CHAP. XXVI.] NATIVE WARS. 395 



differences which formerly existed between the 

 tribes of both places had been forgotten ; this, how- 

 ever, was not the case : it was secretly concerted by 

 the Rotu-rua natives that they should feast their 

 guests with all honour, and afterwards sing the 

 war-song together ; but that at the end of the 

 song, which terminates with "Let us kill them, 

 let us kill them," every Nga-pui should be sacri- 

 ficed. This murderous plan was put into execu- 

 tion ; two, however, of the intended victims escaped, 

 and brought the news of this treacherous outrage 

 to the Bay of Islands. 



The natives of Rotu-rua were afterwards engaged 

 in war with all the surrounding tribes, with the 

 single exception of the Taupo natives. Their chief 

 conflicts were with the Waikato, the natives at 

 Mata-mata and Tauranga, on the east coast; and, 

 indeed, the history of the Rotu-rua tribe for the last 

 seven years is full of those incidents of robbing and 

 war excursions, with occasional feats of cannibalism, 

 which characterize the feuds so prevalent in this 

 country. Although during the last two years 

 there have been no actual disturbances, yet a 

 durable peace is not yet made. The natives at Mu- 

 ketu, about twenty miles to the southward of Tau- 

 ranga, belong to the same tribe with those of Rotu- 

 rua, and are always their associates in their aggres- 

 sions, especially in those against the natives at 

 Tauranga. Muketu is the only place on the sea- 

 coast which this tribe holds, and their great aim 



