WHERE THE WHITE MAN TREADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14103, 3 July 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHERE THE WHITE MAN TREADS.

';'•;;;. THE REVERSE. , BT. W. 8., TB XVITI. [ALL- BIGHTS RB9BBVBD.I That the Vpremier» contacts of , the white man with the brown, which ended in hostile collision, were distorted in favour of the wb'te, was suspected by every Governor of New South Wales, under whose jurisdiction New Zealafad'- then lay, before Governor W. ; Hobson invited, and the Maori consented, to be incorporated a subject of the BrHsh Crown. go firmly was this suspicion J grounded that, if possible, only discreet and humane officers were sent over to ; investigate and adjust dispute-?, which, considering the class- of men who traded with or settled among the natives, were of frequent occurrence, and also to punish the culpable. And this was the primal cause.'.which. urged the Imperial authorities tc establisht a separate protectorate and consequent law and order here. But this selection often failed of its intention. For if, ,as sometimes happened, no such reliable' officers were available, the next' best, were . tent, but hedged around with, stringent instructions, whose main tenor v.' that initiated by our illustrious navigator Captain Cok, viz., to in every cusq treat with-the natives in a spirit of conciliation, moderation, and justice, which greatly restricted the ghoulish inhumanity with which it was in those days thought quite permissible to punish native races. ' None the less, callous deviations despite such instructions did occur, and the several conflicts - which, in resentment accrued therefrom if successful, were then, and are still, shamelessly described as massacres and murders! .- - ■_ - ■ To. adjust a , proper equation between these early conflicts of flie brown and white, it is prudent to invite and listen to the native version also; and where it differs « to dispassionately adjudge the merits of the plaint, and not because it is his fortune to: be born a barbar, and the .other trained in nobler ethics, adopt a narrative in favour of the latter, because in no. instance I am acquainted with has the former's narrative appeared improbable. For the Maori had, as; warrior, the profession's code of honour; ' and though he gloried in his own success, he admired the bravo deeds ; and . successes of his enemy, vhom he | neither feared nor disparaged,; because his enemies' defeat exulted his ; personal renown. He revelled in a riri toa (combat with heroes). Such temperaments despise equivocations, petty scurrilities, and important subventions of tho truth, as applied to his exploits-with his foeman. Besides, the Maori is an inherent narrator, and in rehearsing an episode, no matter whether it exhibits lis discomfiture, he recounts the minutest incident, in the order and sequence of its happening, from cornerstone to fini.il; from origin to grand finalo. | This trait must never be discounted, when the Maori is the raconteur; • especially a chief, no matter" if he: be of high. or low degree. The application of this preamble will ; disclose itself in the ensuing history. Though what follows will contain a sex j motif, it will not be of the order we asso- j ciate with licit romantic' passion, and was excusable; in the male actor, for that his ideals, were barbaric,, and consoned with barbarian ethics, it.will resolve the, secret h'o'iv certain whys were then a, mystery, v - In the years iP.24-54, Captain Guard, of* a Hobart whaling barque, the Harriet, combined his proper pursuit with a. trade among the Maoris. , ; This.was common.in that day of ?"• uhepecialised commerce. When ,hales were scarce on the coast or the season unfortunate, why,"' then, he filled up the vacuum with" and pigs. This traffic brought him* into intimate intercourse with the , natives, and- because of his popularity for affability , and ? honest . trade/ he was known from Port : Nick to Kawhia as: " Tamatou pakeha'a, Kaari.hc tangata mau a J rongo" ' (Guard our pokeha, a man of peace). In the latter year of the above -.e brought his wife and two children with him for 'a trip, and, arriving off' Cap* Egmont, Taranaki, was driven ashore and wrecked; but himself, his' family, and crew of 28 were .rescued by the natives, and, because of his fame 'as the Maoris' friend, treated with exceeding hospitality, but which charity, - later, for ino .-which' could be ascertained, ended in quarrel, enmity, and. war. Causes there certainly existed; one was the 'crew's offensive conduct to their women, and the other and greatest my ' native % friend shall' presently explain. . ■■■ / ■■■' . ~:: .;* ■■».' - ' ■♦ ;* . *' '•■ .:•■'•

Sixty-nine years later than this opening a ship's iron deck-beam knee still stuck out at low tide, one gaunt arm ""like an inverted " L" thus—r; the other, firmly cemented in a crevice with its swollen rust; encrusted with • crreen sea lettuce; silent, glvphic symbol of disaster.in that distant long ago.- Tell me," I demanded huskily of the old man beside me, "tell me the legend of that effigy." When.he ended, I asked again: "Why, apart from the known profligacy of the seamen, ' did the Maori, contrary to his \ '-nlendid ; custom, change I goodwill into enmity? A What had the captain done?" "Nothing,. oh, son; but the manner of the -matter displayed its features thus: —>:-' : ■ ■' ..:'.; ':•., : .... It was the captain's wife; she was white and handsome, such as the Maori thought impossible could be born of man and worshipped in abject adoration; discoursing in bated reverence such points, the impious speak of ribaldry.., Thus it was to us then. Had it teen to-/lay, we might turn our heads for a surer; discernment and depart on our errands; .j because the white man's female is seldom so unhappily enfeatured, but she is fair to look upon—with other charms which agitate the flesh. But then! Enmities, quarrels,. tribe , disputes, neighbourly estrangements, what were these when laid beside a satisfying contemplation of this transcendent rarity? " Distant 'kinsfolk suddenly remembered visits promised and forgotten; into wildernesses hasted the tidings: - : ' The white mans female may be viewed, at Moturoa.' 'Of what appearance is she?' 'Oh, unspeakable ! The Maori cannot ■ propagate the like Thus .. . she acts, thus . . . and thus ... And laughs, and roosts our children on her knees; and wipes their noses and sucks their cheeks; arid gibbers,** gibbers, incomprehensible entanglements of speech'!- And.the naked rascals follow her about like petted pigs .!> Such were the inducements scattered by handfuls! .; Even inland chiefs remembered matters a. slave performed at other times! .'. Such causes for secret happiness the Maori will never see again! "Among the '" '" u ~ who came to verify by sight was a young man—whoso name for briefness shall be Tu—of splendid feature and bodily conformity. Head chief of his pa he was. His new tattoo healed and sanctified,': and toa „ (hero) for his future parts. No sooner was , the female . seen than the desire to possess her grew impunate. Day after day he came and sat, nourishing his disease, ' and devising circumventions to possess her. But such is the stoic temper of the high-born chief: never by outward deportment to indicate the storming turbulency of his soul. Yet this white female ; ... No, I will say it in my own words; do not interrupt me. '<*''. . This "white female, as is the genius of the sex, adjudging his complaint aright, by the world's interpreter, the eye; and, as is further the manner'of the sex, toyed with his distress; and when he moved to better view-points placed herself to best advantage;, until, his torture defying the prudence, of boundaries, he signified that she should flee with "hiu,! /./. "God only knows -the'shameless..cruelty of women, and why He permits them to ply their desperate, trade, of, lighting fires in man's ' cheerless soul, and when he

stretches his body in the genial" warmth to suddenly extinguish, them again! Yet this is what the woman ' did:'• Not by a moderate demeanour, not by avoidance of further stimulus, not by angered intimation that his intents were undesirable . .., . '

All this she could have done with preservation of her dignity 'and all-round- harmony . ■'■.'.-''-. but by rushing to her husband and with • tearful declamation 4 disburdening her of the insult! Her man thereon in a sex wrath,, as .of the lower beasts, and uttering vile contumely on, the offender's parentage, smote him to the earth. 4 This act, 0 friend, in our law could only be atoned by instant return of blow, and .death of the defeated. .. But Tu, ashamed of his adventure, and recognising the justice of the pakeha retort, arose and said: 'Kati; e tika aria; me whakarnutu i konei.' (Stop; you are right; let the matter end at this.) And it would have ended, only/while 'Tu was busy cleaning his nose of blood, the white man felled him to earth again and kicked and jumped upon his carcase! Then I its people came to his assistance, and grounded the ; pakeha, whereupon the local tribe and crew entered the combat to rescue their pakeha; and both parties drawing their tomahawks the scuffle became a battlefield, in which 12 pakehas were slain &nd over 40 Maoris of both tribes inclusive., sTu's tribe _ emerged victorious, and the captain and his family made prisoners! *, "' "Killed them? , Trading pakehas ; were too valuable an asset to waste on petty reprisals; they were held for ransom of one cask of powder and one keg of bullets. 'But. where am I to . get these j goods?' ' That is for you to deliberate; here your wifo and children, remain until the quittance is delivered!' And that beinj: • the only alternative, lie crossed over to Blind Bay—across there — thence to Poneko (Wellington), whence he took ship to Sydney for the .ransom of his family. There 'he"saw the Governor (Sir Richard.Bourke), and told him the doleful history." From information to hand since my conversation with my native friend, I learn that the Governor, trusting Guard's report, despatched H.M.S. Alligator, Captain Lambert, to investigate the matter and acquire the restoration/of the unfortunate captives; and especially /instructed him to rigidly refrain form any acts of puriitiori, and Oy ail conciliatory means attain • their release. Captain, Guard to accompany the ship. ..:>■ " When our people saw the ship; its boat landed, and we distinguished Kaari, we said: "He has brought the ransom; of a truth he is our pakeki,' and distended with uncommon happiness. But when, instead, only an interpreter landed, and demanded the* captives without ransom, and that in default they, would fire upon us and our villages with pu repo (cannon),.: we jetircd behind protection to consult, and we had just decided that, because of former friendships, we would release them, on unconditional" surrender, and be friends again, when suddenly Kaari and four men leaped upon us, and snatching ,up,Tu, the chief, jumped into the boat with him and pushed off. ■ There they cut off one'ear, stuffed it in his mouth, with,threats that if he did not,chew it they would: cut off, the other, and so malignantly maltreated him ■ that, being strong in agony, he wrenched himself away and leaped into the sea, where diving and swimming hard for shore,, they fired upon him as he swam till they retrieved him into the boat: again. ■_. Then they landed soldiers, upon which we deserted our pa and fled into the hills. We were prepared to surrender the captives if they would release our chief, but this they absolutely refused, and whoever showed from behind cover was fired upon. At last'.we remembered the white man's peace token, and hoisted a white cloth, whereupon. a boat was sent ashore, and we delivered up the wife and one child— other was in a distant pa, there phced protectively iroin angry kindred in our •sk* , d that our 'chief be restored r.s, while moefcengrs were sent to fetch tue other. ■;, For reply, they hoisted our chief Tu by his,middle to * the" yard;- that there he w/uild remain until ■■the other child w«s brought; where we saw him twirling and swinging in the air. When at last tae : child arrived 'Tu was lowered into a boat and sent ashore; but before it touched land we we're ordered to a distance. Then Tu was landed; • a man drew his sword, and, cutting off our chieftain's head, - kicked it toward our direction, and sailed away!

" And the only vue, my son, who interceded for humanity, was his former captive, the captain's wife! Curious !"