74 Transactions, — Miscellaneous. 



sting of the ray — of wliicli everyone appeared to stand in great dread. As 

 the time approached for commencing hostilities, all hearts were filled with 

 alarm, and as this feeling of dread increased the older chiefs felt that some- 

 thing must he done to counteract it, or their defeat and destruction were 

 certain. They decided, therefore, to take the initiative, and to commence 

 hostilities at once. Then Maru rose and called upon the veteran warriors, 

 the heroes of former hattles, to recount the story of their deeds so as to 

 inspire the tribe with courage :; — " Rise up, Te Kane, and tell the people 

 what thou achieved at Whanga nui a tara !" But Te Kane kept his seat, and 

 replied: " Ah! that was accomplished in the midst of thousands supporting 

 me, but here, single-handed, what can I do !" Turning to another, he said : 

 " Rise up, Manawa, and tell the story of thy brave deeds at Waihao!" 

 But Manawa only repeated Te Kane's words : " They were done amidst 

 supporting thousands." One after another the heroes were appealed to, 

 but all in vain; till Maru turned to Rakai tauwheke : "Rise, Wheke !" 

 " Yes," he said, "I wUl; since all these brave men decline, I will force the 

 way — I will charge the foe — I will lead the people on to victory ! Rouse 

 thyself, Pohatu ! Rouse thyself, seer ! Dig the wells, rear the mounds 

 that you may see how the tatare (dog-fish) of Tane moehau (his mother) 

 will burst the nets!" The bold bearing of Rakai tauwheke revived the 

 drooping spirits of his tribe. His words inspired them with courage ; and 

 the omens given by Pohatu decided Ngai Tahu to attack the enemy at once. 

 They s^^armed up the hill-side that separated them from the pa ; but 

 Ngatimamoe, thanks to Kiti, were well informed of their movements, and 

 before they could reach the top, came pouring over the ridge, filling the air 

 with their yells of defiance, and raining down their dreaded spears upon the 

 advancing ranks. Rakai tauwheke kept well in front, and succeeded in 

 warding off every weapon aimed against him, and finally reached the top of 

 the hill, where he was soon joined by others, and there, by a prodigious 

 display of valour, he completely routed the enemy, who broke and fled in 

 every direction. Tu te uretira pursued after Tu ma taiao, a Ngatimamoe 

 chief married to a sister of Maru, and would have caught him but for an 

 accident to his foot, which obliged him to give up the chase. As he did so 

 he called out to his flying foe : " It is only this painful foot prevents my 

 overtaking you." To which the other sneeringly rex^lied : "Are you the 

 one who can catch by morning the moving feet, swift as the raupo swaying 

 in the wind ?" " Ah !" said Tu te uretha, " Can you escape by morning 

 the cutting toetoe of Turau moa ?" No vain boast, as he afterwards 

 proved. 



Among those who fell upon this occasion was Kana te pu, who had sadly 

 misread the omens. In his island home at Rakiura he dreamt that he 



