wage, and rejoiced in such plenteous provision for his family as he had never dreamed of in the mother-land. Before the farmer, who saw his way to opulence and landed estate, as he surveyed the transplanted food crops growing and burgeoning as in a glorified garden which "drank the rains of heaven at will." Before t

ould stand him in good stead. This was entirely to his mind; so, stepping out with determination, he reached the summit of Mount Eden. Here he paused, and indeed the pace at which he had breasted the ascent, after the inaction of the voyage, rendered it far from inexpedient to admir

er and Lesser Barrier were plainly visible, as also the lofty ridge of Cape Colville; other islands and headla

canic hills. Under his feet what marvellous revelations of fertility met his gaze! The volcanic formation was evidenced by the shape of the conical eminences by which he was surrounded. He counted more than a dozen. In all, the extinct craters were perfect in form, though covered

ed the abodes of a warlike people, who had in long-past days converted these hilltops into for

ke people-for such by his course of reading he knew the Maori nation to be-lived and died, fought

madness of battle, against overwhelming odds? They had won their country from the deep, traversing wide wastes of waters in canoes but ill adapted for storm and tempest. They had discovered this fair region-cultiv

coward that w

for suc

of this much-exploited people, and was much impressed by t

d ship that wonderful romance of Michael Scott's, wherein the spacious times of old, and the planter-life of the West Indian Islands, are [Pg 74] limned with such prodigality of colour, such wealth of humorous perception, such power of pathos. As this young man cam

ous combination of strength and activity; supple as a panther, with the muscle of a Farnese Hercules. As to his fe

This is truly a remarkable country," he soliloquized. "If the climate and soil can raise men like this, what m

emed it advisable to deliver some of the letters of introduction with which he had been plentifully supplied. One of the more immediate effects of this ac

upon him from their [Pg 75] very affluence, so much of the suggestive i

rm and grazing purposes, it was astonishing how much interest he excited

itish members of Parliament and the local political gang, to rob these poor devils of natives of their tribal lands. Title? They haven't a rag. Some artful devil of a Mao

agent?" queried our hero. "Th

to sell the whole town? Though, between you and me, there are men in business here who would have a try at

replied Massinger, smiling, "as to

xperienced friend. "Advice is cheap, or rather d

g

if no one is to be trusted

ment officials and the Land Commissioners are, perhaps, the saf

counsel from you?"-instinctively trusting the

invest; that's my first word. The next, buy from the Government; they h

title is disputed?

y have been lately, 'the deil will gae ower Jock Wabster.'" Here the speaker lapsed into his native Doric, showing that though half a century had rolled by since he first a

it may happen to be, could not

g the most [Pg 77] warlike races upon earth, inured for centuries past to every species of bloodshed and rapine, and bred up in the belief that a man is a warrior or nothing. Fear, they know

e another war?" inquired Ma

Governor, who means well, lets himself be led by half a dozen politicians, in spite of the advice of the old

ays naturally lean to

r my Hieland ancestors enjoyed themselves with. Others, like Waka Nene, since they were Christianized by the early missionaries, hav

nger. "And if war breaks out, as you think

again, I suppose. These islands are going to be another Britain; and even if there has been some [Pg 78] folly and

too-peaceful days. If I had any notion of leaving New Zealand, which I have not, this would de

-skipper, as he walked out. "Bar accidents, he's

o walked down the str

ion to such a country for grass and roots as I never dreamt of it, to think of there being every probability of a war! A real war! It reminds one of the 'Last of the Mohican

e with the utmost gravity going through the evolutions of their horrific performance. Chiefly unclothed, they stamped and roared, grimaced and threatened, as in actual preparation for conflict. Musket in hand, they leaped and yelled like demoniacs; their countenances distorted, the eyes turned inward, their tongues protruded as with wolfish longing. Each man was possessed by a fiend, as it seemed to Massinger, who gazed upon the actors with intense interest. The performance, hardly new to the majority of the spectators, failed to impress one of them with due respect. He remarked upon the pattern tattooed on the thigh of a huge native in front

racteristics of the strange race among whom [Pg 80] he had elected to dwell. Pride and sensitiveness, to the

ad taken their comrade's discomfiture, and said as much to a re

hat fellow was half-drunk, and it served him right. There's a big tribe at the back of these chaps, and they're in a dangerous humour ab

. Doubtless, in the end, the whites would have conquered. Then the tribe would have murdered outlying settlers, or attacked the town. The military would have been engaged. The war-torch, once applied, might have lighted up a

ook himself to his [Pg 81] hotel, having discovered, as many a gentleman unfortunate in his love affairs has done before him, that this

denly acquired importance in his eyes. Having fully decided upon making New Zealand his home, and becoming fired with ambition to aid in the development of this wonderland of the South, he had addressed himself on the voyage with commendable di

of which the elevated position of the Grand Hotel offered a view which he never ceased to admir

ck Maori sitting on a powder barrel, filling cartridges

ght to see that the touchy [Pg 82] beggars are not needlessly set up. I lost a dozen valuable blocks here in 1840 bec

how wa

ted-sulked, of course, and just as I fully expected to get all Shortland Crescent for-well, decidedly cheap-he shut up his mouth like a vice

on; "I should think so. But I neve

ding to the present price of the land. The Government got it afterward

nd have a Korǒero. I know this chief, and we can both patter Maori. It might do

or some years declined to the more peaceful vocation of a merchant-one of the sea-roving, fearless breed of adventurers peculiar to [Pg 83] Britain, whose wide-reaching mercantile transactio

e speakers, was at once introduced to "my old friend, Mr. Lochiel,

essed him most favourably. "If he is of my mind, he will have reason to congratulate himself on his choi

y on hand," remarked Massinger, "if I ma

walk over to the Maori camp and get their notion of it. We're both 'Pakeha Maoris' of long sta

more intimate acquaintance with our native friends, and trus

long," said Captain Macdonald; "more than we shall like, if I don't

g

ossed by temporary bridges, until they came to a clear space, in front of which a bold bluff looked out upon the harbour. Here a collectio

eplied with a phrase which appeared to be the correct antiphonal rejoinder. As they reached the camp, in which they noted a number of women

ligent and determined-looki

wa as long ago as when Honii Heke cut down the flagstaff; and my welcome is t

Pakeha Rangatira, have come to you for words in this quarrel of Otakou in Auckland today

d. He wished for utu, but I told him there were matters to be considered; that the tribe was in runanga concerning t

countrymen would not defend him. He had done wrong. Were they afraid of forty or fifty Ma

man says the pakeha has done wrong. His people disown him. The matter is ended." Here he broke a wand which he carried in his hand in two pieces, in tok

tant, and, as it proceeded, became deeply interesting. The flashing eye of the chief, his impetuous

f the subject of the important conference, for such it evidently was. The colonist spoke [Pg 86] calmly, but with we

. That the land belongs, in named and measured portions, to individuals and families in the tribe. That no single person has the right to dispose of it. That the whole tribe must unite, and throu

about the sale of this important block?" said Massinger.

e had a letter from the Colonial Secretary that Teira's land (as alleged) would be bought by the Governor. That his rule

the matter. The chief says it is not the seller

] to the whole of us! And do not you be in haste to give the money. If you give the money in secret, you will get no land. Do not suppose that this is foll

eir feet, and standing round their chief and the three white men, looked as if but a very little additional excitement w

ris are very demonstrative in oratory, and have always been in the habit of using much parli

k to the city, the countenances of the older me

d peaceful in the rich tints of the setting sun, "and as certainly as that sun will rise tomorrow, there will be trouble-

should have allowed himself to be hoodwinked in this, passes my knowledge. These Ngatiawas will [Pg 8

ueried Massinger. "Will t

ill probably use merely passive resistance at first. B

hat has n

sh to see another. But there will be murder in cold blood-killing in hot blood, with all the devilry of savage warfare. The blood of the men, wo

an. "Will not leading colonists take the initiative in preventing a flag

beginning of a war of which it will be hard to predict the end-much more what may happen in the meantime. And now, if you and my old friend here will dine with me t

g

s arrangement was duly carried out, and the three friends walked together to Mr. Lochiel's house. He had begged them to dispense with any change of attire, as the dusk was closing in and Mrs. Lochiel was absent on a v

a lengthened continental ramble; "things are much changed since Thornton and I bought that island you see out under the line of moon-rays, from the reigning chief, more than thirty years ago. He a

the land here been sold to the

w stands-'nor roof, nor latched door,' to

ourt-houses, public libraries, vice-regal mansion, and warehouses. The lights of the city showed an area even larger than he had at first supposed it to be. The ships in the well-filled harb

he exclaimed. "It is tran