88 Transacticns. 



their coming, were quite unprepared, for a number of men, among whom 

 was the chief Whanau, were surprised and killed while gathering matai- 

 berries. Then the pa was surrounded and the siege commenced, but after 

 four days Te Kata managed to slip out of the pa unseen, and escaped through 

 the enemies' ranks to seek assistance. He fled to Here-taunga to bring over 

 the people of the Ngati Hine-manu Tribe, who were living there. He was 

 successful, and the chiefs Tao-rangi. Maka. Toia-iho, and Tu-te-rangi, with 

 their men, hastened back with Te Kata to help their kinsmen. Under 

 cover of darkness they obtained entrance to the pa by ropes being thrown 

 to them ; and next morning, being so strengthened, a sortie was made on 

 the besiegers, who quickly discovered, during the fight that ensued, how 

 the garrison had been strengthened. 80 many of the enemy were killed 

 by this sudden onslaught that they thought discretion the better part of 

 valour, and so decided to sue for peace. 



Te Kaliu-o-te-rangi called out his desire to Tao-rangi, who agreed to the 

 request, so Te Kahu-o-te-rangi was taken into the pa, where presents of 

 food were made and hakas sung, and so the peace was confirmed. 



In this fight, which was called Tini-o-te-kotiri (on accomit of the large 

 number taking part in it), the Ngati Apa party killed Tama-kahuri-rangi, 

 of the pa, and his death was afterwards avenged by a party from Te Awa-rua 

 Pa, who travelled as far as Manga-whero taking prisoners, who were killed 

 and eaten. They also journeyed to Turakina, where the Ngati Tu-heke- 

 rangi and the Ngati Wai-riki were severely defeated. But though defeated 

 in this fight they were by no means conquered : the spirit of battle only 

 burned with a fiercer flame, and the shame and ignominy which tarnished 

 their proud name had to be wiped out at all cogt. On reaching Whanga-nui 

 they at once reconstructed, more determined than ever to wipe out their 

 defeats, and this time cautiously divided their forces, one half going to 

 attack Ngati Hine-manu and Ngati Hau-iti on the east side of the Rangi- 

 tikei River, and the other half going to attack Ngati Tama and Ngati Whiti 

 on the western side. This time the fortune of war was with them — Ngati 

 Tama were defeated, and their chief Te Hainga and many others slain. 

 And so the gentle game of " tit for tat " went on. Ngati Tama now sought 

 utu for those deaths, and started from Motu-kawa with vengeance quivering 

 in every nerve of their bodies. Again they were successful at Turakina, 

 where the chief Tap utu and several of his men met their death and " chief's 

 burial." After this victory Ngati Tama returned to the western side of the 

 Rangi-tikei, and when they arrived they fomid new troubles had commenced, 

 and fresh work was in store for them ; for their kinsman Rangi-pa-whitiri 

 (Whare-pu-rakau's son) had just been despatched to the happy hunting- 

 grounds. This chief had two wives, one belonging to the Ngati Kahu-ngunu, 

 and the other, whose name was Hine-iro, was related to the Ngati Tama and 

 the Ngati Whiti tribes. Rangi-pa-whitiri collected food for a feast, and 

 took the food so gathered to the first-mentioned wife as a present to her. 

 Hine-iro was very angry about this, for she considered the food had been 

 gathered on her land, consequently it should not have been given to a 

 stranger ; so she gathered together a war-party of the Rua-kopiri and killed 

 her husband Rangi-pa-wliitivi. When the enraged lady's taua had com- 

 pleted this mission they returned to Whanga-nui. 



Then Ngati Tama and Ngati ^Vhiti started off to avenge his death under 

 the chiefs Hoko-o-te-rangi and his uncle Te Kiore ; and at Pakaka (Karioi) 

 they killed Tu-rere, and captured his son Tukai-ora. When Tukai-ora was 

 taken prisoner he was loaded with calabashes, which were to hold the flesh 



