TE UIRA

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1923, Page 9

TE UIRA

A TALE OF REVENGE

[Specially Written for the News by

"Tohunga.”)

Towards the elose of the eighteenth ? etntury tnure .«ved in Maungatautari. situated m the tribal lands of Agnti®aUfc}rJ' R l ‘ ie d ‘kato basin, a chief juned Mo ? troa, descended from an il-J lustrvUs line Jvnose founder had com? | over from fiawaiki in the canoe-' ‘Tamui. The beautiful and fertile dis- J trier was rich in the eels and birds, so I ' a *®J s^ ar « | tar Ar le Io supply, while the j land pe*de-T abundant crops of kumara ; and taro. Scon the tribe became so ' sz ouDiti -ji: ■> and powerful that its friendEm) and alliai^c e were sought in peace, and its hostility :eared and avoided in - g war. It A traditional friendship had long betweeh Ngati-Raukawa and MNgatitoa oi Kawhia. Not only were MV .these tribes united by blood, their ann cestors having come over in the same B canoe from the old land, but also the k maritime position of the territories of bf the one, and the inland position of lhe other were of great mutual service and | convenience. Hence there was a constant of visits, while intermarriages were common. When Ngatitoa sent out a taua. or war party, many of the high-spirited youth of Ngati-Raukawa.< joined, while many a young Ngatitoa learned the rudiments of warfare wMle serving with NgatiRaukawa. At the time e when our story opens Hoturoa and a company of his friends and relatives, among them his eldest «jta, Tautara. then a boy of some ten years old, were on a visit to Kawhia Several other visitors were there also, including a party returning home from Kaipara to Manawatu and Whanganui-a-Tara (now Wellington). This party vvte composed chiefly of Ngati-Ira, who occupied the .whole of the southern end of the North Island. Several days were apent in the usual hospitable entertainment provided for visitors, and the southern party had announced its intention of departing on a certain day by canoe. When the inhabitants of the pah got up in the morning of the previous day, the visitors were nowhere to be found. A visit to the water-side showed that their three canoes were gone. There was now on doubt that the southern people had departed long before daylight. This somewhat strange conduct was explained by a Ngatitoa, who reported that the visitors had reiated in great detail their well-grounded fears that, if they did not slip away quickly and quietly, their return would be cut off by a hostile party from the ! * north.

For the time being this explanation was accepted, such things being by nn means unusual in olden Maori times. The true reason of the secret and hurried departure was evident a day or two later, when Hoturoa's precious greenstone mere, Te Uira, was nowhere to be found. This mere had been captured some ten generations previously by an ancestor, who took part in a tana, which raided the northern districts of the South Is-* land. The natives of that district, be dng able to secure supplies of the treasured pounamu. had specialised in the manufacture of weapons and ornaments made of this substance. Hence they were always liable to attacks from the North Island tribes, who had no such supplies. For the ten generations, during which Te Uira had been in the possession of Hoturoa’s ancestor?, it had always been wielded where the combat raged most fiercely, and the flashing as the death-blow was delivered gave it its appropriate name of “lightning.” Great was the grief and consternation of the whole tribe at the loss. The sue den and mysterious disappearance of tee visitors caused suspicion to be irnmed’.ately fixed upon them. Evidently a concerted plot had been carried out to steal the precious mere, and this plot had succeeded only too well. In the mind of the old-time Maori indignation iwaa always at once followed by a thir-t for revenge. Therefore an expeditic n in canoes was immediately organise!, and started'in pursuit. • But. unfortunately for the pursuers, the long start of the fugitives had been further favored by a calm sea and just sufficieitt wind behind to enable them to get tco

far ahead. After going as far as Ngamotu, and hearing nothing of the three canoes, the avengers returned to Kan - hia. During their absence inquiries had e» tabrished the fact that the real culpr t was Raumati. an inferior chief of Ngat-.-Ira, who had. like Jason ot old. enlisted the aid of a lady to accomplish his object. Parewai. being a member of Hoturoa’s household, was well acquainted with all the domestic arrangement;, and knew where all the treasures were kept. She N had contracted something more than a mere friendship with Raiimati, and had allowed herself to be persuaded to assist him to get possession of Te Uira. This she did by secreting it in evening under some brush-word judt outside the door of the whare occupied by Hoturoa. Raumati hod thenfore nothing to do but to go stealthily to the spot and make off with the treasure. Anticipating a disturbance and a hue and cry. Parewai had her story ready, that she had overheard some of the Ngati-Ira people mention the mere, and say something which she. at the time, could not understand-, about “taking the kakariki parroque*.) out of its nest in the hollow tree.” The meaning of these words was. of course, cleared up- by subsequent events. Heavy at heart, and unable for the present to revenge, his loss, Hoturoa went home to Maungatautari. There he had much to occupy his time and his thoughts, but Te Uira was never absent from his mind. Could he but recover it, and remove the disgrace he had brought upon his illustrious line, he would die happy. So far as he con'd gee his only hope was in his son. Tautara was now growing to be a fine, sturdy boy of great promise. He was carefully instructed in all the lore of a chiefly house, and exercised in all the arts of war and the chase. But ovr and above all this, his father never ceased inculcating the duty of taking a atern revenge upon Ngati-Ira, and of recovering Te Uira. The first ten of fifteen years of the nineteenth century were passed in comparative peace by the powerful Ngft-ti-Raukawa. There were, of course, the Usual small expeditions, the killings the eatings; but there was no serious tribal war. Rumours, however, began to penetrate the country that white m m far away in the north had brought dead- ’ ly weapons, which gave them control of thunder and lightning. It was furtier rumoured that some of the Ngapnhi had managed to secure some oi those terrible weapon* against wh??h the “rak"” Mf»«ri’ ? (Maori weapons) jpere of amah avail. Later cj .ae con-

firmation of these tidings; in fact, Ngapuhi had attacked the tribes at the Thame-, and were threatening to attack the Waikato tribes almost at the very doors of Ngati-Raukawa. Then it was learned that Waikato had secured from white men seme of the coveted new weapons.

Therefore it was with double eagerness that Tautara begged a place in a taua that '.vats about to go south on a more killing expedition. ' It might be possible to take due revenge on NgatiIra. and perhaps even recover Te Uira. The taua had come down from Hokianga. and was commanded by the famous Tamate Waka Nene. Putting into Kawhia for a rest, and to secure fresh supplies. Tarnate had invited the still more celebrated Te Rauparaha, then chief of Ngatitoa, to accompany him with a chosen band of warriors. As he had no special occupation on hand at the time Te Rauparaha was only too glad to join in an expedition so much to his taste. He therefore selected a number of suitable men, and gladly found a place for the son of his old friend. The taua proceeded south, partly by land and partly by sea, attacking and capturing pahs here and there on the line of march; always following up a victory by a cannibal feast. None of the strongest or largest pahs were attacked, as the taua consisted of only some three hundred men. It had, however, two of the dreaded “pu,” and these struck* awe into the Taranaki and west coast tribes, who for the first time heard the report of firearms. After passing Whanganui, Rangitikei and Manawatu, the taua at last entered the tribal lands of , Ngati-Ira. Tautara, who had thoroughly entered into the spirit of the expedition, comporting himself as a seasoned warrior, and a valiant trencherman, was now filled with eager desire to accomplish the main object of his adventure. Raumati was known to be somewhere at Whanganui-a-Tara; but to find him was the difficulty. The arrival of fugitives had warned Ngati-Ira of their peril and every preparation was made to meet the coming danger. Weapons were prepared, provisions stored and fortifications strengthened. At last the storm burst. The invaders proved irresistible. Pah after pah was captured, the wretched defenders who escaped fleeing naked arid defenceless to the hills and forests, and leaving the captives to a worse fate. In an attack On a small pah by a detachment of the taua, Tautara had the good fortune toj ascertain from a prisoner that Raumati was present, and had in h s possession Te i Uira. It can easily he imagined how the zeal and fury of our hero was inflamed. In the actual assault he was the first to climb the palisading and to enter the pah; but, to his intense morrificafion, it was discovered that Raumati and some of his friends, seeing that resistance was hopeless, had sl-pped out of rhe rear, and had narrowly escaped captura He had, however, been pointed out to ; nis inveterate foe by sone of his fellow warriors, who a year or so previous had visited Whanganui-a-Tara. The victors pursued the fugitives, but »’n vain, as the fitter took to the bush-cov-ered hills, and 'made their way across the R’mutaka Ranges into the Wairarapa, where they wpre hospitably received by the Ngati-Kahjungunu tribe. There Raumati was safe; for the time being. After having glutted their appetite for killing, the taiia returned northwards. Te Rauparaha. realising the danger that threatened his-tribe from the better armed and more numerous northern and Waikato tribes, carefully examined the Manawatu country,; with a view to the future conquest of a* new home.

In due timel the warriors reached home, and settled ddwn to their former life. But Tautara by r*> means gave up his project of revenge, and of recovering the lost mre. Therefore, when, a year or two later, Fe Rauparaha had completed his arrangements to convey the whole of the Ngatitoa tribe to Manawatu, he gladly enlist* d once more.. It was in September, 1821, that Ngatitoa, led by Te Rauparaha, left the ancestial lands at Kawhia, and sef out on the long journey to Manawatu. Behind the ad-vance-guard travelled the women and children, while the rear was covered by Te Rsuparal'.a in person with a body of picked warrijra. one of whom was Tautara. After a difficult and dangerous march through hostile country the first long halt was made Urenui. There on lands assigned t hern by Ngati-Mutunga plantations were made f order to secure provisions for the rest H the journey. But anxiety to pay off old scores, as well as she|r lust cf fighting, brought upon the emigrants a formidable force of Waikato and'allied tribes under the leadership of Te r herowhero, afterwards Kug Pofatau I. Between the Mimi and Urenui Rivers took dlace the great battle of Te Motonui, in which the pursuers were completely defeated. In this battle our b j ro was ever in the forefront, wielding his taiaha and leading attacks. The defeat of Waikato afforded Te Rauparaha an opportunity to make further preparations and to push on towards his goal. The Taranaki tribes, besides all being friendly, not only rendered valuable assistance, but actually supplied a small number of warriors to the wanderers. Passing through Waitara the taua plunged into the bush country by the old track, and following pretty much the line of the present railway, finally.emerged at Ketemarae, near Normanby. The next objective was Pafea. Here there took place between the residents and the emigrants a quarrel, which resulted in several deaths on both sides. At Waitotara further troubles arose, and the usual mutual killings and eatings took place. A number of canoes were taken, and used to convey manv of the old men, women and children as far as Whanganui, while the fightingmen went i by land. In charge of the canoe party was Te Rauparaha himself. By his tireless activity, courage, resource and lovaltj T Tautara had completely won the confidence and favour of his commander, and was consequently ’entrusted with ever increasingly important commissions. But, in spite of his interest in his present occupation and of his devotion to his leader, never for one moment did he forget his great ambition—revenge and the recovery of the precious mere. If the taua met with the consistent success that so far had attended it, there were high hopes that Ngati-Ira would be completely subjugated ar.d that Te Uira would be recovered either by conquest or by diplomacy. After d little fighting at Wnanganui, the taua passed on through Rangitikei, finally reaching Manawatu. and halted at Ohau. The residents of the district received the new arrivals with great friendliness, and invited Te Rauparaha and some of his

followers to visit one of the pahs to discuss the matter of the promised gift of some canoes. The occasion was celebrated by a great feast, and much talk ensued. The guests retired for the night into whares some distance apart. Tautara was lodged in a remote part of the pah. At midnight an attack was made by the treacherous hosts, knd most of the visitors were killed. Te Rauparaha, dashing through the walls of the whare in which he was lodged, managed to reach his friends at Ohau naked. Tautara was not so fortunate. As he dashed out of the door of his whare he received a severe wound in the thigh from a spear. He fell and was left unobserved in the darkness and confusion, but managed to crawl through an opening in the rear of the pah, and to hide himself in the neighbouring bush. There he lay concealed until the following evening, when, faint from loss of blood and paip, he made his way towards Ohau. Two days and nights were spent on the journey, but finally he fell in with some of his comrades, who assisted him to the camp. Te Rauparaha, as his son tells us, “grew dark in his heart towards Muaupoko,” the tribe which had attacked him. No less dark was the heart of Tautara, both being quite unmindful of the fact that the offence of Muaupoko was the fact that they had struck first. Revenge against Muaupoko, for the time being, displaced the long-standing anger against Raumati.

Tautara, however, was unable to accompany his leader for time, as his wound was seriously inflamed. It can readily hv understood that the ancient Maori weapons were apt to cause severe septic wounds. Therefore while the invaders harried the unfortunate Muaupoko from end to end of their country, our hero felt it hard to lie still, and take no part in the conquest. Blftt with a vigorous frame and perfect health he gradually recovered, but it was almost a year before he was able to take hi# place in the ranks once more. By this time the Manawatu country had been thoroughtly subdued, and the unfortunate survivors of the conquered tribe were almost all enslaved or driven back into the recesses of the forest or into the wooded ranges. A few, however, had fled to their friends the Ngati-Ira of Whan-ganui-a-Tara. This fact, together with the lust for further conquests, prompted Te Rauparaha and his allies to extend the sphere of their ambition. Moreover, fresh recruits from Taranaki were constantly arriving and demanding a share in the killing. Therefore a formidable expedition was ► fitted out, and an attack made. The presence of whalers in Cook Strait had enabled Ngatitoa to secure a certain number of fire-arms and ammunition. In spite of the gallant resistance of Ngati-Ira, they were overcome with great slaughter. Pursued up the Hutt Valley by their relentless foes; most of the survivors made their escape into the Wairarapa over the Rimutaka Range. Foremost among the invaders was Tautara,, who for a second time seemed to have’ the object of his quest within his grasp. As the result of careful inquiries he had ascertained that Raumati was living in a strong pah in the Hutt Valley, near the present settlement of Belmont. A determined assault carried the pah, and the usual cannibal feast followed. But, once more, Raumati had escaped: A small body of Ngati-Ira were cut off from the main line of retreat, and made their way along the ranges till they reached a spot overlooking Waikanae. After suffering the severest privations they were driven down by hunger into the lowerlying country.

Every step led them into fresh dangers. At one time they almost stumbled on to a detachment of Ngati-toa, and were saved only by their superlative skill in forestcraft. Visits to potato and kumara plantations were fraught with the gravest danger, but hunger had to be appeased. The rivers and swamps supplied eels, while on one occasion a child was caught, and carried off into the depths of the forest to be eaten there. In this precarious existence Raumati shared to the full. He knew well that upon his head was set a special price, and that no means of securing him would be neglected by his foe. To trust a friend was almost as dangerous as to trust a foe; for to the old-time Maori warrior treachery was a perfectly legitimate weapon. Through all his adventures and perils he carried with him Te Uira, securely fastened to his person by a stout flaxen cord. One day a ship was discovered lying off the coast near Waikanae. If only the hunted few could reach her and board her, they would be safe. They, therefore, made their way with great caution to the belt of sand-dunes that here line the coast. In order to be near a supply of good water they took up a hiding-place as near as they dared to a small stream. It so happened that a boat had put off from the ship to get supplies of fresh water from this very stream. To go openly to the pakeha sailors would be too risky; a suggestion w T as made to massacre the crew, seize the boat and make for Te Wai Pounamu, the South Island. This was rejected, as the whites were armed with muskets. It was finally decided to wait till night-fall and then swim off to the ship. Just at dusk it was found that only three, one of whom was Raumati, were courageous enough to make the attempt. Retaining only their weapons and a w’aist-cloth the three set off on their long swim. The sea was calm, but a strong current along the shore carried them considerably out of their course; but still they struggled on. At last one of them thoroughly exhausted gave up the struggle. The other two after battling for some hours with the sea reached the ship quite worn out. To their great joy they found that one of the boats had been left in the water. Into this they climbed, and called out to the pakeha. So quietly had they left the water and entered the boat that the look-out had not observed them. As soon as their shouts were heard, they were hauled on board and closely questioned. Some of the crew’ having a slight smattering of Maori were able to make out the plight of their risitors. The captain next dav sailed for the whaling station of Tp Awaiti, in Queen Charlotte’s Sound, and there landed the tw ? o Ngati-Ira. They made their w*ay to Kaikoura, and then on to the great Ngai-tahu pah of Kaiapohia. There they settled down and became quite domiciled as members of that community.

The incidents of the capture of Kapiti, the battle of Waiorua, the sack of Kaikoura must all be passed over as having no immediate connection with our story. But in 1830 the northern invaders invested Kaiapohia. The garrison held out heroically for some time. In the defence Raumati, still cherishing Te Uira, bore his part manfully. Every attack was reputed, until the palisading that defended one side of the pah was burned down. Immediately the invaders rushed in, and a dreadful slaughter ensued. When the fight was over, among the dead gathered together for the usual cannibal feast was Raumati. His tireless enemy, who for years had known of his escape to Kaiapohia, had sought diligently for him. and here at last, after ten years of waiting and hunting, he was avenged. Te Uira, too, was recovered. The one great thing now was to -return as quickly

as possible to Maungatautari with the precious offering to his aged father. After scouring the district round about Kaiapohia, the northern taua returned to Manawatu. Tautara at once set off for the old home. He travelled by way of Whanganui, Patea and through the forest-track inland of Mt. Egmont, and finally reached Waitara. There he joined a small party of Ati-awa people who were on their way to the Waikato. On the fourth day after leaving Waitara the party reached Mokau. There they were treacherously set upon by a party of Ngati-Maniapoto, their traditional foes. Nearly the whole party were killed, and Tautara was once more severely wounded in several places. He managed to crawl to a place of safely, still treasuring the precious mere. When day broke he found himself at some little distance from the scene of the massacre and safe in the scrub. Fearing to keen to the beaten track he tried to make his way home across the rough country further inland. For several days he struggled on, ever growing fainter from want of food and loss of blood. Finally he could go no further. Seeking a sheltered and secluded spot he lay down, and there alone his spirit took its flight to Reinga. Many years passed. Onlv a few of the old warriors were left. The pakeha was penetrating to every recess of the land, and old New Zealand was no more. A party of sportsmen out pigeon shooting in the country between Mokau and Maungatautari came across a few scattered bones, and by their side a gleaming mere pounamu.