DowNES. — Early History of Rangitikei. Ill 



111 the meantime Pehi Turoa came down to Whanga-ehu to cultivate 

 Ngati Apa's land there, and Te Hakeke asked assistance from Ngati Rau- 

 kawa to drive him off. They consented, and the combined war-party 

 went to Whanga-ehu by way of a road called Pehipehi, which went along 

 close below the Poko-wharo Block, and so they arrived at Mata-tero, where 

 they set fire to the houses of Pehi Turoa, destroyed all his seed, and then 

 retired to Kau-anga-roa, expecting an attack ; but, as they were unmolested, 

 they returned to Rangi-tikei. As Pehi Turoa had gone back to Whanga-nui 

 after leaving his seed-kumaras at Whanga-ehu, he did not return immedi- 

 ately, although he had received word as to his loss by the hands of the Ngati 

 Apa. But, while the other party killed Wai-ina, the Ngati Apa people 

 naturallv thought that Pehi Turoa had done this ; so they built a pa, called 

 Kohuru-po, a little below Mata-tero, on the ^\^lang•a-nl^i side of the Wha- 

 nga-ehu River, and there they waited for the expected attack with a strong 

 garrison of Ngati Apa, Nga-riki, and Tupa-taua, under the command of 

 Tu-ranga-pito. They had not long to wait. A large party of Ngati Rongo- 

 mai-tawhiri, Nga Pae-rangi, and other Whanga-nui tribes, under the leader- 

 ship of Taka-rangi and Tauria, travelled to Whanga-ehu, where they com- 

 menced a night attack. They fought all night, and in the early morning 

 Whanga-nui's great chief Taka-rangi was killed. When the Whanga-nui 

 people saw their leader had fallen they lost heart and fled, though up to 

 this time they had been getting the best of it. Other chiefs of the Ngati 

 Apa taking part in the fight were Aperahama Tipae, Hakaraia, and Rangi- 

 pouri. After the victory Tu-ranga-pito climbed on the palisading of the 

 pa, and sang the following song : — 



Kahei koutou i haere mai ki te liri 



I haere mai koutou ki te patiti ahi 



Hei whakr.hoki riri. ta turikutia i 



Ngati Rougo-niai-tawhiri e 



Wliai roroa i te riri e, 



Whaka rongo ma ra, 



Tenei te hanga kiro kei a au anake 



Hua noa i a wai. he mea purotu koe, 



No raaua nei hoki tahi hiki ra 



Nana ra i waiwaha, 



He waka pakaru kino ki te akau raia ra, i. 



[Translation. ] 

 You came not hither to battle — 

 You came to enjoy the fire ; 

 But, being weary, 



You coukl not stem the battle's tide. 

 You should not follow up warfare. 

 For you are only fit 

 To sit around a fire 

 And feel its glowing heat. 

 Hearken unto me 

 And look upon my face. 

 For I am grieved at this man's death. 

 I thought within myself 

 He would remain with me 

 As my beloved friend ; 

 He taught me all my ways ; 

 But now 



He is but as a pioud canoe 

 Tossed ashore by restless waves. 



This translation gives but a feeble idea of the grim satire of the original, 

 which was yelled and shouted at the top of the voice as a defiant battle-cry. 



