CRUCIFIED ON COAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

CRUCIFIED ON COAST.

RUNANGA’S STERN DECREE. SEQUEL TO RIVALRY IN LOVE.

Upon the beach at Aim Aku (East Coast) there was to he seen in 1 he 80’s an old six pounder iron cannon. a relic from the wreck of a whaliu<r bri< T which foundered there in or about the year 1830. It was, subsequently, brought into a strange action. Two young warriors of different sub-tribes, were rivals m 1854 for tho I'umd of a girl of the village. Hot words ensued and blows followed, one, Tukeko, “being struck down, by tho tomahawk of the other. Not content with having slain his rival, the murderer Alatohe struck eff his head cud placed it upon a stump, where it was afterwards found by relations who. at mice took up arms to exact eta •(payment). The wav party caught (lie murderer and took him to Aku Aku to expiate this crime. On their r yrt. 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 up by the .besieged. After some fighting, a parley was called and a council of war was arranged to try the criminal and it was deckled that he should expiate his crime in view of both parties. His sentence mas crucifixion. A cross was framed at i the corner of the village and the victim was impaled. After he had been suspended fer some time a firing party from each tribe was told off and they poured volley after volley into his 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.