DowNES. — Early History oj Rangitikei. 87 



till one day Whare-pu-rakau returned from a hunting expedition in the 

 bush and found his son Kangi-pa-whatiri covered with blood, and upon 

 inquiry he learnt that Tahuna's child had beaten his son. He therefore 

 killed Tahuna's child, and the father, in fear for his own life, fled back to 

 Whanga-nui, where he collected a war-party about eight hundred strong 

 and travelled back to Tawhiti, on the Rangi-tikei River, where Whare-pu- 

 rakau had gathered Ngati Tama, Ngati Whiti, and Ngati Ohuao to resist 

 the inevitable attack. For a time Tahuna and his party camped on the 

 river-bed, subsisting on Whare-pu-rakau's kumaras, which they stole at 

 night; but, as soon as Whare-pu-rakau's people discovered the position 

 Tahuna had taken up, they resorted to stratagem, and threw a great 

 quantity of wood and rubbish in the river to make Tahuna think a flood 

 was coming, and that they (Whare-pu-rakau's party) would not be able to 

 cross over to the attack. Tahuna's party saw the rubbish, and hurriedly 

 left the river-bed and went inland ; but while so engaged Whare-pu-rakau 

 attacked them. In the fight that followed (known as Waha-kaka-roa) it is 

 related that Whare-pu-rakau had a certain taiaka, but he was struck and 

 disabled by the enemy, consequently was unable to use it. He afterwards 

 made a proverb to the effect that if his weapon had only been long enough 

 he would not have been womided ; hence his uncle took the name of Tu- 

 whaka-uru. When wounded, Whare-pu-rakau discarded his taiaha and took 

 a long spear, and, although wounded, succeeded in killing Tahuna, whose 

 party, seeing their leader fall, gave way and fled. They were pursued night 

 and day, and it is said their bones may still be seen along that path 

 (excepting perhaps Tahuna's ribs, which were made into a bird-snare, which 

 snare is still in a matai-tree somewhere at Moa-whango). 



This may be so, but we pakehas doubt if a snare would last for twa 

 hundred years exposed to all weathers ; yet it is asserted that some of Whare- 

 pu-rakau's spears are still to be seen on Mr. Batley's farm at Moa-whango. 

 They are imbedded in a large and hollow cabbage-tree, where they were 

 hidden, the tree eventually growing round them and gripping them as part 

 of the tree itself. It is also related that Whare-pu-rakau was a very athletic 

 man, and, near his place on the upper Rangi-tikei, he on several occasions 

 saved himself from pursuit by clearing at a jump a narrow part of the river 

 where the cliffs nearly meet. No other man would venture this hazardous 

 feat ; so he could defy his enemies, and often did so. He lost his life by 

 drowning in the Rangi-tikei River. As his party were crossing a dangerous 

 ford, his wife got into difficulties, and in going back to assist he himself 

 lost his life, though his wife was saved. 



Again Whanga-nui started on the war-path against Ngati Tama, whom 

 they found living on the land between Moa-whango and Hau-tapu. A 

 battle was fought in w^hich Whanga-nui was defeated, Nuko and Tuahungia 

 being slain. The invaders fled, and were pursued by Ngati Tama as far as 

 Wai-paruparu. After this invasion the inhabitants of the Potaka Pa (just 

 above the Awa-ua Pa) heard that they were about to be attacked by the 

 Ngati Apa and other tribes. At this time there were no Nga^i Tama in 

 the pa — they were all away at Taupo ; while most of the Ngati Whiti and 

 Ngati Upoko-iri were away at Here-taunga. • Before they could obtain 

 assistance the taua came down on them. Te Kahu-o-te-rangi, of the Ngati 

 Apa, and Nga-makako, of the Tu-heke-rangi, were the principal chiefs, and 

 their followers immbered eight hundred men, gathered from Whanga-nui, 

 Whanga-ehu, and Turakina. When the taua reached Potaka, they found 

 that the people of this pa (mostly Ngati Hine-manu), although warned of 



