RAUTAO!

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20074, 31 July 1937, Page 3

RAUTAO!

A MAORI STRATEGIST

NGAPUHI OUTWITTED. AN EPISODE IN NATIVE IIISTOKY. We are indebted to an eminent student of Maori lore and history, who wishes to remain anonymous, for the following interesting account of an astute Maori strategist of early New Zealand Some of the scenes he describes were enacted not very far from Thams: —

Hotunui, one of the leading chiefs of the Tainui canoe, which arrived in New Zealand about 1350, had a son, Marutuahu, who married lline-urunga. Their son, Te Ngako, had a son, Kahuratao.

Kiwi, the son of Kahuratao, married Ngawhakawanga, of Maungatautari, and soon after the event Kahuratao made a journey to the Waikato to take possession of a carved storehouse, owned by the parents of Kiwi's wife. He was accompanied by his son, Kiwi. The pataka was dismantled, placed in a canoe, and conveyed by way of Awaroa and Manukau, to Tamaki on its way to Hauraki. Tliey took this route in order to visit the Wai-o-hua tribe of Tamaki, and there obtain some pieces of greenstone. These were two hei-tikis, Taiparoro and Whakarewa.

A Murder Plan. On his arrival at Tamaki, Kahuratao received from the Wai o-hua people the two hei tiki. These people, however, planned to murder Kahu, and sent a party to lie in ambush for him. When Kahu hacl gone some distance on his return journey he and his son Kiwi were murdered, and trie body of Kiwi was hung up in a tree at Orere Point,

Rautao, the younger brother of Kiwi, took the widow of his murdered brother to wife, and planned to avenge the death of his father and brother. At the head of a war party he attacked the Wai-'o-lfua and defeated them, taking the pas Mauinaina, Taurerere, Mokoia, Papa-o-tama-te-ra, Kohi-marama, Takapuna, Te Pupuke, Ofewa, Mahurangi, Mau-tolibra, Ti-raurau, Ufutonga, Ngaere and Pakiri.

Years after this a Ngapuhi war party from the Bay of Islands arrived at Hauraki and encamped between Puriri and Hikutaia. Kautao, wishing to join his people who were to be attacked by the Ngapuhi, made a journey to Puriri accompanied by his slave. Seeing a campfire they descended and approached the camp, hoping to finr" their people. Unfortunately, they found themselves in the camp of the enemy. They were made prisoners. On being interrogated, the slave informed the Ngapuhi that his master was the famous Pautao. The Ngapuhi were greatly excited to learn that they had captured so famous a warrior.

Battle of Wits. They questioned Rautao, asking what weapon he used when he slew so many in his battles against the Wai-o-hua people. The Ngapuhi warriors formed a ring round the redoubtable Rautao.

"Let me see that mere," he said to one of the enemy. On being handed the weapon he threw it at his feet in disgust. "Give me that tewhatewha," he said to another. Trying that weapon, he discarded it. Again and again lie selected the weapons o't: those near him, but threw them all down in apparent disgust. At last he saAV a warrior armed with a hoeroa, a long stafflike weapon of whalebone. "Ah! that is the weapon I use," he exclaimed.

Suddenly he plucked the feather adornment from the head of a Ngapuhi chief, thrust it into his own hair, and commenced an exhibition of the use of the hoeroa. This way and that he jumped, whirling the weapon in all directions. Man after man of the enemy sprang backwards or sideways to avoid the lightning strokes of Rautao's weapon. Ever the circle widened—Rautao in the centre with the discarded weapons at his feet.

A Broken Skull. Suddenly the play became real. Crash! a Ngapuhi fell with a broken skull; then another and another fell. Taken by surprise, the -Ngapuhi fell •back for a moment, in that moment, Rautao saw a weak spot in the circle, lie sprang for it. Cutting his way through, he dashed for the forest, followed by the enemy. Fleet of foot and knowing the country, he lied, outdistancing his pursuers. On and on the race continued; along the mountain ridges, through the dense forests. Gradually the pursuers fell back. Only the toughest followed in the chase. After hours of up and down hill running, Rautao gained the coast. Hero he rested on a bank of the sea-coast behind the bole of a pohutukawa tree. Soon he perceived several of his pursuers far apart, coining after him. As one came on and bent under the trunk of the pohutukawa Rautao brought his weapon with a crash on his adversary's skull, then quickly dragged the body put of sight. The next came on, only to meet with the fate of the former.

When Rautao had thus disposed of several of his leading pursuers he again resumed his flight until he reached a friendly pa at Whangamata, The Ngapuhi were outwitted.