TWENTY YEARS’ WAIT

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

TWENTY YEARS’ WAIT

THE ATIAWAS’ REVENGE

( B y

C.M.H.)

There can be no doubt that the warlike spirit of the Maori of oldCn tinies was fostered by the desire for revenge brought about by. defeat in . previous martial engagements. History. of the people shows ■ conclusively'that in Taranaki particularly the tribes were almost continuously at variance with one another.. Jf the warriors and leaders of a tribe had not suffered reverse at the hands of, Maoris living in an adjacent district, then the priests/ would delve into the past' and reniember some ancient feud or insult that had i|Ot been avenged* This was sufficient .reason for a warlike raid. About the year 1760, so we are told by white historians .who• gathered their information front ' old tribal leaders during last century,- the Taranaki tribes living between the Sugar Loaves and Oeo soundly defeated the Ati-Awa tribes, living between New Plymouth and Pukearuhe. >

Although, the defeat sufleredy had amounted to almost annihilation . the remnant of the vanquished people were by no means conquered and there remained in their hearts a spirit of revenge. The lands of their forefathers had been ruthlessly torn from them, which is, of course, the price usually paid by the vanquished. Their ancient cemeteries and villages were in the hands of the hated conquerors, and the fugitives were compelled to keep in hiding and were unable to visit the seashore as in previous times. The posi,tion seemed desperate but these AtiAwa folk did not despair of some day again regaining -.their old territories. The old people knew that many seasons would pass before they could make any successful attempt in this direction. The young boys would have to grow to manhood and bo taught the stern art of Avar. The elders' met in- solemn, war council and decided on a very old cus- ; tom. This was called whakatupu !tangata, -which translated means “to grow •me,” and meant a postponement of revenge until the people had once more become sufficiently numerous to ensure a successful war raid to their old homes.

It was a loijg wait, over twenty years, before the full complement of warriors .could be secured by natural increase. The old warriors set about and induced the young girls to make early marriages 'and bring forth children to be trained in all; the arts of war. As the boys grew up . their time, was not spent so inuch in games as in, practising with weapons, They were taught the thrust and blow of the spear called the tao and of the wooden sword called the taiaha. This was no haphazard style of fighting, each movement, having its own special term. In fact .it has been stated that in the close-up fighting of the Maori of .old that the warriors- became more proficient and scientific’in: their methods of offence and defence than any other known- primitive people.’ This preparation for war to/ be 'undertaken' years ahead would have perhaps become irksome had not the learned old'/priests not been able to chant the ancient in-. cantatious and tell of the brave deeds wrought, of old by the forefathers of the little exiled clan. Stated- times were set aside when the people gathered in conclave to listen to the exhortations of the tohungas to the war-god Maru, re-' questing that when the time! arrived for them to strike a blow to regain their own land? they’would be favoured with success. ’

The time, eventually arrived when the forest-dwellers considered the attempt could be made. They had grown their fighting force of 340 men, The usual strength of a war party taking the trail. The fighting chiefs pf old did not favour large/war parties, as it invariably brought about disputes in leadership. If a thousand men went ion a war expedition there would be'at least, three main war-leaders.

Not only the war party but all the fugitives of the forest moved secretly towards the' seashore near the mouth of the. Waiougona- river, which lies be--tween Waitara .and, New ..Plymouth.' they reached an old pa of their people and/found -it and the surrounding country unoccupied. / This old fortification was. speedily put into proteqtive condition, and the women and children taken there for sanctuary. The warriors then proceeded to another ancient pa,' states Mr. W. H. Skinner, which is situated on a bend of the Waiongona river. This hill .was fortified in a very temporary manner; The' old Ati-Awa chief' now commanded his people to make a large bonfire of dried fern. The smoke from this fire was' observed by the Taranaki tribes then living on Marsland Hill and other fortified positions in what is now the town of New Plymouth. It is’ stated that a full thousand warriors started out io find out the cause of the smoke. Ar--, riving at the old Puketapu Pa situated; on the seashore at Bell Block they halted and sent forward a reconnoitring: party to the locality where the fire was still putting up a great deal of smoke. The scouts returned and reported that the enemy occupied a pa that should offer but lit£le difficulty to capture. The Taranaki's, overwhelmingly strong in numbers, swooped down. But .the forest dwellers knew how desperate was'Their cause and'if defeated it ’ meant overwhelming annihilation for .their warriors and for the women and children hidden near by. Then it was Seen what good work had been accomplished in growing men and practising in . the art of war for over twenty The strength of the Ati-Awa forces had been split and clever ambushes laid. On rushed the invaders to overwhelm the pa and not until the ramparts - were reached did the old leader give the order to charge. The temporary defences were swept down on to the attackers and a body of desperate men followed. So'fierce was the onslaught that the attackers were immediately checked and thrown- back down the slopes towards the ambushing parties. Brandishing their war clubs and spears and giving utterance to their war cries these hidden warriors now leapt into the fray. Caught unawares the attackers suffered exceedingly losing hundreds of men, as they retreated and tried to rally. They felt sure they were being hurled back by superior numbers and soon a complete rout; ensued. From amongst the flax and bush fresh small parties of Ati-Awa continued to join in the attack, and as the invaders lied along the beach they were slain in heaps'- by the fast pursuing men of the forest. It is computed that very few of the thousand warriors escaped, the pursuit being followed up to the mouth of- the / Waiwakaiho river. After this victory AtiAwa began to occupy their old territories unmolested and in the course of a few years regained all their old pas, cultivations, cemeteries and seafront.