War to the Knife or Tangata Maori

idence in a district which might be exposed to the horrors of war, Massinger determined to consult all available friends and acquaintances, as well as to examine for himself. He w

saw of this wonderful country, the more favourably he was disposed to think of it

ury! Providence has marked them out for another home of our restless race. Another England, beneath the Cross of the South! An outlet, how gracious and timely, for the 'hardly entreated brother' who so often [Pg 92] languishes in older lands for l

ge building, writing letters which looked like despatches, with an industry in strong contrast to his dolce far niente attitude during the voyage. However, he promp

s. Just told my directors country's going to the devil; wrapped it up decently, of course. Bad busines

of the Maori deputation and a drunken white man. It appeare

irst, and dangerous, not to say bloo

uading them to sell their land? It would be better for th

g

main force. Wants brains and straight going. That's what we're short of. Gov

aitara

olonized. Remember what Bailey Jun

it?' I remember. But

re'll be bloodshed over it, take my word. And carrying on Master Bailey's warning, any eating done on the p

aps I may go so far as to quote old colonists-that there is certain to be trouble if this

a certain point, the responsible head is apt to square the accou

the

gs of Te Rangitake-who, in addition to his being a high chief, and the largest holder in this said

ops in the face of the reports of Busby and McLea

persuaded or duped in the matter, I believe that war, and nothing else, will be the outcome. The British Government has acquired much territory in different parts of the world, but th

en, and with a brief adieu t

s or active volcanoes looked down upon Nature's daring colour-effects dashed off in her most fantastic moods; where the central fires of the globe sent up their steam in jets, and the angry gnome, "the mid-earth's swarthy child," still murmured audibly; where boiling fountains hissed and gurgled, unchilled by the wintry blast; where fair

r-famed land of the geyser and the fumarole to his friend

h in other lands, I have never beheld the place that equals that strange and grand landscape, terrible even in its beauty. The delicate loveliness of t

s Waitara business may bring on war at any time, and then n

I can get a horse and guide. I should never

d find his way to Taupo in the dark. It is scarcely a road to travel alone just now, and the forest tracks are neither eas

g

and provisions being absolutely necessary, he looked less to the paces and appearance of the animal than to its strength and substance. A guide, too, was essential, as in a country where the primeval forest was almost impracti

mrade of his own race; to which he made answer that he had not come all that way to lead a feather-bed life. Whatever risk oth

ey know a gentleman when they see one, and they hate anything like distrust or double-dealing. Unless war is

onal habitudes descriptive of every shade of road travel, town dwelling, ordinary wayfaring or desert exploration. One glance there is sufficient to determine, not only the station in life, but the immediate business or occupation of the stranger. And so full and continuous had been the stream of emigration poured into New Zealand of late years, that the ultra-British rig

rrel on his shoulder, a navy revolver in his belt, and a miscellaneous assortment of useful articles dispersed about

inger received a note in a strange

14, Shortland S

ednesd

"Dea

elieve, recommended me to you as a guid

[P

't say that it is too safe in the present state of native feeling, but that is f

Yours

rt Warwic

Massinge

well written and expressed. Some men I know, from English public schools, too, could not have

of the New Zealand Herald, besides trying to reconcile conflicting st

ranger, bowing. "My name is Warwick; I

, but he recovered himself in time to murmur an assent and ask th

orfolk jacket, with knickerbockers and worsted stockings, these last exhibiting a volume of muscular calf, above laced-up shooting-boots of great st

ntry, as well as the route to th

r with both. We have relatives in the Ngapuhi tribe, and I am always glad of an excuse to see some wild life among them. I

e tourist, thinking it wise to sett

rifling amount was hardly worth mentioning. "That is my usual fee. I am fond of these expeditions myself

l be an added pleasure to have a companion from whom

dvise, the least possible quantity that you can do with. All beyond will encumbe

Perhaps you would not mind breakfasting with me

g

rise, which will give time to arrange the pack, a

bowed himself out, leaving his employe

ow into the shade many of the curled darlings of the old land. One of his descendants, having taken high honours at Christ Church University, is obviously the man Macaulay had in his mind when he created the immortal New Zealander on London Bridge. His accent, his m

t was made tolerably early in the day, and ere long our hero was inducted into

or coach, having heard that all the pioneers, aristocratic

g rock or [Pg 101] log, or thrusting between brambles and climbers, he realized that he

s, always striking points on the main trail which he had previously described. All the available stopping-places on the road were thoroughly well known to him, and between the more desirable inns and accommodation houses, at all of which Warwick was evidently the bienvenu, and the histo

, on whose broad bosom the whale-boat has succeeded the canoe, the steamer the whale-boat. His spirits rose to enthusiasm as they traversed the country between the river and the lakes of Waikare and Rangar

g

I might as well be back in Herefordshire. What I am dying to see, is a decent-sized village-kainga, don't you call it?-where I ma

," replied Warwick, with an amused

Massinger. "Why not Claph

ere and make for Taupo. Before we get there, I can promise you one real Maor

e wayfarer. "I must have

land, is on a visit at the first one we come to," said the

e primeval forest had fully repaid him for all difficulties which nature placed in their way. Hundreds [Pg 103] of feet overhead, almost hiding the rays of the autumnal sun, and causing Massinger to throw back his head to gaze at their lofty coronets of foliage, rose the royal ranks of the Kauri, the Totara, the Rimu, and the Kahikatea. Unlike the les

ily clothed soldier of the regular forces. A fair, though not accurate shot at short range, practically almost invisible, the native is trained to take advantage of e

g exercise of all kinds, Massinger was by no means sorry when his guide halted by the side of a gurgling stream, and intimated that they would here halt for refreshment. Rows of that magnificent fern, Dicksonia, fully thirty feet in height, towered [Pg 104] over the banks of the rushing streamlet; a level patch o

d. Far in the distance loomed the curved shoulder of a snow-crowned mountain. The ocean again rose to view. A winding river threaded the fields and pastures of a broad meadow. Tiny co

considerable population, distinctive and representative features which in ancient Britain would hav

erraced hill, rose the pah, or fortress prope

ubt whether the ancient Britons had one like this to check the Roman advance. Certainly they had [Pg 105]

ege; and a fine, bloodthirsty affair it was, by all acco

what

hat they could have borne, but they had not

h due attention to the canons of strategic fortification. It stood on a peak two thousand feet high, on the

ch side to the edge of the range, but was formed with angles near its junction with the cliff, in order to cover completely an attacking party. The inner parapet, more than twelve fe

osition of the wharepuni, or council-hall, imposing in size and ornamentation, elaborate though rude; the clustering whares or wigwams, each containing the family unit complete; with men, women, and children, dogs and ponies, straying about in careless intermixture; the warriors of the tribe holding aloof in hau

ng arose, and those who were already standing, relinquished their attitudes of dignified ease for those of watchful attention, not unmingled with suspicion

river-bank, of great height, from sudden assault. An undulating stretch of open or timbered country filled in the foreground, while in the dim distance rose the giant form of Tongariro, cloud-capped, menacing, in dread majesty and sublimity, and but a few miles to the eastward, calm in the fading light, lay the placid waters of a lake. Strangely beautiful as was the whole landscape, wanting no element which in other lands excites wonder or arouses admiration, there was yet a fe

white stranger, as he scanned the grand and majestic features of the wide landscape befor

soul so dead, Who never

s guide would have doubtless confirmed [Pg 108] the entente cordiale. As it was, however, the few sentences uttered by his companion, in which, among others, he recognized the words Pakeha, Rangatira, and Mata Kawana, w

s. In this, Mr. Massinger was told, through the interpreter, to place his possessions, and to consider himself at home for the present. An adjoining tenement was indicated, in a less formal way, as provided for his companion, the difference of

teral sense of the word; waited upon with deference, mingled with apprehension, by the women, the slaves and the rank and file of the tr

ammelled seigneur of the time of Louis [Pg 109] Quato

ng virtues. He was brave to recklessness, chivalrous to a degree unknown in modern warfare, sending notice of attack, in ordinary cases, before the commencement of hostilities; and, in well-authenticated instances, even forwarding ammunition to the enemy who had run short of powder, invariably choosing

to his finding himself the honoured guest of this sub-section of a more or less ferocious tribe. Nothing imaginable could be more romantic; at the same time, the situation was, at the best, only comparatively satisfactory. The smouldering blood-feud between the races, alr

tain from exploration of this wonderful country. It was not worse than Africa, whence many an Englishman had returned

ckles, supplied in clean flat baskets, he made a satisfactory meal, concluding, of course, with a pannikin of tea. He had arranged his rug and blank

ement of primitive humanity. Habitudes common to all societies, rude or civilized, were not wanting. Women talked and laughed, children prattled or lamented, as the case might be. There was the narrator of events, the wandering minstrel, the troubadour or "jongleur" of this later Arcadia, with his circle of interested listeners. The boy

d in the direction of his abode. As they came closer, he observed the guide walking among

t Auckland." Upon this, the leaders of the party, among whom were several young girls, raised a cry of dissent, making angry gestures an

e dusky maidens, who, with flashing eyes, animated gestures, and caressing tones, sought t

, as inconsistent with the responsible duties which were his peculiar province. However, such was the persistency with which they urge

" he inquired of his gu

or three weeks,"

tives much the

hat they are more expert in ge

hese young peo

hem a small keepsake, or something i

think I

cry of "Erena, Erena!" arose from the rear, and a girl, differing in several important respects fro

dusky sisters; such complexions had he seen before, due to the intermixture of the races, by no means uncommon in the coast towns. Many of the young people of that blood were distinct

e tribe. Later on, Massinger learned to know it as a kaitaka, or shawl, made of the finest flax, laboriously prepared, till it almost resemble

n of rank or distinction, required both skill and patience; a whole winter was not considered an unreasonable time to devote to its manufacture. Gracefully draped over one rounded shoulder,

e might have stood for a sculptor's model of a woodland nymph

to the guide. "What is her name, and ho

ugh she is a half-caste. Her father was a sea-captain, and her mother

ou will have to interpret w

g

we can. She was educated at a college in Wanganui,

egged to be favoured with her advice as

that if the country is not in a disturbed state now, it soon may be, in which case there m

ch voice, and with perfect intonation. "For the danger, I cannot speak. There may be, if war breaks

f an adventure. War, danger, and a belle sauvage! He thought of "The Burial of A

on, I have made up my mind

fixedly at the white stranger

of being killed, and you cannot stop them. I will speak to t

e group, stood before the chief, with whom she conversed

might be danger if war is declared. But he does not think

Please don't eat the bearer till I come,' or something to that effect!" But he only said

one of the early missionaries, and taught to read and write. He has been a firm friend of the English ever since. He fou

present I know little. But my friends in England will never believe me if I tell the

ori girl; but I can help your people now and the

muring in the stillness of the [Pg 116] night; the savage people in groups, lying or standing around; the dramatic scene with this half-wild maiden, with flashing eyes and

ing him full in the face with the clea

would acco

d presumed too far on such a slight acquaint

led like a pleased child, and lookin

really like

of a companion familiar with all the points of the landscape, as well as

its of this arrangement. But, true to her sex, she appeared to hesitate, and finally said she mus

ed on with swift steps towards the group of elders, where the chief still stood. There she apparently entered upon the affair of the expedition, for question and answer were quickly interchanged, and the earnest tones of the speakers-several of the surrounding elders

ill go with us tomorrow. She is better than any man on a journey,

the same in free fashion, which conduced to his instant popularity, he lay down in his whare enveloped in rugs and coverings, where the rippling river lulled him into s