W. T. L. Travers.— The Life and Times of Te Rauparaha. 65 
engaged, was directed against a pa at Paikakariki, occupied by the Muaupoko 
who had fled from Waikiekie, which was taken after an obstinate struggle, 
in which many of the occupants were slain, the conquerors remaining in 
possession for nearly two months for the purpose of consuming their bodies 
and the stores of provisions they found in the pa. They were there suddenly 
attacked by the Ngatikahungunu from Wanganuiatera and the surrounding 
country, and driven upon Waikanae with considerable loss. This event, coupled 
with the threatening attitude assumed by that powerful tribe, and the fact that 
the remnants of the Muaupoko, Rangitane, and Ngatiapa, were again collecting 
in the vicinity of their former settlements, determined Rauparaha to abandon 
the main land, and to withdraw the whole of his people to Kapiti until he 
could obtain the assistance (which he still confidently expected) of his kindred 
at Taupo and Maungatautari. He had no sooner retired to Kapiti, than the 
` Rangitane erected a large pa at Hotuiti, on the north side of the Manawatu, 
within the tract now known as the Awahou Block, where they collected in 
force, and were joined by three Ngatiapa chiefs of note. Rauparaha hearing of 
this, determined to attack them, and he and Rangihaeata marched to Hotuiti 
with a well appointed taua, accompanied by Pikinga, who, on the arrival of 
the party before the pa, was sent into it to direct the Ngatiapa chiefs to retire 
to the district occupied by that tribe on the north side of the Rangitikei river. 
This they declined to do, and Rauparaha then sent messengers to the Rangi- 
tane, offering peace, and desiring that their chiefs should be sent to his camp 
to settle the terms. Being advised by the Ngatiapa chiefs to accept the offer, 
they sent their own head men to Rauparaha’s quarters, where they were at 
once ruthlessly slain, and whilst the people in the pa, ignorant of this 
slaughter, and believing that hostilities were suspended, were entirely off 
their guard, it was rushed by the Ngatitoa, and taken after a very feeble 
resistance, the greater number of the unfortunate people and their families, as 
well as the three Ngatiapa chiefs, being slaughtered and devoured, such 
prisoners as were taken being removed to Waikanae in order to undergo 
the same fate. After this treacherous affair, Rauparaha and his force returned 
to Waikanae, where they indulged in feasting and rejoicing, little dreaming 
that any attempt would be made to attack them. It appears, however, that 
the Ngatiapa at Rangitikei, incensed at the slaughter of their three chiefs, 
determined to revenge their loss, and for this purpose had collected a con- 
siderable war party, which was readily joined by the refugees from Hotuiti 
and by a number of Muaupoko from Horowhenua. Led by Te Hakeke, they 
fell upon the Ngatitoa at Waikanae during the night, killing upwards of 
sixty of them, including many women and children, amongst the latter being 
the four daughters of Te Pehi. At the commencement of the attack, a canoe 
was despatched to Kapiti for reinforcements, which were at once sent, and 
I 
