CRUCIFIED ON COAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

CRUCIFIED ON COAST.

EUNANGA’S STERN DECREE, SEQUEL TO RIVALRY IN LOVE. Upon the beach at Aicu Aku (East Coast) there was to be scon in ihe 80’s an old six pounder iron cannon, a relic from tiie wreck of a whaling'brig which foundered there in or about- the year 1830. It was, subsequently, brought into a strange aci ion. Two young -warriors of different sub-tribes, were rivals in 1854 for the hand of a girl of the village. Hot words ensued and blows followed, one, Tukeke, ‘being struck ciowiq by the tomahawk of the other. Not content with having slain his rival, the murderer Matohe struck off his head and placed it upon a stump, where it was afterwards found by relations who, at cnce took up arms to exact util (payment). The war party caught 1-be -murderer and took him to Aku Aku to expiate this crime. On their \yiri, his people attempted to rescue him but, upon nearing the village, they were received with volleys of stones, emitted from the muzzle of the iron cannon which had been rigged no by the.besieged. After some fighting, a parley was called and a council of war was arranged to try tlio criminal and it was decided that he should expiate his crime in view of both parties.' His sentence i<\as crucifixion. A cross ivas framed at the corner of the village and the victim was impaled. After he had been suspended for some time a firing party from each tribe w r as told off and they poured volley after volley into ill's body until his death agonies ceased. This form of execution was no doubt suggested from the Scriptures which had only just about that time been introduced.