CHAPTER XVIII.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8315, 13 May 1905, Page 2

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ASSAXTLT.

. Graham stood among the group of Kaipara warriors watching the invading Ngapuhi enter the kumara fields. "I fear they will destroy the growing crops, and all your labour for months past will be lost," said the young Englishman, apprehensively. " But they are not ready for digging," answered Te Puia.

" Will they not destroy them so that jou shall get no benefit by-and-byo?" " Nay, that would be a selfish , trick. — ~e Ngapuhi are brave warriors, not thieving slaves. Besides, if they destroy our, kumara crop, we shall starve next winter." .. . '

■"Is not that what they want—to destroy you?" "If we died of starvation there would he none left to fight with next summer. We Maoris do not fight to get rid of each other, but for the sport of killing."

"Verily, you are a strange people!" thought Graham, "and with all your savagery and cannibalism can teach us Europeans a lesson in ohivalry."

. The latest news received that evening from the scouts reported that the Ngapuhi were in deadly earnest and resolved to attack the pa without delay. They were encamped on the Waikorau River, and occupied the flat beside the giant kauri, just below Parahaki. Pomare estimated them at twelve hundred strong, at which news many a cheek blanched. What could they do against suoh a host? A runner was ordered to start next morning, before the sun appeared over the distant Tangi-hua Mountains, for Koromiko, to apprise their friends of the imminent attack on Parahaki. ■

Hauraki, hearing how despondent were bis followers upon the receipt of these alarming reports, addressed them thus: v ■;'

"Do I hear the quavering voice of fear among the once dauntless Kaipara? Nay, it cannot be I My ears must be failing and betray me as do mine eyes. Place not too much relianoe in these reports of the enemy's strength. Peril is ever' magnified by r amour. I dare swear they have no more than eight hundred warriors if the truth were revealed. I know these Ngapuhi, and have beaten them in many- battles. Have I hot been in straits compared' with which this is merely child's play? Courage, my children! Did not the prophecy say that N gapuhi should not prevail P i Our pa has never been oaptured ; it is easy of defence ; but should the enemy make good his footing in it, you must be cut off to a man, for there is no retreat. See, therefore, that your weapons are in good trim and craven fear banished from your hearts, else, before yon sun again sets will ye be cooking in the Ngapuhi ovens. This is my word,"

The mournful note of the tetere was again heard through the night, disturbing tiie silent watches with its horrid blare. At daybreak the messenger, urged by Te Puia to travel at speed, left for Koromiko, and before the sun gilded the distant peaks of Tangihua every man was summoned by the sonorous pahu (war gong) to his post. Graham, .armed with his new weapon, stood by Hipara at the southern gate. Te Puia, posting his movable column just without' the citadel, made a circuit of the pallisades to see that no point had been left unguarded. Hauraki, with, a staff of half a dozen boys, who acted as his messengers, had supreme command; he wag also assisted by Toana, Hirawani, and other women. Rokino, with his sixty j held the nprth gate, on the side of which the Ngapuhi were expected to deliver their first attack.

They had not long to wait. Pomaro's soouts soon oame yelling up the path, closely pursued by an advance party of the enemy. All was wild confusion, and Hipara sent Graham to the citadel for news of the uproar.

Rokino was standing with the gate open, ready to admit his comrades, when Graham arrived on the scene. He saw that it would be touch and go with Pomare; tfye enemy were close on his heels, and gaining every minute. "Run, Pomare, run!" shouted Rokino, in encouragement. All fives were riveted, on the : race. Half a dozen young Kaipara were hotly pursued by twenty Ngapuhi. Pomare turned to encourage his comrades, the last a slim youth, almost spent with running!

'/Quick, Tawere (morning star) l Seel The gate stands open. Another fifty yards, and thou art safe 1"' . * Tawere glanced up and saw his friends at the gate; but that glance was fatal. Striking his foot against a root, he fell forward^ and before he could recover himself his pursuers, yelling like so many demons, were upon him. In a moment half a dozen spears pierced his back, and his skull was crushed like an egg shell by Kahu's mere-paraoa (whalebone club).

The slaying of Morning Star checked the pursuit for a moment, and gave Pomare and the rest of his scouts time to enter the gate. Kahu, the Ngapuhi chief, inflamed with the lust of killing, led his followers up to the ditch.

"Gome forth, ye cowardly dogs! Come out and fight like men!" he shouted. "Our ovens are already heated^ and before yon sun sets the head of Pomare shall be cooked."

The garrison's reply to this defiance wa* a volley of missiles, which forced the Ngapuhi to retire. They; did so, however, in good order, dragging with them the body of Tawera. Graham could not see what took place from where he stood, but he distinctly heard the bold defiance of Kahu ; it was also heard by tho old Tohunga, whose eyes kindled with anger. *' liisten," said Te Puia. hunga is about to prophesy." "Vain boaster V' called out the priest. "Pomare, uninjured, shall see the sun set: ere it hath reached the

"The to-

zenith thy blood shall quicken the hearts of our warriors."

" What hath so roused the r> r i es t's anger?" asked Graham.

" Didst thou not hear the unpardonable insult of Kahu? He referred slightingly to a chief's" head; that is the deadliest affront, which nothing but blood will avenge." Rokino, witness of Tawera's death, heard also the terrible insult.

" Are we to stand idly by while these dogs of Ngapuhi insult our braves?" be cried to his companions. "Come, let us be revenged ! Who will follow me?" He turned towards the gate, attended by all who heard the summons.

"Hasten!" be cried, rushing through the narrow gate- way. "They have slain the first man. Recover his body, or the fates will be against us." • Rokino and his thirty followers, rending the air with their battle cries, rushed through the narrow opening. Spreading out, after crossing the ditch as far as the ground would permit, they dashed on the foe, with whom they were soon engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict. The' Kaipara were not only fresh, but had the advantage of higher ground. The Ngapuhi, on the other hand; had not recovered their wind after the chase up hill; consequently, the encounter, though sharp and bloody while it lasted, soon terminated in favour of the Kaipara. "Kill ! kill ! Sweet is man's flesh !" yelled Rokino, raisipg on high his bloody mere, as the enemy fle<T panicstricken down the steep declivity.

For a hundred yards he followed, his terrible club crashing through the skull of Kahu, the hawk-eyed leader, and breaking the neck of another in that short distance ; but, afraid of encountering the main body, whose cries could be neard close at hand, he recalled his party and returned in^ triumph, bearing with him ten of the slain, together with the body of Morning Star. Graham witnessed the return of the victorious warriors. Rokino, hero of the hour, his dark skin glistening in the sun after such tremendous exertions, was drunk with victory. Had he not slain, with his own hand, Kahu, keen of sight, the giant leader who had wielded his mere-paoroa with such deadly effect on their young scout, and had had the temerity to insult Pomare so foully P He danced round his slain enemy with wild gesticulations : then, suddenly stooping down, he plucked out his eyes aud swallowed them, and his companions began to devour the flesh while still warm. Thus was fulfilled the tohunga's prophecy 1 Graham, horrified by the disgusting spectacle, turned away and joined Hipara by the southern gate. "What ails thee?" asked his companion, noting the white man's scared look. " Hast thou seen an evil spirit ?" "I have Been worse; I have seen a human demon I" Graham, trembling all over, sat down, and buried his' face in his handsj while a cold sweat broke out upon his forehead. "It is horrible!" he exclaimed.

"Surely, the great white tpa is not afraid P" said Hipara, surprised at seeing him display all the Bignß of fear. Nay, I fear not the foe. I am ready to meet him on the instant. But I could not treat a fallen enemy as doth Rokino."

" What strange country dost thou come fromP" asked Hipara, when Graham explained what had so revolted him. Rokino was only performing the sacred rite of the victor in battle."

When Graham thought it quietly over he was foroed to the conclusion that the Maori had a grim consistency about him, there was no denying it. He firmly believed that by eating his enemy he acquired his strength and oourage. This warrior whom Rokino had slain, Kahu, the hawk, had been leader of the advance guard of the Ngapuhi. He doubtless had the sharpest eyes of the whole tawa (war party), and, as good eyesight t was 009 of che most necessary endowments of a great chief, what .could be more natural than Rokino' s desire to possess this coveted, qualification; and here, as it were, he could have it for the picking up. . Another revolting oustom, which he fortunately escaped witnessing, was described by Hipara. The heart of the first slain is torn out, and, after being cooked, divided among the leading warriors. Any neglect of this rite, iiipara told him, would ensure defeat.

Te Puia, encountering Graham in his rounds, advised that he should keep out of Rokino's way. To so great a pitch had his arrogance grown since the recent sortie that he talked openly of superseding Hauraki in his command,, and leading the Kaipara out of the pa against their' enemies, and that he would not fail to wreak his vengeance on the white man the first time they met. Hipara, actuated by this warning, kept Graham screened by his own men cloße to the south gate. The enemy remained quiet for an hour after their reverse, keeping only a small advance guard in sight, who watched every movement in .the pa. where a sentinel on the fighting platform kept those within informed of any movement among the NgapuhJ. , " By the appearanoe of the advance guard someone is approaching," called the watchman. "Be on your guard, Kaipara I"

His warning ran rapidly round the defences, . and all listened in breathless silence. Presently the watobinan held up his hand and called upon them to listen. • .

After an interval there waa borne upon the wind a measured chant, faint at first, but growing more and more distinct every moment. Nearer and nearer it came, until . the 1 powerful voice — monotonous and pitched in a high, quavering key — of. him who sang tne war song could be distinguished. Then the measured chorus from a thousand sounding throats, indicative of terrible earnestness of purpose, vibrated through the air, until it was heard by every soul in the pa. Soon the dark column appeared in sight, and paused a few moments on reaching the open ridge/ With a shriek, the singer leaped forward, pouring tor^h his song of defiance, while the rest knelt on one knee, with heads averted and eyos fixed on the eartß, The singer ceased abruptly and stood motionless as a statue. No sound was heard from the kneeling host for the space of a full minute, then a longdrawn sigh, as of a lost soul, /quivered through the column, and after a second pause was repeated.

Again the song broke forth, the warriora leaped to their feet, and ihttantly commenced their terrible wardance. Brandishing Iheir weapons as one man, with features contorted out of all human semblance, only the whites of their eyes visible, and with tongues lolling out, they leaped and yelled, all in exact time, like so many demons loosed from the lower regions. «s the whole column bounded into the air simultaneously, slanping their thighs with the left band, and again struck the earth, the very ground shook with the impact.

Th" Kaipara, waiting their turn, raised an answering song, bnt it did not delay the Ngap.uhi a moment. On came the dark column with an undulating movement, like some huge reptile, straight for the pa. Reaching the ditch, undeterred by the shower of missiles, it^ divided? and, sweeping' round, on either band, delivered the assault on' both sides simultaneously^ The uproar was indescribable, for the' savages used every artifice to stimulate their own courage and at £he same,intimidate the enemy. Threats, oaths and vows of vengeance were fi-eely ea> \ changed between the opponents. '*' I ■• vrill drive thy yellow teeth down thy throaty thou Ngapuhi dog !"

shouted a young chief, hurling his spear at a grizzled old warrior below. "Not so fast, vain boaster!" yelled an old cannibal, escaping the hissing shaft by a hair's breadth. "With these same teeth I ate thy father, and if I'm spared, pray heaven, will eat thee also!"

" Come on, tbou valiant Rimu I" screamed the old warrior with a head like a mummy. " Why dost thou tarry, 0 nodding pine? My slaves baked the renowned Hongi, the grandfather, and cooked the heart of his son, Heke. Come near tbat I may slay thee also, and make skewers from thy bones to fasten my cloak !'

"Our guides have led us astray!" shouted Rimu, in defiance, at the same time slashing at the toro-toro which bound the palisades. "This is not the stronghold of the Kaipara, a worthy foe, who ever met us bravely in the open! 'Tis some thieving tribe of rats that squeal within their nests!"

Ihiring a whole hour the furious conflict continued. The Ngapuhi more than once broke in,' and were only driven back, after desperate. fighting, '"by Te Puia with his reserve. Had the Ngapuhi been better led, and broken into the pa simultaneously from both sides, it would have gone bard with the garrison. After losing 6ixty men, the attacking force withdrew in good order, bearing most of their dead with them. The beads of the slain chiefs, after being dried, would be carried baok to their own country, while the bodies of the less notable warriors were buried secretly, lest the Kaipara should disinter and consign them to the oven. All these details were explained to Graham by Hipara, who had stood idly at the southern gate.

"Why should they object to our cooking their dead warriors?" asked the white man.

"Their wives and relatives would look upon it as a great indignity." " I see," said Graham, doubtfully. "It is considered an indignity to have your own relatives eaten, though to eat another man's is something to be proud of. Well, if lam .not eaten first; I suppose I shall understand your Maori customs some day." Rokino was restrained with difficulty from making another sortie, and had to content himself with shouting opprobrious and insulting epithets after the retreating foe. Old Hauraki, giving none a moment's respite, ordered the defences to be instantly repaired, and those places where tJie Ngapuhi had broken in to be strengthened by the erection of further works.

Twenty men had been killed during the assault, and but six wounded. The slain, in Maori warfare, usually far outnumbered the wounded, as quarter was neither given nor expected. Graham assisted Toana in attending the wounded, and was surprised to seeth&f; no preparation had been made for such a contingency; not even a supply of dressed" flax for banadages. Toana told him that to make such provision beforehand would be considered most unlucky, and ensure their defeat. On returning to his post his attention was attracted by the" dismal wailing of an old woman. She stood before the corpse of Tawera, her son. In her skinny fingers she grasped a flake of obsidian, keen and sharp as a razor. With every mournful cry she drew the knife relentlessly across her skin, cutting so deeply as to cause the blood to flow. All her actions were timed to the rhythm of her funeral dirge.. Ever and anon she changed her hand, until jface, breast ana arms were scored in every direction and the blood dripped down from her fingers. Several other women standing near added their' dismal cries to the poor mother's lament, and occasionally scratched themselves with knives or pieces of shell, but so slightly as scarcely to,, draw the blood. Before the defences were all repaired," Hauraki was informed . ! that a smoke could be seen rising above the scrub at a little distance along the northern ridge- The enemy was evidently preparing some new form of attack . in whioh fire was to be used. Ordering all to their posts, he directed that, the women should prepare baskets of loose earth, and stand in readiness with them at several points which he indicated. A strong party of the Ngapuhi presently advanced along the open ridge, and took up a position just out of range. Here they awaited the arrival of reinforcements which, to judge from their constant glances in that direction, were expected from the spot whenpe the smoke had arisen. The Kaipara were not kept long in suspense. The line opened to allow the passage of several warriors armed with kotahas. This weapon of defence consisted of a stout throwing stick, attached to a formidable dart by a corfl, so cunningly knotted that its hold was increased by a forward movement, though instantly loosened by' a backward pull. Fixing the darts to which were fastened lighted tufts of resinous tow, lightly in the ground, the points Ranting towards the enemy, the throy-ing-sticic was drawn smartly forward and the darts hurled into the pa. The burning missiles, smok : ng and flaming as they whistled through the air, landed well within the fortress.

Hauraki's precautions were well chosen, and jproved that he was no novice ; such artifioes.were, indeed, quite familiar to the old warrior. The women, standing in readiness, flew to each spot and smothered the flames with . loose earfch before they had time to spread. ' This was but an experimental trial. The flames had scarcely been extinguished when twenty men,.advancing in a body, threw in quite a shower of darts and red-hot stones, whioh kept those in charge of the earth bassets actively engaged, but only for a few min^utes j all were quickly extinguished and no Stoious harm done. Now was seen the wisdom of Hauraki's precautions; had not the inflammable thatch been removed nothing could have prevented a conflagration which would nave rendered the pa untenantable ; and the defenders, driven out by flames and smoke, must have fallen an easy prey to the Ngapuhi. (To b 8 continued.)