SHIPS AND THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 21

SHIPS AND THE SEA

(By "Spunyarn.")

POMARE AND HIS WARRIORS

BRIG COMMANDEERED FOR CHATHAM RAID

Remarkable indeed in the annals of the early history of this Dominion is the story of the seizure of the brigRodney inside Port Nicholson by a Maori tribe to take warriors to thvs Chatham Islands, there to destroy and enslave the Morioris, the peaceful natives unused to the warlike methods of the fierce Maori chieftains.

This incident occurred in the latter part of the year 1835, when the mighty chief Te Rauparaha was regarded wiln marked distrust. A section of the northern tribes who had followed Ngatitoa to Cook Strait decided to emigrate to the Chatham1 Islands, and succeeded in effecting their purpose, with fatal results to the Morioris populating the islands. Fear of Te Rauparaha was the predominant cause of the migration, but the disfavour with which cannibal orgies had come to be regarded through European eyes may also have been a strong reason for the step taken. The leading chief and the prime mover in the venture was the great Pomare, and it was at his bidding that the master of the brig Rodney agreed to take the raiding warriors to the Chathams.

The late Sir Maui Pomare, whose keen wit and sense of humour ware so much enjoyed by all who knew him, was once questioned for particulars about the Rodney affair, in

carronade, a nine-pounder, 2 fowling pieces, and about 7 tons of potatoes. On November 30 he took in seven canoes from 35 to 60 feet in length, about 400 Natives, and proceeded on his second trip to the islands. There the Natives landed, and the Rodney's strange expedition was at an end. FATE OF MORIORIS. As to the fate of the Morioris; it vas stated that the unfortunate inhabitants of the islands offered no resistance to the invaders, and almost the whole of them were killed and devoured in detail by their merciless assailants. The unfortunate people were made to carry the wood and prepare the ovens in which they were to be cooked. Such of them as were destined to be eaten were laid in rows on the ground adjoining the ovens, and were killed by blows from a mere by one of the Maori chiefs. According to the account of an old sealer, however, the invaders were less barbarous than generally stated. The Maoris killed and ate great numbers of the Morioris because the^ latter were not content to be regarded and treated as slaves, but fled to the woods, from- whence they- issued at opportune times to steal the food and to destroy the canoes of the invaders. Those caught red-handed' were, of course, consigned to the oven. ,

which the great chief. Pomare figured so prominently. .

"You see," he said, "Pomare was in a bit of a. fix, for■ his,enemies were coming down on him from the North with an overwhelming force of warriors. So when the gods sent-him a pakeha brig' he decided to leave all this war business: behind him and go where war canoes couldn't reach him. No doubt the captain of,the brig didn't like the look of him, for he was a big, healthy-looking, chap with a .fine appetite, so he was persuaded to take Pomare and :his people to the Chathams. . • ;. "Why did they eat the Morioris? Simply because they were such fat, jolly-looking fellows and there was nothing else to do about it?" Captain Harewood, of the Rodney, gave his version of the episode to cariy j historians, and his words have been preserved in Brett's "Early New Zealand." The Rodney arrived at Port Nicholson on October 19, 1835, said Captain Harewood, and the Caroline, of Sydney, was then the only other vessel in port. When the Rodney brought up the Natives appeared very friendly and anxious to trade for potatoes and hogs. The captain obtained what he wanted from them, and hearing that there was a quantity of whalebone to be purchased about twenty-five miles from Port Nicholson, he sailed for the place. On reaching the appointed spot, the Natives would not part with the bone unless he would consent to take them to the Chatham Islands. The ship put v back to Port Nicholsonf with the Chief Pomare on board, the chief saying that he would compensate the captain for his loss of time with a present of some hogs, and also, two spars. There was also a quantity of hogs and potatoes on shore, which the chief requested the captain to look at. A short time after landing he discovered that some of the Natives had taken the boat from his men. He called for $ie boat to be brought back, but they refused, and, the chief told him: that the ship was taken, and he should very soon know it. . . *.: .' ' .'. ... , •...-,, ■ VESSEL SEIZED. It transpired that 300 of the Natives were on board, and they had rushed upon the crew, tied their hands behind them, saying that they did not want to hurt anyone on board or plunder the ship, but would have the vessel convey them to the Chatham Islands, as a tribe had declared war against those of Port Nicholson, and would massacre the whole of them if they remained. The captain realised that any opposition on his part would perhaps be the means of losing the vessel, or that the affair would end in bloodshed. He therefore resolved to accede to their demands and wait for a chance to recapture the brig. Some time was spent getting provisions aboard the ship and making her ready for sea, and she eventually sailed on November 14 for the Chathams with about 300 on board, and before the ship had gone any considerable distance from the shore about 600 mustered on the vessel with about 40 canoes alongside. The second officer was taken hostage by the Natives, a guarantee being obtained that the ship would return to convey the remainder to the Chathams. When the brig finally stood away there were about 500 persons, principally women and children, on board, with only three tons of water. Eventually, however, the Chatham Islands were reached, the Natives landed, and later the brig put back for Port Nicholson.

Some of the superstitious Natives had been responsible for some gruesome work while the ship was absent. They had killed several dogs and hung thenr up for the purpose, as they said, of driving the ship back to them. They also killed a young girl of about 12 years of age, cut her into pieces, and hung up her flesh to posts in the same mariner as the dogs, saying that she was the cause of their detention. For his trip the captain received in payment 2$ .tons of pork, 41 oldmuskets, 1