Srack.— Traditional History of the South Island Maoris. 81 
& stone axe. Manawa staggered forward, but before he reached his com- 
panions he received a still more violent blow on the head. Immediately he 
got into the house the door was closed, and the old chief, after wiping the 
blood from his face, addressed his men. He told them that their case was 
hopeless. Caught in a trap and surrounded by overpowering numbers they 
must prepare to die; all that he desired was that an attempt should be 
made to convey to the Ngai Tahu tidings of their cruel fate. Many volun- 
teered for the dangerous service. One having been chosen from the 
number, Manawa, after smearing his forehead with the blood from his 
own wound, charged him to be brave, and committing him to the care of 
his atuas sent him forth. Hundreds of spears were aimed at the 
messenger, who fell transfixed before he had advanced a pace. Again and 
again the attempt to escape was repeated, but in vain. The imprisoned 
band grew dispirited, and Manawa failed to obtain a ready response to his 
call for more volunteers. At length a youth closely related to him offered 
to make a last attempt. The moment was propitious ; the enemy, certain 
of success, guarded the door with less vigilance. Smeared with the dying 
chief's blood, and charged. with his last message to his family and tribe, 
Tahua sprang forth; warding off the spears hurled at him and evading his 
pursuers among the bins and enclosures he reached the outer fence, over 
which he climbed in safety and turned to rush down the hill. But the 
only path bristled with spears. His enemies were pressing upon him. One 
chance for life remained. The pa stood on the edge of a cliff; by leaping 
down upon the beach below he might escape. He made the attempt; and 
a shout of triumph rose from his foes when they saw his body extended upon 
the sands; but their rage knew no bounds when he sprang up, and ina 
loud voice defied them to track the swift feet of the son of Tahu. To allay 
the suspicions of those whom he met as he fled along the coast, he gave out 
that he was returning for something forgotten at the last eamping-place, 
and thus successfully passed on to Waipapa. The Ngatimamoe now pro- 
ceeded to kill and eat the victims of their treachery. 
The Ngai Tahu were quite unmanned by the startling intelligence brought 
by Tahua. After Manawa's friendly reception on a previous visit to Pakihi, 
ihey were unprepared for this act of revenge for the death of Tukiauau's 
father. They determined to let a year pass before they avenged the death 
of their chief, fearing lest a panic might seize them should they fight too soon 
~ on ground where blood dear to them had been so recently spilt. They 
preferred waiting till the grass had overgrown the oven in which Manawa 
was cooked, and hidden all traces of his sad fate. When that time arrived 
a war party was summoned, and it was decided to proceed by sea. All the 
chiefs except Te Kane were ready on the appointed day, and he was told to 
K 
