HOW HONGI STORMED THE GREAT WAIKATO PA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11843, 21 December 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

HOW HONGI STORMED THE GREAT WAIKATO PA.

[BY DANDENONG.] Now the fame of the Waikato Was heard through all tho land: ;So full of wile, they would beguile . The fish out on the land. The daughter from the mother. The bird from off the tree. As deep, uncertain, safe to trust As is the unstable sea; And strong as they were crafty, Of heavy hand and hard ; Who wars with the Waikato Slay look well to his guard.

A tale from out Waikato Came trailing, to our ears; A tale filled full of flaunting, Of taunting, and of sneers; The record of our bravest deeds They said was coined in sleep, And when men told them simple truth . They scoffed and bade them weep. Now, who were these Waikatos, To mock and turn to scorn The story of our glory, Our honours fitly worn?

There was a feud between us. That slumbered, might have died. Not worth a light, the cause so slight, So small, beneath our pride; And sense of injury may fade And fainter grow with years, But wakes to new and rankling lifo Stung by such whip-like sneers. So we welcomed Hongi's war-like call, " Ngapuhi, to the fray! Away to the calling southland, Away, away, away!"

Then follows a description of the vova?6 until they stood before the Matakitaii Pa, the ruins of which can still be seen on the left banks of the Waipa, near Alexandra.

This was no hill-set fastness, No bulwark raised on high. Where breath, would fail whoso would scale r.re yet the walls were nigh; For here the ground was even, All open lay and plain, And hard the fight and fought outright hre one the day might gain. Where deep-cut Mangapiko's stream Swells the clear Waipaiflow, ; » Between the two, extending: wide, Like wild beast, crouching , low, There lay the great Waikato Pa, Renowned throughout the land. As who should say: "Here fixed am I, And who shall pass me lightly by?-'-. " Or who shall me withstand?" We paddled softly by the pa, The banks were steep and sheer, Yet 'twas our lot to find a spot Where upward course was clear; We touch the strand and leap to land, Drop paddle and seize gun. Then rank on rank are up the bank, Half scramble and half run, With ne'er a. stop are on the top, And ranged in order there. With muscles knit and weapons fit, Before the foe was ware. ,But, ah! 'twas not our fortune To win at one wild dash, For in our way a barrier lay To check such onslaught rash: A deep-wrought fosse ran right across The flat- from stream to stream; A gaping gulf, a yawning grave, Enough to daunt the bravest brave. Nor did even Hongi dream That ho that way could win the day, Yet said with grimmest grin: " What keeps us out will keep them in, And 'scape me then who may." Down stream once more we paddledWhere met the rivers twain; We there once more make fast to shore, We crown the banks again. %

Here bank and ditch and stout stockade Were ranged in triple tier; The pekerangi's slighter fence, At easy cast of spear, Stood well in front to bear the brunt

Of foremost warriors' charge; Who mounts that pale must meet the hail Of darts not aimed at large. We favoured were for weapons.

They vantage had of ground; With logs of good totara Were fenced and walled around; And we were but eight hundred, And thousands two were they; Which way the victory might incline, • In faith, 'twas hard to say. But we asked no such questions, 'Tis lookers-on who doubt; Our foes were no less confident,

They hailed us with a shout. Now, who would wish for better? Two hosts of equal mind; With honour beckoning forward. And fear cast far behind! Then Hongi donned his helmet, He donned his coat of mail. To screen it sly from foeman's eye A linen vest was veil. Five guns lay ready to his hand. Five men to load them, too: The white man's skill in musketry -

Eight well the chieftain knew. The rest of us with muskets,

And axe and club and spear, Straightway essayed the palisade, And hewed an opening clear, While Ifongi and his musket.men Shot all down 011 the wall, Till not a foe dared aim a blow. Or whoso did would fall. And then there rose within the pa A wild, despairing cry; Our Hongi seized his mere And threw his musket by, Dashed to and up the outward wall, We followed in a crowd. One instant stood he on. the wall, Waikato's yells were loud, A score of spears flew at him. Struck, and rebounded wide; Unharmed he stood and smiling, Then all Waikato cried: *' O. witchcraft, witchcraft, witchcraft! *■ We answered with a shout, Then leaped with Hongi from the wall And put them straight to rout; And though 'twas but the outward wall We knew the fight was done. For once you get them started Three walls are but a3 one. Yet huge Tangataroa Fought gallantly and well. And four of our best warriors Were slain before he fell. We called up the canoe guard To share the fight, and then The rest was simple butchery, The pa a slaughter pen. And that deep trench that barred our way Became one mighty grave. Where undistinguished, mingled lay The fearful and the brave. 'Twas the mana of our Hongi, The prestige and the charm, The magic and the glamour That gave strength to his arm, That struck a chill to foemen s hearts, That dulled their courage high, Yet lent the speed of fleetest steed When dastards turned to fly. 'Twas this that lured us onward, Our bright and guiding star; The day our own, our foes lay prone, While fainthearts watched afar.