44 Transactions. 



The question of the whereabouts of Hongi's armour \fas discussed by 

 some of the chiefs of Nga Puhi lately, but it seems to have disappeared. It 

 is supposed by some to have been stolen by two slaves. Being chain armour, 

 it would disappear more quickly in a mass of rust than plate armour. I 

 am informed that for many years after Hongi's death the armour lay in a 

 solid wooden box deposited in the midst of a clump of tea-tree (manuka) 

 (a icahi tapi() near the spot where Hongi died, at Papuke, Whangaroa. On 

 the death of his son Hare Hongi, in the eighties, the various weapons and 

 relics of his illustr-ious father were gathered up and placed round him at 

 his tangi", and buried with him. There can be no mistake about Hongi's 

 armour, as it is inscribed as presented to Hongi, a prince of New Zealand, 

 by H.M. George IV, with date of presentation.* 



If there is, as my correspondent says, an inscription on Hongi's armour, 

 it can only have been on the cap. Judging from a sketch made from life 

 by Gilfillan, in which Hongi is wearing what might be a steel cap, the cap 

 and shirt of mail might have been of Indian workmanship. 



It is fairl)^ certain, from Native tradition, that at the peacemaking 

 after the fall of Mokoia Hongi gave his helmet to the man who had " killed " 

 him, Te Awa-awa ; and many persons believe it t :> be buried in that district 

 (Mokoia) at the present time. 



Subsequently I received from my friend Wiremu Hipango. of Wai- 

 totara, a correct account of part of the history of the armour. Hf 

 says, " It was myself and Hori Pukehika, at my request, made a search 

 in 1892 and found it. The helmet could not be found. I heard after- 

 wards it was buried in Pipiriki Cave.f I have heard from my own people 

 that the armour belonged to Titore, a Nga Puhi chief, and is not the 

 armour that Hongi had. Titore's armour was given to Te Wherowhero, 

 and by him to Te Heuheu, the Taupo chief, and he it was who gave it to a 

 relative of his named Aperahama Ruka, who married Wiki Tumuo, a niece 

 of Hori Kingi. Te Anaua (uncle to Major Kemp), Ruka, and his wife 

 brought it to Whanganui. and presented it to Hori Kingi te Anaua, and 

 they kept it at Pukehika Pa. Another part of the story I was told : Titore 

 was told a gun could not pierce the armour. Titore put it on, and told his 

 son to aim straight at his head and fire. The son took his gun and made 

 steady aim, but he was shaking so he told his father to take the armour 

 ofi. So it was placed on a stump, and he took the fire. The bullet ran 

 through. So his son said to his father, ' Ha ! if you had had that on, you 

 would be a dead man.' If the helmet were to be found I believe the bullet- 

 hole could be seen. I believe that to be the reason why Titore would not 

 care to keep it any longer. The armour was presented to Titore in Sydney. 

 As to Tokiwhati's present, it is another matter." 



A little later I made further inqixiries from Mr. Percy Smith, and he 

 \vTote to Wiremu Hipango, and Wiremu wrote to Tawhiao, of Taumarunui, 

 and afterwards sent Mr. Smith the following letter, which is interesting, 

 and explains some things rather more in detail : — 



" To Mr. Smith. [Translation.] 



" Salutations in this new year. Here is the letter of Tawhiao of 

 Taumarunui. explaining about your letter to him asking for information 



* Letter from F. J. Hagger, Esq. 



t This I believe to be incorrect. It was, I am informed on good authority, for manv 

 years at Tanmaiimui, but has now been lost. (Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxviii, pi. xvi.) 



