W. T. L. Travers. — The Life and Times of Te Rauparaha. 57 



the fires were to keep watch during the night, and occasionally to address the 

 others, saying, " Be strong, oh people, to fight on the morrow if the enemy 

 return. Do not consider life. Consider the valour of your tribe." Besides 

 this, the women were directed to make much noise with their speeches, so that 

 Haiki et-en might hear their voices. This further stratagem appears com- 

 pletely to have deceived Ngatimaniapoto, who did not attempt to molest them 

 any further. During the night, however, a peculiar incident, illustrative of 

 Maori life, occurred, which might have been productive of disaster but for the 

 course taken by Te Rauparaha. Amongst the women who were with the 

 party was Tangahoe, the wife of a chief, who had an infant with her. This 

 child in its restlessness began to cry, and Te Bauparaha, fearing that his 

 stratagem would be betrayed by the cries of the child, told its mother to choke 

 it, saying " I am that child." The parents at once obeyed the command, and 

 killed the child. Towards midnight the river fell considerably, and at low tide 

 the party left their fires and crossed it, continuing their march until they reached 

 a pa of the Ngatitama, greatly rejoicing at their escape. Early on the following 

 morning Bauparaha's party, with a reinforcement of Ngatitama and Ngatiawa, 

 returned to the spot where the fight of the previous afternoon had taken place, 

 and secured the bodies of Tutakara and the others who had been killed* 

 These were taken to Mokau, where they were cut up and eaten, amidst great 

 rejoicings on the part of Ngatiawa and Ngatitama at the chance thus afforded 

 them of paying off some old grudge which they had against Ngatimaniapoto. 

 The success of the stratagems employed by Te Bauparaha on this occasion, 

 added greatly to his renown as a • warrior, and, moreover, invested him with 

 an attribute of almost sanctity, not only in the eyes of his own tribe, but also 

 in those of his allies. Te Bauparaha then joined the main body of his people, 

 who were engaged in the necessary preparations for the resumption of their 

 migration. 



Shortly after this, it would appear that Te Wherowhero and Te Waharoa, 

 deeming the opportunity a good one for striking a deadly blow against 

 Bauparaha, had collected a large force at the head of the Waiapa, with which 

 they marched upon Taranaki, intending to attack the Ngatitoa at Motunui, 

 before the latter could obtain any material assistance from Ngatiawa or 

 Ngatitama, the main body of whom were chiefly stationed at Te Kawaka, 

 Urenui, and other places. The plans of the Waikato leaders were so carefully 

 laid in this respect, that Bauparaha received no intimation of their advance 

 until they were close upon him, but he at once sent intelligence to Kaiaia, 

 the leading chief of the Ngatitama, since better known by the name of Ta 

 Binga Kuri, with instructions to join him at Motunui. However, before 

 Kaiaia could come to his assistance he assembled his own forces, including 

 a small body of Ngatiawa ; and, having a better knowledge of the country 



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