The Fliqht of Whara Whara o te Ra

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 November 1900, Page 101

The Flight of Wh ara Wh ara ote Ra

By Akchie Cami'bku, and Tuos. Cottlk

Illustrated by Kennel t Watkins

(jSflpvT was a glorious piece of bush. 1 was WiM a avou " te w^^ ie Maoris at the 6^S%«) kainga, by the Rangitikei River. At fthe price they had offered me the right to cut the timber I should make an excellent thing of it. As I came out from the shade of the noble totaras and rimus, one evening, I saw a sight which drove timber calculations to the winds. Down the bridle track which led to the settlement, four Maoris rode in single file, brushing through the great glossy flax blades and sweet-scented manuka, which reached to their saddle bows. First came a splendid specimen of a tattooed old chief, closely followed by an elderly dame. A short distance in their rear was the most beautiful Maori girl it had ever been my luck to see. The women of our settlement were famed, far and wide, for their personal charms, but this girl outshone them as the rata blossom does the manuka. Her maid rode after her, but I took little heed of her. I followed them to the settlement near which I had erected my hut. They were greeted by the usual cry of welcome : " Naumai ! Naumai /" from a large body of natives who had come out for the purpose. The hongi, or rubbing of noses, was freely indulged in, and a tangi, or mourning for those who had departed this life since they last met, completed the ceremonies. I learnt that they were tino rangatira, people of great rank in Maori society. Old Te Aokatoa, whose aspiring name signified "The Whole World," was a far-famed tohunga, the elderly dame was his wife, and the lovely girl was their granddaughter, W hara Whara ote Ra. The other girl was her Vol. IT.— No. 14.— 8.

servant, Poi. They had ridden from their home by Lake Taupo to visit this tribe. 1 was a good Maori scholar, and had spout many evenings in the Wharepuni ixßtoning to the native orators as they discoursed on many subjects, told their romantic legends, and sang their poetic chants of lovo and war. I was introduced to the distinguished strangers, and fair Whara Whara's smile as she returned my greeting, completed my conquest. That evening hosts and guests joined in a general whai korero, or address to the departed. Never in my life had I heard anything so impressive as old Te Aokatoa's exhortations to the spirits, and his minute directions as to the road they were to go to Te Reinga, and the company they were to keep when they got there. Other orators spoke, and on one point they all agreed, viz., that if the almighty Aokatoa had been here, his power against the great cause of all maladies, inakutu, would have prevailed, and many lives been saved. I incidentally learnt that this renowned tohunga was instructing his granddaughter in the arts in which he was so proficient. She was therefore tapu. She had her food cooked separately, and was always attended by her maid, Poi. She joined in no frivolous amusements like other young people, and worst of all, from my prejudiced point of view, she was not allowed to entertain for a moment any thought of earthly love or passion. No hapu could exist without its tohmga. They could even win battles by their supernatural power. Nothing was really impossible to them. In their strange poetic

belief, which, in some respects, closely resembled other religions, the Maoris firmly believed in the watchfulness of an all-seeing Atua over a chosen individual. Every

impulse of the mind, every action of tbe body was tbe direct, though invisible, result of the Atua's influence. When, therefore, it was seen that women's minds were more

easily influenced and swayed by the tohunc/as, owing to their peculiar temperaments, they came to the conclusion that the sex must be more receptive to the influence of the Atua, therefore, in many cases, the study of medicine, the interpretation of dreams, and communication with the hidden world were committed to them. The fact that the lovely Wham was dedicated to be a Hauhau priestess naturally came as a stuuniug blow to me, for in the short time I had known her I had dreamed dreams and seen visions of bliss of which she was to be a partaker. The aristocratic visitors made a long stay at our kainga. The visit of such a tohunga as Te Aokatoa was a veritable Godsend. It was au occasion for aggrandisement and hospitality which might not occur again. The days and nights were spent in speechifying and feasting. People came from far and wide to consult the great toliunqa. Nothing was hidden from him. He could tell in a moment who had caused deaths, heal family or tribal feuds, give advice on all conceivable subjects, or even tell where a lost horse would be found. But he was not the only attraction. Numbers of young men travelled unheard of distances to feast their eyes on the charms of the young priestess, although they knew she was forbidden fruit, and could only be worshipped at a distance. They dared not infringe the sacred tapu ! It was Whara's duty to scour the bush for the rare herbs required for her grandsire's incantations. To her alone was entrusted the knowledge requisite to select the plants productive of such potent results. Her rambles brought her frequently into the vicinity of my hut, accompanied by Poi, and she often graciously vouchsafed to stop and chat with the pakeha. On one occasion I asked her to have a cup of tea. " I will," she replied, " on one condition only, that you destroy the cup afterwards , for you, who know our language and customs, must be aware that the consequences to anyone using the cup after it has touched my lips, would be fatal."

" Very well, E Whara, if it will givo you pleasure, I'll destroy tho billy also, but although I know tho dread rosults which ought to ensue, I, personally, should not be an atom afraid of drinking out of your cup. From the appearance of those lovely lips of yours 1 cannot believo they are poisonous." " Ah, but you are a pake ha, and nothing can hurt you. You may keep tho cup, provided you do not allow a native to use it," she replied, with a fascinating smile, " I'll most certainly keep it tapu for you, E Whara, then you can use it whenever your rambles bring you in this direction." She was evidently much pleasod at this attention, and it was by no. means tho last little tea party we had under the shade of the fragrant bush. The beauty of the young priestess was the talk of all the young men on the rivor, and the local poets vied with one another in frantic eiforts to immortalise her wondrous charms in more or less euphonious native verse. But so far the dread tapu proved an insurmountable barrier to the young warriors. At last Hauiti appeared on tho scene. He was a powerfully-built young rangatira, the most wealthy and influential landowner in the district, and by no means the sort of man to worship at a distance. He called a meeting, and begged the great Aokatoa to remove the tapu, and allow him to approach the beautiful young maiden with words of love. But in this one thing To Aokatoa confessed himself powerless until his tribe should be consulted. Astohunga she belonged to the tribe, and not to him, he said. A messenger was despatched post hasto to Taupo, and in due time the reply carno ; it was that Ngatituwharetoa left the matter entirely in Te Aokatoa's hands to do as seemed him best. Great was the rejoicing of Hauiti and his people when the old tohunga set apart a day for the removal of tho tapu. I did my utmost to secure admission to the ceremony, but in vain ; no pakeha could on any account be admitted. It was performed,

and the erstwhile young priestess was suddenly transformed into an ordinary society belle for whom the most eligible husband had to be chosen, approved by her people, and given every opportunity to win her. Hauiti was unanimously selected. Much as I detested the formidable rival, I could not but admit that he was the finest specimen of a young Maori chief I had ever seen. An ardent lover; he was ever at her side. I watched them jealously from a distance, and even went so far as to curse the day on which the tapu had been removed, for I felt that it was far better that she should be a priestess than the bride of a rival. I made friends with Poi, who told me in confidence that her mistress would undoubtedly marry Hauiti, but could not yet be persuaded to name the day. There was small comfort in this. Hauiti, impatient of delay, called a meeting, and made it the occasion of a sumptuous feast in honour of his approaching marriage. It was a scene which I shall never forget. In the centre of the marae, or village green, sat the two young people and their relatives, a clear circular space dividing them from the rest of the guests, who crowded round. Kits full of pork, kumei'as, dried shark and other dainties were handed round by the walines, and disappeared like magic. Then Hauiti rose to his feet in the centre of the group, and addressed the girl he loved and her relatives in courteous but impassioned tones : " Salutations to you, Te Aokatoa, and to all here ! I have given this feast in honour of the lovely Whara Whara o te Ra, whom I wish to make my bride. The obstacle to our union has ceaßed to exist. The consent of Ngatituwharetoa to my suit has been received. The sacred tapu has been removed by the mighty Aokatoa, and now I wish to hear from your lips, 0 maiden, when the day is to dawn on which I am to claim you for ray own ? There is another thing I wish to add. In the past I was debarred from approaching you, and making my love personally known to you, but since the tapu

has been removed I have done so, yet although you are very gracious to me in other ways, there has always appeared to be a great shadow between us ! Why is this, 0 maiden ? Have I offended you in anyway ? If so, pray tell me ! It makes my heart dark within me to see you thus indifferent to me ! Your grandsire told me the only obstacle was the tapu. That is removed, and my mind dwells on you night and day !" A murmur of approbation rose from the assemblage as Hauiti concluded, and Te Aokatoa rose to his feet, looking every inch a king of men, although his attire consisted only of a Maori mat hanging from one shoulder, and draping his fine form to the knees. One mighty arm was bare. No ancient Roman in his state toga ever looked a more splendid specimen of matured manhood than this artistically tattooed old toliunga. " Salutations to you, 0 Hauiti, and to your guests here assembled ! You have spoken well, and I am proud of what you have said. But don't speak of any shadow between you and the young maiden ! I am her guardian, and therefore her mind is my mind. Why should she have a mind of her own ? She could not know what was good for her. But do not be hasty with her. Give her time. This matter of a husband is a strange thought to her. She has been brought up under the sacred tapu, and taught to look darkly at all earthly pleasures, but she is young, and her nature will soon assert itself, and she will be as other young girls are. I have told her my wishes since I removed the tapu, and to-day she is to give an answer. We will hear what she has to say." Whara rose and came forward. She was dressed in a light skirt with a rich kiwi feather mantle thrown over her shapely shoulders. To my eyes she looked more beautiful than ever as she stood there. No wonder Hauiti was mad to possess her ! She was a little nervous at the idea of speaking on such a subject before the assembled crowd, and her voice was low and tremulous as she commenced :

'' Salutations to you, 0 Hauiti, and also to all present ! I have heard what has been said, and I thank you, Hauiti. There is one thing, however, I can't understand : it is how my grandparent could have let you think I was favourable to you, and that the tapu was the only obstacle ! Your name was not even mentioned to me till after the removal of the tapu. Then I promised an answer this day, and I will give it. I have asked my heart this question, and it is dark with sorrow for you, E Hauiti, because I cannot give myself to you. I love my grandparent, and in all else I would obey him ; but I am

no longer a child, and, in the choice of a husband, I will be guided by my own heart only ! You say a shadow has come between us. It is true ; and that shadow is my Atua — my guardian angel, it is ever between us, and will not let my love go out to you. Press this matter no further ! You have spoken as a brave man should speak, and I am truly sorry, but I will not give myself where I cannot give my love !" Te Aokatoa rose in supreme wrath. "How dare you declare that you cannot do what 1 have set my heart on ? It is for

youv own good I wish you to marry Maniti ! I can easily see that the shadow is your Atua, and that ho is jealous because I havo taken the tapu from you ! But 1 will intercede with him, and the shadow shall depart from you. Don't accept her answer to-day, Hatiiti, give her time, and 1, Aokatoa, will .see to this shadow ! I havo spoken !" The audience, I could see, believed implicitly in this Atua-o&nt shadow, and also in the mighty tohunyas power to deal with it. The man who could remove the sacred tapu, could certainly propitiate a shadow.] It

is needless to say my opinion differed, and that my spirits rose accordingly. My powerful rival had by his influenco done what I was utterly unable to do. He had caused the bar, which placed the beautiful maiden beyond the reach of earthly lover, to be I'emoved. Might I not now profit by his diplomacy? It was quito possible, and that was sufficient for the present. That tribal pressure would be brought to bear on the young damsel, I knew only too well. The match was as important for the welfare of the tribe as any European state-arranged

royal nuptial of the present day. I had much to contend against. It was therefore with much pleasure that I heard what Wham. told me with tears in her lovely eyes when she met me in the bush the next day. " My heart is very dark in this matter; E Eke " (this was the name by which the Maoris always addressed me). "Te A.okatoa has set his heart on this marriage, and you know his power. But rather than marry Hauiti, I will put an end to myself ! He can then have my body, but my spirit shall fly away to join my mother in Te JReinqa." "Is there anything I can do, EWhara? I am your devoted slave, and you have only to command. Shall I speak to your grandfather ?" " Oh, no, E Eke, do not do that. He will suspect me of having complained to you, and prevent our meeting. Bnt there is one request I will make of you, for there is something which tells me I can trust you. My grandfather has been bought over by Hauiti's tribe, and everything is dark against me here. Can you help me to fly from here and get back to my people at Taupo ? They will guard me. I wish I had never left them. You know the country well." " Yes, I will gladly help you, my dear girl ; but are you not afraid to trust yourself alone with me on such a long journey through the bush ?" I replied. " No, E Eke, I can see by your eyes that you like me, and I know that you would not harm me. It is you that have cause for fear. Hauiti and his people will be very wrath, and if they overtake us it will go hard with you. Think of the risk before you promise !" " Hang the risk ! But, dear Whara, you are right, I love you more than I can express, and I'll joyfully risk my life to get you away from this persecution ! We must use cunning and get a good start. It won't do to take the usual track, we must go by the old foot track the Maoris used before they had horses. I know it well, and with some trouble I can get the nags through ; you know I've got some real good ones, active as cats in the bush, and in good fettle. Don't say a word

even to Poi, my darling, and all will yet be well." " Thank you, E Eke ! I knew before I asked that you would not fail me ! Whatever happens to one of us will happen to the other ! We must part now. I will meet you again to-morrow." I knew full well the risk we were running. The natives of that day had no fear of the law outside the settlements, and Hauiti had sworn by his Atua that if he was not the husband of the girl no one else should be ! On the morrow the poor girl met me again, and said matters were getting still more unbearable. To allay suspicion she had promised to reconsider the question, and give an answer in a fortnight, so it was necessary to start without loss of time. I was not long preparing my plans. The first thirty miles of the old winding bush track were easy to traverse. I took a pack-horse so far with tents and provisions, so that we could make better speed when we started, and then rode back to the settlement. I had previously taken the shoes off my horses so that the natives would not know their tracks from those of their own. I also gave out that I was going to Wanganui for a spell. Hauiti and a large number of the natives rode away one day to a tangi over the death of a neighbouring chief, and were not expected to return till the next evening. That night the dear girl slipped across to my loliare. I had the horses ready and we were off. The night was cloudy and exceptionally dark ; but for the cleverness of my horse I could not have kept the track. By Hale's track, the one in present use, the distance through the bush to the Rangipo Plains was about seventy miles, and that was still many miles from our destination ; but the old Maori track winding round every obstacle almost doubled the seventy. Lying well down on our borses' necks, one hand on the rein and the other protecting our faces from overhanging boughs, we made the best possible speed. Whara was a magnificent horsewoman, as most Maori girls are, but we both got dragged out of our saddles several times. Ever and anon,

she pulled up for a moment, declaring she heard some one following. But it was only my old dog Ben, or the murmur of the Rangitikei River in the distance, the sigh of the night wind in the tree tops, or the hoarse cry of the mopoke breaking the solemn silence of the virgin forest. By daylight we reached the Mangaonoho Creek, then on across the Kei Kei Hill overlooking the weird Makohine Grorge, where the railway viaduct is now in course of construction. Dipping down sharply into this we had to dismount. I led my horse, aud Whara drove hers after. At one of the sharp angles in the precipitous track the animal lost control of himself, cannoned against mine, the edge gave way under his feet, and he fell with a thud and a broken neck three huudred feet below. Whara was terribly grieved over this mishap. " Leave me, I pray you, leave me," she cried, " ere I bring more trouble on you ! I can never repay you for the loss of your good horse. Everything goes wrong with me. Leave me to my fate before I bring harm on you also !" " Never, my darling Whara," I replied, " never, come what may ! Don't fret about the horse. Jump on mine. The pack horse is only a little further on. You can ride him. Never repay me, my dear girl ? That is nonsense ! When we get to Taupo I have made up my mind to ask your people to give me yourself in payment, and you're worth a million horses !" I replied boldly. "You are only making fun, 0 Eke, you will be tired of me long before we reach Taupo," was her only reply, and my fervent assertions to the contrary were useless. . We arrived in due time at the place where I had left the pack-horse and partook of some much needed refreshment. Then mounting again, we rode up the sharp incline to the watershed between the Rangitikei and Turakina Rivers. The tortuous nature of our track across this terribly rough country brought us at dusk to a place where we had again to cross the Makohine. Here a landslip had entirely wiped out the track, and it was only by

working half the night with my axo, whilo Whara held the candlo, that I managed to make a temporary one ready to cross tho horses in the morning. Wo then lay down for a few hours' sleop. Whon I awoko at daylight, Whara had already prepared breakfast; she met mo with a beaming smile. 1 saw that something had occurred to remove the depression of tho previous day. " I have such good news for you, E Eke ! Last night all was very dark within me. 1. had caused the death of your horse, and I felt certain we should be overtaken, and ovil would befall you ; but my dear mother appeared to me from Te Relnga. She showed mo your dead horse, and — what do you think ? By its side lay the dead body of a loathsome reptile ! Such a hideous ngarara it was ! She said it was the evil spirit that had worked all the mischief which has assailed me for months past. It killed your horse, and would have also caused your death by letting that cruel Jiauiti overtake us. But now it is dead, and no more ill can possibly befall us ! 1 am so glad ! You are a jjakeha, E Eke, and therefore caunol; understand this, but it is true ! M.y dear mother never comes from the Reinga to visit me but she relieves mo of all my troubles !" " Yes, my dear girl, I am a pakaha, but I can and do rejoice to see you so comforted. We must, however, hurry on. You can tell me more about your mother and this brute of a ngarara as we go along." " But there is no hurry now, 1 assure you ! Have I not said my mother visitod me ?" Such was the simple faith of this trusting Maori maiden in her mother's watchfulness over her from the dim land of spirits ! Tho effect of her vision was magical. As we journeyed on she was all joyous song and laughter, imitating the notes of birds, and calling her horse all the pet names she could think of. At last she said : " 0 Eke, I must jump off ; I cannot rido this slow old horse to-day, I must run and dance for ioy!" We got along famously, and by mid-day reached the highest point of tho Otairi

range, where we halted, but dare not light a fire, as the smoke could have been seen from any part of the Rangitikei. We eagerly scanned the country for any sign of smoke which might indicate that we were being followed, but saw none. I little 1 bought as we traversed this country that in a few short years the whistle of the iron horse would echo from cliff to cliff, and townships dot the valley below us ; but such is already the case. As we sat over our lunch, Whara drew my attention to the lofty Tongariro range, of which she had known the name of every peak since childhood. Boldly outlined against the azure sky stood the giant Hauhungatahi which rises abruptly from the Waimarino Plains, the not yet extinct Ruapehu, and the ever active Ngauruhoe and Te Mare. " You must know, E Eke," said my companion, " that Ngauruhoe was one of our ancestors. He it was who brought the sacred fire from Hawaiiki in his canoe. He it was who started the fire here on the hill, named after him even to this day ; and as long as this fire burns shall we his descendants enjoy the fruits of the soil of Aotearoa. You see Mount Egmont over there in the distance?

Long years ago he stood by the side of Lake lioto-aira. We Maoris called him Tarauaki. On the opposite side of the lake stood, and still stands, Pihanga, the mistress of Tongariro. This wicked mountain Taranaki whs caught making fierce love to Mrs. Tongariro, which aroused the wrath of the giant Tongariro. He hurled his fires in fury at the wicked wretch, and made him fly to where he now stands. Then he turned his wrath on unfaithful Pihanga, and gave her a good beating. When daylight came a large round hole was observed in her side, and on the self-same day a round island, just the size and shape of the piece knocked out of Pihanga's side, made its appearance in Lake Taupo. To this day it is called Motutaiko, the child of Tongariro -and Pihanga. You must not laugh at me, 0 Eke ! lam telling you the words which our ancestors have handed down to us through many generations, and we know that their words are true." " I am not laughing at you, my dear girl, but at the manner in which Mrs. Tongariro got her deserts," I replied.

We now descended into a deep gully, through which flowed the Mangaone Greek, The underscrub was so thick here that my companion had to walk on ahead and find the old Maori marks cat on the trees, thus directing me, while I cleared the way for the horses with my axe. We camped on the margin of the stream and I could not resist the temptation of shooting some pigeons which were feeding on the lofty miro trees. Whava made a Maori oven, and cooked them to perfection by rolling them in balls of clay, and putting them amongst the heated stones. On breaking the clay off, tho feathers adhered to

it, and they came out as white as if boiled. I woke up suddenly that night from a troubled dream that Hauiti was attacking me. My dog was barking savagely. My dream is a reality then, I thought, as I thrust my head out from under the fly. But that hideous monster which 1 could but just discern in the' darkness, with fiery eyes and cavernous jaws champing and clashing together, charging poor Ben, could not be Hauiti ! The dog, unaware that he was drawing the charge on his master, rushed to my side. Not a moment was to be lost ! Luckily, I had seized my revolver as I rose, and, guided by his glittering eyes, I sent a bullet through his skull between them. Another moment, and his terrible tusks would have been into me. As it was, the force of his charge caused his bleeding body to fall on me. Whara rushed screaming to my side, and was relieved to find that my enemy was only a grizzly old " Captain Cooker," and not the dreaded Hauiti ! Sleep was over for that night, so we made up the fire, and sat by it chatting till it was time to prepare breakfast. [Shortly after the tui began his joyous morning song we were again on our way. That night we camped by the Hautapu Creek. When we, at length, got out to the beaten track, and the barking of dogs told us, on two occasions, that we were near native settlements, we took detours through the bush. Notwithstanding our caution, we met three natives, one of whom I knew slightly. They looked puzzled to see&pakeha travelling with a young Maori maiden. We shook hands, and told them we "were on our way to Taupo. They appeared satisfied, and went on. That night we reached the edge of the plains, and camped as usual in the bush, Whara was still in excellent spirits, but I felt unaccountably depressed with the presentiment that some untoward event was about to occur. "Nothing can now happen to us, 0 Eke !" said my companion, noticing my depression. " Cheer up ! There is now no danger. We left our last trouble in the Makohine Gorge, where the dead nqarara lays by your horse.

During tho night the rain camo down in torrents and put out the (ire. A gale, blowing bitterly cold across tho snow-clad summit of lluapohu, mado mo glad \ had pitched the tents securely. The next day we considered too wot to travel, and Whara beguiled the time by relating how she had found gold ma gully, which hlio might somo day show me. " You must know, 0 Eke," she said, " that my family have a large interest in the laud within the Roha Potae boundary. Our ancestors were closely related to the lino ranc/atiras, the hoad chiefs of Ngatemanoapoto, who are tho principal owners of this laud. When I was a child 1 took a long journey with my father and stepmothor to visit some friends. We had, as is our custom, two pack horses laden with presents, preserved birds and lovely kiwi feather mats. While wo wore camped one night, I went up a creek to soloct stones for the oven — it is only certain ones that will stand the heat without cracking, you know. I saw a number of white stones, what wo call kiripaka or quartz. I pickod up one, and saw a band of the colour of the kowhai blossom round it. I took it to father, and told him I thought it was gold because it was like the rings and the gold money of the pakeha, I'ather said it was, and made me show the place. He found another piece, nearly all gold, and took it to Auckland to get it tested. The pakehas tried hard to get him to show the place where it was found, and made him lots of fine promises if he would, but he refused, lie says that they would take the land from us, for gold is really the pakehd's only Atua. You have done for me more than my own people would have done, E Eke, and some day I may show you tho place." "I shall be very glad to see it, E Whara, and if it is what I expect I will make you and your tribe rich, but I must think of something else now. It has just occurred to me that a pakeha I know must be living at the Maori settlement over yonder. I will ride down and see if I can get a word with him ; he will give mo

jome potatoes, and we should enjoy them." " Very well, E Eke, don't stay long, and cave old Ben to guard me," she replied. I took a turn through the bush, and thus ipproached the settlement as if coming from ;he other direction, dismounted and greeted the natives and my friend Jim, the pakehaMaori, who was with them.

The natives regarded me very suspiciously. As Jim shook my hand he whispered : " Be careful." When questioned by the natives as to whenoe I came, I found it convenient not to understand Maori — just then. I looked at Jim for an explanation of their suspicious looks. " A party of Rangitikei natives, headed

by Hauiti, arrived here last night, he said. " They are searching for a, pakeha who has carried off by force Hauiti's intended bride ! They're precious mad, I tell you, and I wouldn't be in that bloke's shoes if they lay hands on him ! They met some natives yesterday that said they'd seen a. pakeha and a young wahine, and they calculated they'd find them here. We told 'em we hadn't seen the villain, and they started off at daylight this morning up the Taupo track, helterskelter through the

pouring rain. You have not seen such a party, I suppose ? No, I thought not ! Well come away out of hearing of the beggars and have a yarn; some of them know a bit of onr lingo." He whispered the last sentence. "Right! Tell them I'm a swagger going to Neville Walker's place on the lookout for a job — or anything you like — and that I can't be the man they want," I replied, and he succeeded in putting them off the scent. " I never dreamed it would be you. Where's the bloomin' ivahine? Is she with you still?" he exclaimed, directly we were out of hearing.

" Well, I know I can trust you, Jim. She is, and what's more, I don't mean to leave her till she's safe with her own people !" I replied. "If I was in your shoes, then, I'd make tracks at once, and turn off when you come to the Waimarino path that runs through between the two mountains, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe ! You've got to do the twenty

miles to the turn off to-night in the dark. If you manage that, thei'e'U be no fear of you meeting them coming back, for you know the beggars are too scared of seeing spirits to travel at night, and there are wild horses in the bush, so your tracks won't be any guide. Once on the Waimarino track, you're fairly safe, for Hauiti will look out for you coming by Tokaanu, and I'll help keep up the delusion if I meet him again ; you can bet your life on that !" " Many thanks, old man ! I'll take your tip and be off like a shot ! So long !" I rejoined my companion, and related what had happened. She instantly showed herself in a new character by getting into a violent rage. The blood of a long line of rantjitira warriors coursed hotly through her veins. Her shapely form dilated, and her glorious eyes flashed fire. She looked superbly beautiful in her wrath as she replied : " They are hunting us like rats, E Eke, and are telling lies about you, declaring that you took me by force from Rangitikei — you that have been kindness itself ! I have a request to make of you. Give me your revolver, and if they dare to put hand on me or you, my protector, and blood is to be shed, let mine be the hand to do it?" " Right, dear Whara ! You shall have the revolver when the time comes, but let's have a good meal and start at once, for we've a long cold ride before us," I replied to pacify her. We were quickly in our saddles, and Whara regained her composure as we drew near the mighty Tongariro. "We ai'e safe now," she exclaimed. " They cannot touch us now that we are under the shadow of the sacred mountain." " True, dear girl, but all the same we'll do our best to avoid them," I replied. As long as we were on the main track we made good progress, and by three o'clock in the morning, reached the place where we judged the Waimarino track should turn off, but could not find it. We could only see the summits of the two mountains between which we knew we had to travel. Dis-

mounting and leading onv horses, wo followed up a small watercourse with groat difficulty. Timo after time the animals got bogged in the treacherous ground. There was nothing for it but to wait for daylight. It was bitterly cold, and wo dared not light a tire. Fortunately we had not long to wait ere the sun tipped the snow-capped summit of liuapehu with a golden hue, and gave to the cloud of steam rising from the ever-active Ngauruhoe the extraordinary appearanco of a gigantic fountain of (lame. Dense masses of thick fog still hung about the rugged mountain hides, and iilled the valley round us with darkness unutterable. Then the sun rose higher, the liory fountains turned to steam, and the utter darkness around us dissolved into a shadow. By nine o'clock we had passed out of the dark valley, and entered anopen barren plain, at the further extremity of which was the Ngatokorua kainr/a. We rode up to it to enquire our way, feeling confident wo had outwitted liauiti. The chief proved to be an old warrior, Pehi te Hitaua, whom I had once met at Wanganui. With the ever-ready hospitality of the Maori, he would not hear of us going further that day, and on hearing whither we were hound, sent a messenger to the next settlement, where Whara was known, to announce our coming. In the evening we were invited to attend a Hauhau service in the Wharepuni, which was crowded. A heap of red embers on the floor and a broken camp oven lid, on which hot charcoal glowed in a poo) of fat, throw a dim religious light alike on the doughty living warriors, and on the quaintly-carved conceptions of dead and gone ancestors which adorned the walls. It was a most impressive sight. A tattooed old tohunga, standing in the light, offered up an earnest prayer to 'his Atua, and they all joined in a Ilauhau hymn. Ranged along the whole length of the Wharepuni on both sides, leaving a lane in the middle, were men, women and children, the former naked to the waist, and the elders profusely tattooed. The deep voices of the men and clear ringing notes of women and children blended harmoniously

in the weird bat not unmusical chant. There was unquestionably an earnestness and lively faith often wanting in civilized congregations in the strange worship of these wild Hauhaus, who fought so fiercely against us in the early sixties. After the service old Pehi invited me to address the meeting, and give them the news of the district from whenoe I came. This I did. Then, knowing them to be friendly, I explained how I came to be travelling with the young maiden. They were highly amused at my description of the manner in which we had evaded Hauiti and his people. After I sat down Whara was asked to say a few words. She confirmed what I had already told them, and gained the sympathy of the whole tribe. On starting the next morning the old chief gave us an escort to the Wanganui River, that being as far as his mana extended. Our course then lay down the river. When we reached the Taumaranui settlement a royal welcome was accorded us. Guns were fired, and the young people of both sexes met us with songs of welcome. Whara related her adventures. One and all severely blamed the old toliungas cruelty in endeavouring to force his daughter into a marriage with Hauiti against her express wish, and I received greater credit than I deserved ' for my services in rescuing the distressed damsel from such a fate. A messenger was despatched post haste to Taupomoana, our destination, to give notice to Whara's hapu of our approach, and a lively escort of a score or so of young men and maidens on wiry ponies accompanied us. We travelled by way of Puketapu, along the track near which Whara had found the golden stone. She could only cautiously point me out the small creek, from the bed of which she had picked it, as our companions were not in the secret. We camped out one night, a merry party, and on the" following day arrived at our destination, where we

received a heartier welcome even than the one at Taumaranui. A great meeting was held that night, and the whole matter was discussed. The lovely Whare recounted in pathetic tones how she had come to me, a stranger and a pakeha, in her trouble. She described the journey, the loss of my horse, the dead nqarara, and the great kindness I had shown her throughout, and concluded by requesting her hearers to assist her in thanking and rewarding me as I deserved. Then I cose, and turning to her father said : " No thanks are required, and for a reward I only want Whara Whai'a o te Ra herself. I fell in love with her the first day I saw her. In her trouble I promised to see her safe back amongst, her people before I spoke of my love. My trust has been fulfilled, now my request to you is that you give me your daughter to be my bride !" " Yes, E Eke, you have my consent, for you deserve her, and she has just whispered me that it is also her wish," he replied. The next day we were married by the Maori minister amidst much feasting and rejoicing. It is now over a quarter of a centm^y ago, but the natives still sing the song composed at the time of the flight of the maiden and her stout-hearted pakeha lover. Hauiti was a long time before he forgave me, but time heals all troubles, and the then hot-blooded young Hauhau chief has, in these later years, often laughed over the episode with his successful pakeha rival and the object of his youthful affections. Time after time in the bygone years, I went with my sweet bride to the spot where she found the golden stone, and fossicked up the creek, but, though we found a few more specimens, we could never discover the reef from which they came, and I failed to fulfil my promise of making her and her tribe rich. Yet in these latter days we two can truthfully say we are rich — yea, rich beyond the dreams of avarice — in one another's and our children's love.