78 Transactions. 
should be carried out by an act as treacherous as that by which the death of 
Te Pehi and his companions had been brought about; and whilst still revolving 
in his mind the best means of accomplishing this design, an European vessel 
arrived at Kapiti from Sydney, after having passed through Foveaux Strait 
and visited the Auckland Islands for the purpose of leaving a party of 
sealers at the latter place. Amongst the passengers by this vessel was Hohepa 
Tamaihengia (who lately died at Porirua), a near relative of Rauparaha, who, 
on reaching Foveaux Strait, had heard of the murder of Te Pehi and his 
companions from the Maoris there. Hohepa himself at once conceived the 
project of seizing and killing some of the Ngaitahu chiefs in utu for their 
death, and entered into arrangements with the master of the vessel to proceed 
to Akaroa for that purpose. This plan, however, having become known to 
some European passengers who were about to join a whaling party in Queen 
Charlotte Sound, they dissuaded the master from carrying it into effect, and 
the vessel proceeded direct to Kapiti. Hohepa communicated his design 
to Rauparaha, who determined to follow it out on the first convenient 
opportunity. Sometime after the departure of this vessel, the English brig 
“ Elizabeth” arrived at Kapiti. This vessel was commanded by a person 
named Stewart, to whom Rauparaha offered a large cargo of flax if he would 
carry him and a chosen party of warriors to Akaroa, for the purpose of 
seizing Tamaiharanui, the principal chief of the Ngaitahu, who had been 
present at Kaiapoi, at the time of the murder of Te Pehi, and had indeed 
taken an active part in counselling it. 
Stewart assented to the proposal, and conveyed Rauparaha and his 
warriors to Akaroa, where the European scoundrel, at the instigation of his 
charterer, opened communication with the unsuspecting Tamaiharanui, and 
ultimately induced him, with his wife and daughter, by the promise of some 
guns and powder, to come on board, where he was at once seized by 
Rauparaha, who, with his men, had up to this time remained concealed in the 
hold of the vessel. Having bound the captured chief they remained quiet 
until nightfall, and then, landing in the ship’s boats, attacked the Ngaitahu in 
their village, of whom they killed large numbers. The bodies of the slain 
were taken on board the vessel, which at once set sail for Kapiti. On the 
passage up the successful ¢awa feasted on these bodies, using the ship’s coppers 
for cooking them. It may be that when Stewart engaged his vessel for this 
expedition he was not made aware of the intentions of Te Rauparaha, or did 
not foresee the results which followed, whilst he was certainly unable to 
prevent the atrocities which were perpetrated on board of her, but his name 
will always be infamous for his connection with this atrocious affair. It 
appears that the unfortunate Tamaiharanui attempted to commit suicide, in 
consequence of which he was chained in the cabin, but his hands being free, 
