THE TWO TE KOOTIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 434, 5 October 1869, Page 3

THE TWO TE KOOTIS.

-yp^* — * The fallowing letter by. Captain E. Tnke, who formerly commanded the Chatham Island Guard, .appears in the Hawke's Cay Herald: — /^3ir, — Can you inform me if there is a reward for the capture of TeKooti the Second? i.e., if the original Te Kuoti was killed at Mohaka, whether the captor of the man bearing his name would be entitled to the reward of £1000 offered by Mr Richmond for Te Kooti the First, dead or alive ? Having been for eighteen months in charge of the prisoners at the Chatham Islands, I am well acquainted with the personal appearance of Te Kooti. He is a middle-sized man, with a sinister expression of countenance, and has a slight squint. His name, "Te Kooti Ririraugi," is tattooed on his left breast. He Ims also a mark on his right posterior. He was apparently about 35 years of agc3 When at the Chaihams, Kooti was cmfUeycd as steer-oav in the Government- boat. He suddenly became ill, the doctor returning him on the sick report as consumptive. The natives, thinking he was going to die, asked for leave to remove him to a small wliare in the bush ; in fact, he was put there to die. It was there he dreamt a dream that he should be the founder of a new religion, which was a mixture of Judaism, Christianity, and Ilauhauism ; Tc Kooti, like a'l founders of new doctrines, gaining many converts, but most of tho chiefs holding aloof. He was looked upon as a man risen from the dead, for when natives are put into whares by themselves to die, they seldom recover. Kuuangas then became the fashion; for tho slightest offences punishments were inflicted — at one time even smoking was forbidden. Their religious services were carried to that extent that the authorities were obliged to interfere, particularly as they were informel by a young < hicf, Wi Muliika, that Haulmu practices were creeping in. On this information, Kooti was ordered to leave off preaching, lie wrote a very humble letter to Captain Thomas and myself, stating that if it was our wish, he would not preach again. This he kept to; Herewini Puuailangi, killed at Ngatapa, one of the Bishop of Waiapu's former teachers, taking his place, nnd re:urning again to their old doctrines. When I left the island in Februaiy, liGS, Kooti's fanaticism had vanished. One of the greatest errors committed by the late Government was releasing the chiefs, and from which, in my opinion, emanated the many evils which followed. When these chiefs were released, all authority amongst themselves was gone. Te Kouti started their fanaticism again, and all, with the exception of three, joined him. The rest of the story is an oft-told talc, as to their escape, &c. XTe Kooti the second, Karanama te Ngenga, is a tall burly savage, well tattooed on the face, about fifty years of age, and particularly well versed in Scripture. He was taken prisoner at Hungahungataroa. He fought against us at Orakau, Waikato, and Taranaki, and belongs to the Ngatiporou tribe. This man was one of the worst characters amongt the prisoners— in ray opinion, a greater villain, if possible, than To Kooti Kirirahgl. I