HONGI HIKA OF THE NGAPUHI,

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 22 (Supplement)

HONGI HIKA OF THE NGAPUHI,

protector of the mission. In 1820 Hongi, who had already, as we have seen, been in Sydney visited England in company with a fellow-chief namr-d Waikato and Mr Kendall, the Magistrate. During his months residence in England Ilongi was presented to King George, but was by no means impressed by a sovereign who was unable to manage one wife without the assistance of his nobles — the Queen's trial was in progress at the time* — -when he, ilongi Hika, of the Ngapuhi, found no difficulty in managing five! He observed everything, but the deepest impressions were those made by the household Iroops, the army generally, and the military stores in the Tower of London. Feted and petted by the EngM'-h Church dignitaries, who saw in this dignified, courteous Maori chief the protector of the missions, Hongi was secretly occupied

in planning for himself future glo -ious campaigns and conquests. He was never weary of listening to the recital of the Napoleonic wars. A great ambition had shaped itaelf in his mind. Tt was oppressed in Ms words- to Marsden before leaving New Zealand: "England has only one Kino- ; New Zealand shall have only one." On leaving England "King George presented Hon g i with p suit of armour and ma n y valuable present*; London society followed suit, for the native tact and digni t v of Ilongi, blood-^i 'lined warrior and cannibal as he was. hid rcndcrjd him one of the lions of the London season Presents and attentions were lcceivcd with polite pleasure, and

before society had forgotten him Hongi was back in Sydney selling and bartering his valuables for arms and ammunition. Hearing in Sydney of the death of Irs son-in-law in an intertribal fight, he discerned his immediate duty— -and pleasure — to lie in avenging the death. Early in 1822 Hongi, with 1000 followers and 300 stand of arms, embarked his war canoes at the Bay of Islands and, sailing up the Hauraki Gulf, entered the Thames. Forewarned, the Ngati-mam had entrenched themseilvos so strongly that assault was evidently hopeless. The wily Ngapuhi resorted to treachery, and under pretext of barter got some of their number admitted to the pa.. It is said that one old chief, promoted by native chivalry, lingered behind his fellows to utter the warning, "be cautious. ' Too late ' Before another day dawned 600 of the Ngati-maru were slain.. Proceeding to the Tamaki, Hongi captured another great fortified pa, and another cannibal feast marled the victory. The miserable remnant from these two pas having sought sanctuary at Matakitaki, on the Waipa River, Hoiv and his ferocious horde, fullfed with human flesh, maddened with brutal lust of victory, pursued th'-m. Out of a garrison of 4000 only 1400 escaped. From, this m-morable campaign Hongi returned — doubtless likening himself to another Napoleon — attended by crowds of sullen, sad-eyed slaves. One of the missionaries who witnessed the return of the victorious Ngapuhi declared that when their women rushed out to welcome them those who had lost relatives in the campaign avenged themselves by murdering the unresisting slaves. The entire secret of Hongi Hika's success lay, of course, m the fact that while he had firearms and ammunition his enemies were unarmed, totally dependant on the native weapons. The moral was plain, every tribe that would escape extermination must procure firearms. It wasi the survival of the wealthy and well-anned — the obliteration, of the poor and unarmed. Of what account "was birth and bravery when any mean coward possessing a gun was more powerful ? The chief of other powerful and wealthy tribes following Hongi's lead managed to obtain firearms ; inland tribes buried old bloodfeuds with the sea-coast tribes, so that they might get down to the ships to barter. In 1826 Hongi fought a despei*ate battle at Kaipara, where he must have presented a somewhat grotesque appearance clad in the suit of armour given him by King George. In 1827 he descended again on his old enemies at Whangaroa, and there received his death-wound, having omitted to wear the breastplate, though equipped with the helmet of his armour ! Hongi never recovered from this wound, though he lingered on for more than a year afterwards, and when in good form showed a grim sense of humour in entertaining his friends by making the air whistle through the bullet hole in his back ! In this raid on Whangaroa the Wesleyan missionaries (Mr Leigh and others) who 1 had settled there in 1822, received such an awful impression of utter hopelessness in their work, and the hourly peril of a horrifying death, that they removed to Hokianga. Refusing to become a Christian himself — indeed, there is something farcical m the mere idea — Hongi had ever been loyal to his white friends, and on his death-bed commanded his people to protect the missionaries and keep these holy men among them. "Good, and not evil, hasi been their work among you," sighed the old pagan, who sent his children to the mission schools, and died, surrounded by all his weapons and trophies ! Like his favourite hero Napoleon, Hongi was but a little man. Beneath a broad, intelligent forehead his eyes were at once piercing and imperious. Ambitious, unscrupulous, and undaunted, his great personal courage was backed, up by an unswerving constancy of purpose — rare in bis race — which rendered him proof against reverses and undeterred by difficulties