Stack. — TradUioval History nfthc So}ith Inland Maoris. 81 



a stone axe. Manawa staggered forward, but before he reached his com- 

 panions he received a still more violent blow on the head. Immediately he 

 got into the house the door was closed, and the old chief, after wiping the 

 blood from his face, addressed his men. He told them that their case was 

 hopeless. Caught in a trap and surrounded by overpowering numbers they 

 must prepare to die ; all that he desired was that an attempt should be 

 made to convey to the Ngai Taliu tidings of their cruel fate. Many volun- 

 teered for the dangerous service. One having been chosen from the 

 number, Manawa, after smearing his forehead with the blood from his 

 own wound, charged him to be brave, and committing him to the care of 

 his atuas sent him forth. Hundreds of spears were aimed at the 

 messenger, who fell transfixed before he had advanced a pace. Again and 

 again the attempt to escape was repeated, but in vain. The imprisoned 

 band grew dispirited, and Manawa failed to obtain a ready response to his 

 call for more volunteers. At length a youth closely related to him offered 

 to make a last attempt. The moment was propitious ; the enemy, certain 

 of success, guarded the door with less vigilance. Smeared with the dying 

 chief's blood, and charged with his last message to his family and tribe, 

 Tahua sprang forth ; warding off the spears hurled at him and evading his 

 pursuers among the houses and enclosures he reached the outer fence, over 

 which he climbed in safety and turned to rush down the hill. But the 

 only path bristled with sjoears. His enemies were pressing upon him. One 

 chance for life remained. The pa stood on the edge of a cliff ; by leaping 

 down upon the beach below he might escape. He made the attempt ; and 

 a shout of triumph rose from his foes when they saw his body extended upon 

 the sands ; but their rage knew no bounds when he sprang up, and in a 

 loud voice defied them to track the swift feet of the son of Tahu. To allay 

 the suspicions of those whom he met as he fled along the coast, he gave out 

 that he was returning for something forgotten at the last camping-place, 

 and thus successfully passed on to Waipapa. The Ngatimamoe now pro- 

 ceeded to kill and eat the victims of their treachery. 



The Ngai Tahu were quite unmanned by the startling intelligence brought 

 by Tahua. After Manawa' s friendly reception on a previous visit toPakihi, 

 they were unprepared for this act of revenge for the death of Tukiauau's 

 father. They determined to let a year pass before they avenged the death 

 of thek chief, fearing lest a panic might seize them should they fight too soon 

 on ground where blood dear to them had been so recently spilt. They 

 preferred waiting till the grass had overgrown the oven in which Manawa 

 was cooked, and hidden all traces of his sad fate. "When that time arrived 

 a war party was summoned, and it was decided to proceed by sea. All the 

 chiefs except Te Kane were ready on the appointed day, and he was told to 



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