War to the Knife or Tangata Maori

necessary attributes of a hardy colonist. Like others who have been educated by circumstances to the practice, he found so many advantages accruing from i

lf-forgotten tales of Indian warfare, recurred to his memory, where the hero, desiring to escape from captivity, looks upon much the same scene as that which lay before him. He could not but feel that he and Warwick were entirely at the mercy of the warriors who composed the greater part of the hapu there assembled. The turn of a straw, in the electrical

did not look so alluring as when associated overnight with the witchery of Erena Mannering's eyes a

omitted. While descending the slope which led to the river bank, he was joined by Warwick, who came leaping along the steep descent like a mountain deer. Arrayed in a pyjama suit only, which indicated the symmetry of his magnificent figure, his employer could not avoid admiration at his grand and striking presence.

dition to his general knowledge of the people and the country, Massinger rightly judged that he might have searched far before

collected between them and their whares, from time to time such words were heard as, "Kapai te Pakeha, kapai!" "Kapai te Rangatira!" but all was in the nature of compliment to the travellers, and more particularly the pakeha, or white stranger. Warwick they appeared to rega

ing in delicacy, was yet ample and satisfactory. After its completion, and the lighting of the after-breakfast pipe, he fel

r? Do you think she has c

g

ction. "Before long she will come round the corner of that hill. I dare sa

Are there many more of the intellectual daughter of the soil sort, in these woods and forests? She is like Rosalind i

said to be an admirer of hers, which makes him more objectionable still. Here they come, however, with Erena marching ahead like a queen! Thr

, with some additions, the mare was sufficiently weighted, and that riding in such a country was more trouble than it was worth, her owner elected to travel on foot, like the rest of the [Pg 122] party. This would leave him more at liberty to examine the botanical and geological features of the strange region upon which they were entering. The position, too, would be more dignified than riding at a foot pace, pus

ment. Her figure, statuesque in every curve and line as the Venus of Milo, was scarcely concealed by the robe which, thrown across the chest and upper arm, revealed in part the outline of her classic bust, while affording full play to ever

ve land, as with sparkling eyes and gladsome expression she walked forth at the head of the little party, Massi

s tika-due and proper respect. Besides, if we leave

ch the venerable warrior walked forward to meet them. He s

lakes and the burning earth, and does he not fear

s tuparra he can shoot men as far as he can see them, and he has a

peace may be kept. Here is the paper which I promised to the white rangatira. It will show Te Heu Heu and his people that he is not a man to be tre

arwick, took the bridle of the grey, and followed in the rear; while the others of the party, including the surly

ttire, and tripped up the opposite bank. While Massinger was speculating as to whether he should unlace his boots, and so save the necessity of going in wet ones for the remainder of the day, Warwick made a sign to one of the men, who without further ado "made a back," as in schoolbo

rit, keeping up a pace the while which taxed Massinger's powers more shrewdly than he would have believed possible. He was a good pedestrian, proud of his speed and stamina, but he had to confess to himself that this damsel and her attendants made the pace considerably better than he would have be

hey had as yet encountered, Erena pointed to a wide expanse of champaign-more ext

hour. I dare say yo

wildwood friends, but looking at her before he answered, he noticed a mirthful twinkle in

led archly. "Your country is not easy, and I am scarcely in training. But in a few d

if you, a rangatira of the pakehas, engaged in contests of sport with the common people. However, so

is, I shall soon know everything

r warrior. There has been no [Pg 126] fighting since Heki's war in 1

there is any danger of war bre

ernor takes the Waitara block by force. The chief thinks so too. He has remonstrated against it, though he wi

voided; but, after all, ther

ve not seen a Maori war, but if you had heard the things I have heard yo

se the sooner I get over to Rotorua and back to Auckland the better it will be. But wha

both his hands in hers, and, with a gesture of childish simplicity, pressed them warmly, gazing i

which appeared to actuate this woodland sylph. But possessing, as he did, a [Pg 127] sympathetic insight into the highe

ventional line of courtesy, he half turned towards their attendants, who in Indian file were following up their footsteps. The Maori Ngarara was foremost on the trail, and must

d. "I will promise not to go so fast for a while; you will

, did you make the

half way, or I should most certainly never have come this route at all. Did you

th the bearers. I hardly knew whether she stayed

uch a rate. If we had been nearer home, I should have returned;

an tha

g

k will tell you, this Taratoa is one of the most turbulent and bloodthirsty chiefs of his ruthless tribe; and that is saying a good deal. He might-I don't say that he wou

erre c'est la guerre.' Pardon me

remember that there are here French as well as English colonists. And besides, I spent a year at Akaroa l

girl was conversant with French. "You remind me," he said, "of the Admiral in 'Singleton Fontenoy,' a naval novel

no! what made

rned everything nowadays. I thought you

terized her when not serious or mournful, [Pg 129] which, inde

sult with him as to what is best to be done, when we camp. But I think we had better pus

ulty in keeping footing, even when in no great depth of water; up the rugged sides of mountains, where the narrow path lay between the century-ol

. Few obstacles made any noticeable difference to her pace, as she glided, at the head of the party, with serene self-confidence-a marvel of grace, swiftness, and endurance. Scarcely less was he stricken with admiration at the courage and activity of the hu

the world! Sheltered by these ancient woods, the breast-high bracken, these thickets impervious to all men but themselves, what chance would disciplined troops have against them? I hope to Heaven that

of the guide, who had fallen back, and stood at so

ravel in a leisurely manner. We shall soon have our first sight of Taupo and commen

an our present form of journeying, yet I must confess to feeling impatient to beho

s, but they always fill me with fresh wonder and admiration. Nothing, in some respects,

ed. [Pg 131] Between Erena and yourself, I

wonderful memory, and knows all the old tales and waiatas by heart. I tell her she shou

s hard that so many of these legends should be lost. When I was a child, they used to be sung and repeated at every camp fire. Now they are on the way t

I live in your country it shall be tapu. The land of Maui is the place

arding him with a searching look, not wholl

scarcity of honest fighting nowadays, that it will b

she came [Pg 132] forward, and lightly touching his shoulder, looked wistfully into his face. "You love war; it is in your blood. So do my people; it is the breath of their nostrils. My fa

n our side, is it not? I can't think the hostil

o which the van of the little cortége had cast themselves, and gliding through, apparently without effort, had in part disappeared. "How do you think that a company

ance; but I am a fair snapshot, and would try for first pull. However, we won't

le we may. I wish I could do so. But our Tohunga has been prophesying, and

on has taught you to des

g

m. I cannot get away from a dread of impending evil. My father,

e seer foretell? Is he known to be a

predicts war-bloody and doubtful. Our tribe, though sometimes defe

ind them. They had entered upon a region of barren and desolate sand wastes, of which the neutral-tinted surface was varied

, Erena silently directed Massinger's attention to the far-stretching and varied view, adding, "You are about to descend i

t volcanic cone, splashed with shades of red, emitting steam from every point of its scarred sides and summit. [Pg 134] And those snow-capped mo

people who live so cheerfully on a mere crust. But we must get down into this valley of Waiotapu, where we camp for the night. There will be such a sight-seeing tomorrow in store for us, that we shall hardly be able to move in

the Sailor business about it. I shouldn't wonder if we came to a loadstone mountain, which would draw all our steel and iron articles into it, like

ousness as she answered, "Who knows but that we may want the revolvers? At any moment w

fferent things. It seems uncanny to be on land where your walking-stick smokes if yo

takes it out of one ever so much more than the forest country. Our autumn sun, too, i

id Massinger, rather indignantly. "Why doesn't that

e is absolved from bearing burdens. His person is sacred to that

the Englishman; "he wants some o

down upon us, as they would consider themselves insulted in his person; particularly now, as no one knows what may happen within a week or

a season; and in the planting, digging, and weeding of those plantations that look so neat near [Pg 13

They hoe turnip and potato fields, reap and bind in harvest time; and, yes, the fishermen's wives and the colli

ion of her countenance. "Men are alike in all countries. They take the easy work, under pretence of responsibility, and leave th

o hear you speak in public, above

if certain events come to pass, you may hear me make mor

ation, as she stood in classic pose, with fixed gaze

g straight to Rotorua. However, she now agrees with me, that you can have a foretaste of [Pg 137] volcanic action here, an

kly. "You can reach the terraces easily now, and afterwards rest at

nge, and her eyes once more become clouded over with the mysterio

be an outbreak-perhaps even war decla

ody of volunteers I could come at, or y

back Kawiti. My mother's brother, a noted chief, died fighting for your people. But this will bring the tribes nearer together; they may make common cause again

ay not care to undertake the task

solve through the lustrous eyes, now informed with the mystic fire of the sybil-

g

k of mingled doubt and admiration, after which he ordered the

at is one thing," he said,

hat?" he

, which is the least she can do before she blows them a

e did, much

y cooked. The evening meal, so miraculously prepared, as it seemed, having been concluded, Erena retired with her female attendants, pleading the necessity for a night's rest to prepare them for the opening day of the Great Exhibition. The two men walked up and down, smoking the meditative pipe. B

and unspeakable, were certain to ensue! What would be the outcome? He thought of the farmsteadings he had seen, with neat homesteads, garnered grain, contented hardy workers, their rosy-cheeked children playing amidst the orchards. Were these to be left desolate, burned, ravaged, as would be inevitable with all outside the line of defence? Then, again, the populous kaingas, with grave rangatiras and stalwart warriors; the merry chattering wahines, sitting amid their children when t

the heathen's toil- The limpid wells, the

a quasi-barbarous, but distinctly dignified, lord of the manor about the title to an area of comparativ

insignificant portion await an authoritative legal decision? No people apparently understood the deliberate verdict of a Court better than these Maoris

hed them. It might yet be avoided, and so hoping, after hearing with increasing distinctness

of no common derangement. Rugged defiles, strangely assorted hillocks of differing size, colour, and elevation. A scarred volcanic cone poured out steam from its base upward, while, between the whirling mists, igneous rocks glinted, like red-hot boulders, in the morning sun. Near this strange mountain was a lake, the glitt