78 Transactions. 



should be carried out by an act as treacherous as that by wbicli 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 w^ere 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 Tamaiharanni, the principal chief of the JSTgaitahu, 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 Tamaiharanni, 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 

 w^ere taken on board the vessel, which at once set sail for Kapiti. On the 

 passage up the successful taua 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 Tamaiharanni attempted to commit suicide, in 

 consequence of which he was chained in the cabin, but his hands being free, 



