WILLIAM BAMBRIDGE’S DIARY

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 2, 1 July 1940, Page 1

WILLIAM BAMBRIDGE’S DIARY

( Continued )

1843, Sunday, March 12th.

A SABBATH day is a good day to begin a Journal upon. We may often look back upon the first page, and there be reminded of Gospel privileges and blessings, and a sabbath here in this land of comparatively heathen darkness, seems to be rendered doubly interesting. When I see men who a few years ago were sunk in the greatest excesses of cruelty, approaching the house of God with reverence and gladness, with a clean handkerchief containing the word of God in their hands, I cannot but praise the goodness of our Creator.

Monday, Mar. 13th. Rose early and managed to put up my gate, but not to my satisfaction. Nevertheless, it will answer my purpose. I received a new scholar this morning, an interesting youth, named Hirini, or Sydney. Upon trying his capacity for learning and pronouncing the English alphabet, I was surprised. One half hour’s close application, made him master of the whole—in large and small characters. The difficulty is in keeping them at school. They are so accustomed to be free, and apparently highly disapprove of the least confinement. The Bp. orders that I give them potatoes for breakfast and supper, and rice and sugar for dinner. They say that at their kaingas they can procure something like a variety in food, but potatoes alone they will not eat.

Friday Mar. 17th. Rose quite well and after prayers, attended to my scholars, who are become tolerably reconciled to their situation. I begin to feel increasing interest in them, and shall perhaps soon alter my opinion of the capacities of a young New Zealander. They are very attentive to their lessons particularly the last who came and I cannot see any reason why in 6 months time, they should not be able to read tolerably well. With the exception of the pronunciation I imagine they have the advantage over British children. The language is entirely new to them, and their curiousity is awakened to the highest pitch.

Saturday March 18th. Went to see Mr. Cotton printing, he had set up the morning prayer in type. Came home and gave my boys a very long lesson, and so far from being discouraged I have every

reason to persevere. The letter wh: is the most difficult for them to pronounce is R. They make L of it and I was much amused to see them endeavouring to prevent their tongue from touching the roof of their mouth. One pressed it down with a nail and the other with the end of a pen and succeeded very well. In the afternoon (according to promise) I allowed them to write and they surpass my most sanguine expectations. Hirini has a beautiful idea of writing, and as I think that writing is a very valuable acquisition to learning, I shall perservere with them in this also.

Sunday Mar. 19th. Although we had been for a long time past, expecting the final change in Rev. W. T. Whytehead, I felt the announcement of his decease this morning to be sudden. It seemed to be so to me for this reason. I was in his room a few days ago and in his holy conversation, I in great measure lost sight of his emaciated frame, wh: was shortly to be returned to its mother earth. I listened to his words, and felt that they emanated from deep experience. The suddenness was in this, that I shall not again be privileged by hearing from his lips the words of Divine Truth, that I shall not again respond to prayers and thanksgivings so devoutly offered by him to the Father of all mercies. His end, was, as might be expected, peace.

Monday Mar. 20th. This morning at breakfast we thought of an opportunity of going to the Bay. As we crossed a bridge at a short distance from Waimate we saw a stage which was erected last year to commemorate a hakari or feast which was given by a tribe of natives. It is the custom to build a stage after a great feast. On arriving at Kerikeri we saw a very large encampment of natives who were assembled to give a return feast. Mr. Kemp, catechist at whose house we dined when we arrived told me that these feasts are very great injuries to the natives inasmuch as in a few months hence they will be in actual want of food, which might be avoided were these feasts abolished. Instead of Potatoes etc. for food they must in the winter live in a great measure on lire or fern root, which they dig up and when dried is baked and scraped. I am extremely fond of it and frequently go into a native hut to procure some. After this journey 10 or 11 miles I was very glad to leave the cart, by reason of pain in my whole system. My bones were sore with the unnatural friction produced by my rubbing against the sides of the cart. Mr. K’s generosity was highly acceptable. I was much pleased with Mrs. K. This is her 24th year's residence in N.Z. Her principal desire next to her own is the

salvation of the natives whom she loves and by whom she is greatly beloved. I think they must be a very happy couple. Tuesday March 29th. Before dinner Mr. Cotton and myself went to see the encampment of Natives at Kerikeri for the Hakari. As we passed the huts which were filled with natives employed in various ways we were saluted with “ Tenei ra ko korua We were surprised to observe their cleanly appearance. Towards the extremity of the encampment we had an opportunity of shaking hands with King George, the native who left England in the ship “ Boyd ” the history of wh: is known to everybody. It is supposed that he was not the cause of that horrid massacre. I see no foundation for such a supposition, except that the cook of the “ Boyd ” was not justified in palming his fault upon another person, and that this lie may therefore be considered as the means of the destruction of our countrymen. As we came back through the encampment, we heard four or five chiefs conversing about the missionaries, saying that they always meddled with everything wh. they (the natives) did. This was not spoken in terms of disapprobation but of approval. They know that they have every reason to thank the missionary for their care over them.

Wed. March 30th. About five min. before we reached Mr. Kemp’s the yelling of natives at the Hakari saluted our ears. We took down our sail and plied our oars for speed and in a short time I was witnessing their war dance. I can never forget the sight as long as I live. O

At the commencement of the day they had filled the stage wh: they have erected, with the presents, to be given away. The stage was formed of poles, varying in height. 3 rows containing 18 poles each were firmly set in the ground and strengthened by cross pieces, wh: assisted in supporting the different stories. The distance from one story to the other, was about 6 feet, the upright poles were about feet apart. I should imagine there were nearly if not quite 2000 ketes of dried fish piled upon the stage, wh: moreover was decorated with coloured handkerchief, and various kinds of new clothing, acting as flags. The scene was now one of great animation. The place chosen for the feast was as usual between hills. At the time of my arrival, the party giving the feast were commencing their dancing, whilst the other party were stationed on the opposite hill in some degree of regularity with guns, spears, and various weapons, ready to rush down to the stage as soon as the other party had concluded their ceremony. (What an extraordinary difference as well as advantage there is

in a body of our English soldiers under regular discipline). Those upon the hill now began to move, clapping their guns and spears, and it was with considerable difficulty that they could be kept in anything like a line, whilst descending. I saw an old chief run forward and put an umbrella to the breasts of the first three, to regulate their movement. (What would these poor creatures say, were they to behold one of our grand reviews, in which the sound of a trumpet only has such powerful influence.) As soon as they had crossed a small rivulet which intervened, they increased their speed, each endeavouring to outrun the other, and many overshot their mark (like as we see a train on a railway sometimes) passing the stage for a considerable distance. They then gathered a little together and commenced dancing to words something like the following. Kue hue mai te hiohiore ai, wh: I do not know the meaning of but they have something of a fighting significance, no doubt. Afterwards both parties joined together for a korero— in wh: grievances were brought forward, and rectified, resolutions made, and the present quarrel at Oruru discussed, and I think a decision given in favour of settling the matter by force—Am not quite sure of this.

I never can forget the scene. Having such a desire to sketch I did not go down close to them, and consequently cd. obtain little of detail. However I have learned that Waikato’s people (who gave the feast) and Rewa danced separately first and then joined. They then rushed furiously down the hill into the flat (about 60 yds. long where stood the stage—rushing across this they suddenly dropped on one knee, as if to receive a charge of cavalry, and after a few minutes rose, and stood in order by the side of the stage before commencing their dance. These retiring left a place for John Heke’s party to dance. They had been looking on from our side where they were stationed. They crossed the rivulet slowly, then rushed to the foot of the hill where Rewas people were standing—they then danced, and collected Rewa’s people now joined them in dance. And as there were about 300, stripped and armed—in battle order, with many of their faces blackened, they yelled the most horrid sounds that can be conceived. During the dance they jump’d into the air, quite straight, coming down in the same place, throwing their arms (guns and hanis) about over their heads, and shouting their song—the beauty of wh: consists in the perfect time wh: they keep—the following is the song, wh: being in an old dialect (as most of them are) cannot be translated very perfectly : “ Etama, te uana e ” “ Etama te mar or o ina hokira te tohn,

o te uana, na~ kei taku ringa email ana te upoko ” “ o te kawai he taki auel At the words underlined, all the party shout in chorus, brandishing of weapons, and jumping as high as possible ; common jumping goes on all the time. The last word “ aue ” is prolonged in a wondrous way—half in the throat and half in the stomach, with the rest made up of the spitting of cats. The simultaneous leaping also at the last word, puts the jumping quadrille quite to shame. The song is about swelling veins, strength, and an enemy’s head in the hand. Wawai ! wawai ! war, war, was the burden of the song. Nene spoke only with a little switch of his hand, and another for peace spoke with an umbrella in his hand. These are better than spears etc. Out of 15 speakers only 3 for peace. his proves the need of increased missionary exertion. We left them dancing.

Friday, March 31st. I forgot to mention yesterday that I had an opportunity of hearing news from the Bishop. He was at time of writing in the scene of war at Maunganui. Had succeeded in restoring peace between the contending tribes concerning each other’s pigs and potatoes, but not concerning land. He stated his intention of renewing his attack on the morrow to endeavour to succeed in this also.