Stack. — Traditional History of the South Island Maoris. 77 



he iutended to take a long journey. When his arrangements were com- 

 pleted, he took one fish, and fastening it to the end of a rod, bore it on his 

 shoulder to Wahau. His tribe no sooner saw him than they recognized the 

 symbol which indicated a troubled mind, and immediately guessed his errand. 

 They gave him a hearty welcome and crowded eagerly round to hear the 

 story of his wrongs. As he detailed the various circumstances their indig- 

 nation rose higher and higher, and when he proposed to lead them against 

 the Ngatimamoe J^ouug and old shouted with delight. It was agreed that 

 the close relationship existing between himself and his wives shielded them 

 from XDunishment, but that the insult they had offered must be wiped out 

 by the blood of then- tribe. Fearing to go near Tu te ureth'a lest the enemy 

 should be warned, they took a very chcuitous route and came upon the 

 doomed pa at dawn. Apoka knowing it was the custom of the place to go 

 early every day to fish, placed his men in ambush round the pa ; dh'ecting 

 Uhikore, a warrior famed for his bravery, to lie in wait under the jjrincipal 

 chief's canoe. His arrangements were scarcely completed before Paua 

 himself a^^peared. He was a very tall man, and so powerful that, unaided, 

 he could launch a war canoe. He placed his shoulder against the bow of 

 his canoe to push it as usual into the water, when Uhikore rose and felled 

 him to the ground. The cry that Paua was killed struck terror into the 

 hearts of the Ngatimamoe, and ere they could recover themselves the place 

 was stormed and taken. A few only escaped ; the rest were either eaten or 

 reduced to slavery.* 



Apoka, whose hatred seemed implacable, resolved to destroy that portion 

 of Ngatimamoe over whom Tu te uretira ruled. He sent Uhikore clothed in 

 the spoils of Paua to inform him of his design. As he approached, the 

 garments he wore were recognized by Paua's relations, who bewailed his sad 

 fate with loud lamentations. Deserted by Tu te uretha, who returned with 

 Uhikore to the camp of his victorious countrymen, and dreading an attack, 

 the Ngatimamoe abandoned the settlements, and fled down the coast towards 

 Kaikoura, where they remained undisturbed for some years. Having chosen 

 a strong position at Peketa, on the hiU-side at the mouth of the Kahutara, 

 they built a fortified pa, and being joined by other sections of the tribe, they 

 were emboldened to attack a fighting party of the Ngai Tabu. They suc- 

 ceeded in capturing all the canoes but one, that of Te Kane, which escaped 

 with the loss of the most of the crew. This led to a renewal of hostilities 

 between the two tribes ; a battle was fought at Opokihi, and again on the 

 banks of the Kahutara, in both which engagements Ngatimamoe were 

 defeated. They then retired within their fortifications, and Ngai Tabu laid 

 siege, but failed for many months to effect an entrance. A council of chiefs 



* Fall of Waipapa is placed by some before tbe battle of Ika a wliatiu-oa. 



