War to the Knife or Tangata Maori

s grim carven giants of the Wharepuni, looks frowningly down upon the little Roman Catholic chapel. Clouds of steam ar

tinued, gazing across the lake. "Mokoia looks peaceful enough now, with scarcely a hundred people on it all told. Yet what tales those rocks could tell! The island was a grand resort for the tribe in the

was

ckon on an unexpected move of the fiercest and most crafty chief

s; for I take it they didn't leav

ch he made to Lake Rotoiti, and, entering Rotorua, appeared with his fleet before the astonished lake tribes. He made straight for Mokoia, fell upon them with his cust

ch stratagems belonged to the accep

poor victim appealing piteously to some relative to help her. But the good man only endangered his own life, and did not succeed in saving hers. At Matamata, Te Waharoa's great fortress, when he was besieged by the Ngapuhi under Tareha, he made an unexpected sortie, and, captu

k to the site of the Lost Village, the scene of the extinction of a hapu o

en the encampment. The sites of the dwellings, by no means unsubstantial, were marked by walls, of which the lower stones only remained. The apertures showed where the

distinguished visitors, had sent down cooked food, mats, and other gifts, intimating through a messenge

ck to bestow themselves in the village, while the sullen Ngarara, who had of late remained among the rank and fi

d him that he might have his pay at [Pg 171] once. This off

, and for some reason has taken a dislike to both of us. I can see it i

he have? He has been tr

e will be no war-scare till we get to Auckland, at any rate. He might take

d Massinger, with the careless confidence of yo

ity. He told so many tales of battle, murder, and sudden death, that the Englishman dreamed of cannibal feasts, sieges, and pit

slight alteration in her dress, and had placed some of the beautiful feathers of the huia in her hair. Altogether, there was a change in h

g

ly not pleased at our parting, Erena?" he said. "Wa

est you here for a few days. There's nothing so beautiful as Te

he war. It would be unwise to linger h

have a reason for not wishing you to return before Monday w

appeal, stretching forth her hands pleadingly, while her lip quivered a

refuse you anything. But really this life is too pleasant-too much in the way

e plenty of time to do all that is necessary. Many Englishmen come out to

," he answered. "I am sure your advice is good. An

g

himself. He was surrounded by the elders of the tribe, as well as by a considerable

tever he has said, it is against us; I can see by the chief's face. I

s having had his suspicions aroused. He was anxious to know for what reason Massin

fore, and was most anxious to visit Rotorua, of which he had heard much; also to pa

tribes), and to bring back to the man who rides at the head of the soldiers an

t him. He desires to return to Auckland now that he has seen Te Terat

174] with red clothes that the pah at Rotorua is old and has rotten timbers, so that it would be easy for the men with red coats and the men with blue ones

-minded man"-pointing to Ngarara-"to speak with respect of his daughter. What can he say? Have I not a right to walk in the same company as this

of the tribe were assembled, while contemptuous looks were directed at Ngarara, who stood with lo

he held; that the other natives, male and female, had been hired for the expedition on liberal terms; that they had been already paid in part (here he [Pg 175] pointed to certain articles of apparel and ornament which they had lost no time in purchasing in Ohinemutu); that Ngarara, also, who had proved ungrateful and mischievous-"slave-like" and "a liar" were the Maori terms-had benefited by the pakeha's liberality: he had been paid in full. Here h

his the chief (fortunately one of those who, like that veteran, had been taught to read and write by the early missionaries) perused with attent

ned with the name, of the great chief of the Ngapuhi, who, with more than a thousand warriors at his back, ha

friend of Waka Nene, who sent Erena to show him the great fountain and the hot breath of Ruapehu; he is now the f

rted crowd, who, as is usual in such cases, were more vehement in their anger i

not devote the few days that remained to the exploration of this fascinating province of the wonderland. Rarely did the

d by the medicated atmosphere, the association with the half-savage race, who now seemed ready to bow down before him almost with adoration,-one of these cause

e of faerye,' certainly never again have 'so fair a spirit to be my minister.' A region of marvels [Pg 177] and magic, a tribe of simple children of nature, ready

ose features wore so radiant a smile at the announcement that he

g them. I was born here, have swum and paddled in the lake since I could walk; and though my father c

ls, and beheld the bath which bears her name to this day. They saw the beach on which stood the doomed Arawas, confident in the power of their hitherto inviolate wave. Here had they fallen; here had the cannibal feast

ave believed that such horrors were transacted in this fairy [Pg 178] isle, where now the voices of children at play, the crooning, low-voice

dire sounds as of groans and murmurings of imprisoned fire-spirits, while from time to time an impatient geys

n an ancestral canoe from the half-mythical Hawaiki in the dim traditionary exodus of the race. Together they forced their canoes up the glitterin

icious, the lake a mirrored water-plain, across which the moonbeams showed silver-gleaming pathways, as if leading to other happy i

would be most appropriate for you to tell, an

alf of sadness, half of playfulness, in her voice-"a tale of woman's

id Massinger, "there can be al

mong the Arabs), ever new and deepening in interest with every generation-"the pakeha is wrong; girls' love is just the same as ever it was. It is always fresh,

talk so to this pakeha. He is a great r

"If he is a rangatira, he will know too.

e was neither of high rank nor consideration in his tribe. He was, however, gifted in various ways, which made the young women of the tribe look favourably upon him. He was fond of music. On account of this, he and his friend Tiki constructed a stage or balcony on t

ai, but he was not certain of his feelings being returned, and had not dared to pay her attention openly. So he used, lover-like, to breathe his woes into his melodious instrument; and night after night, as h

by herself, and refuse food and company, after the manner of lovesick maidens. All her friends and relations began to say, 'What has happened to Hinemoa-she who was formerly so gay?' They also noticed that Tutanekai shunned the company of the young men, save only of his heart's brother, Tiki. Her feelings at length bec

island, and softly slid into the lake near this very point, Wai-rerekai, which we are now approaching, and as often as she felt tired she floated with the help of the gourds. At last, when nearly exhausted, she rea

hen,' said Hinemoa. Having finished drinking, she purposely threw down the calabash and broke it. The slave went back, and told Tutanekai that a man in the bath had broken it. This occurred more than once. Then Tutanekai in a rage went down to the bath, and searching about, caught hold of a hand. 'Who is this?' said he. 'It is I, Hinemoa.' So they were married,

choed again. Then dashing in their paddles, they rowed with such power and pace that they were soon landed at t

nt; had revelled in the life-renewing waters of the "Rachel" and the "Priest's" hot springs, whence all who bathe in faith issue cured of earthly ailments. The Oil Bath, the Blue Bath

had been visited; also the grim and terrible Brain Pot, unknowing of the tragedy of which it was to be the scene, c

test possible enjoyment into the "grudging hours," when a party of natives was observed to come through the fern-covered flat between Whakarewar

rwick. "Something is in the w

d been received. The whole tribe was astir, and buzzing like a swarm

he case of the Waitara block. Blood has been shed. The Waikato tribes are massing their men, and threat

a certain alertness of manner which showed that the romance of war

ng it is that men should be so foolish, so selfish! But we must do something, and no

g

at. The neighbourhood will be quiet as yet. We can trust the Ngapuhi, with Waka Nene to keep them steady, to be loyal to England. He never wavered in Heke's war, a

tance. A comparatively large body of men, well armed, and superior to the ordinary natives of the district in height and warlike appearance, had come in sight. They mar

ndants, reappeared. The moment she caught sight of the conting

have no more trouble about routes. Yond

urned in their direction, and commenced to walk slowly towards them. As they approached [Pg 185] one another,

e portion of the tribe at a distance on some message for Waka Nene. He ra

pearance and bearing of Allister Mannering, perhaps the most remarkable man among the by no means inconsiderable

ordinary stature of manhood, but of matchless symmetry, and moulded not less for activity than strength, there was a compelling air of command in his eye which every motion confirmed. His expression was grave and

as arrested by the meeting between father and child. After a short colloquy Mr. Mannering ad

historic ancestress, she has a strong will of her own, but had I not the most thorough confidence in her prudence

r, who felt how poor a chance an unworthy adventurer would h

. "I owe much of the charm of this month's travel and adventure to you

Massinger. "I am sure I enjoyed myself very much; so we are all pleased,-which ends that part of the story. But oh! father, is it true that

n double their number, and have a good old-fashioned bloodthirsty battle. They are all men who have grown up since [Pg 187] Heke's war, and are spoiling for a fight. As for this gent

Massinger. "I shall feel honoured by your c

guide nod

l him my earliest and best friend. So, as you are interested in Maori life and customs, you will nev

that it will fade only with my life. Deeds, however,

y hope that the second may not be found wanting in the day of trial. And now, if you will excuse me, I must go back and hold diplomatic palaver with Hiki-aro, the chief he

ready in Auckland,

se ignorant natives worse than they are, and recalling the bad old times which every o

ack a few years. But I agree with you that these old customs should be suffered to die out, and as we

h, in despite of their friendly relations with Rotorua, they set an adequate guard. They were soon o

ere. Even in travelling to Hokianga, a friendly route, we might have met a skirmishing taua like his own, and, in spite of Waka Nene's passport, would have stood but litt

safe as far

kle his. His bodyguard are picked men, known to be equal [Pg 189] to almost double their n

s Hokianga, as it is ca

ri Totara and other pine woods within reach, a great timber trade has flourished for many years past. Sa

the reinforced party set out for the Hokianga, through what ar

leader of men, impatient of the restraints of civilization, not to be contented without the quickening presence of danger, 'the dust of desperate battle,' the savour of blood, even. Such men have always been thrown off, from time to time, by our sea-roving race; have nobly done their parts in subduing for the empire the waste places of the earth. His hair is tinged with grey, but how springy his long elastic strid