THE NINETEENTH WAR : IN ABYSSINIA. 37 



owner; but before this act of restitution was done, irreparable mischief 

 had been effected. 



The New Zealanders had made up their minds that, whatever 

 might be our professions, our intention was slowly but surely to de- 

 spoil them of their right to the soil. The war in 1864 was therefore 

 the sequence of the war in i860, as the Maories considered they 

 were not really defeated ; that they were in possession of Taranaki, 

 which they regarded as a conquest. 



The result was that, when a military force was sent to resume 

 possession of Taranaki, the military escort were attacked and killed 

 The first shot having been fired. War became inevitable. 



The War-cry raised in Taranaki was the signal for the tribe of 

 Warikatos, who sympathised with their fellow-countrymen, to rise in 

 rebellion. 



For a time Auckland was in danger ; but the energy of General 

 Cameron saved it, and confined the War to a narrow limit. 



The New Zealanders were treated as " rebels,'' taunted as 

 " niggers," and branded as " traitors,'' and threatened with spoliation, 

 and they naturally rose in Arms : and who will blame them, for Eng- 

 land might have ensured their loyalty by a policy of justice and con- 

 ciliation ? The policy of England, under the influence of a Military 

 faction, was to exterminate the Maories, and thus secure Peace ; 

 but it was the Peace of the Tomb, a Peace that could only cover 

 England with dishonour. 



THE NINETEENTH WAR: IN ABYSSINIA. 



1867. 



The unhappy complication and War in Abyssinia is a striking 

 instance of the tendency of Englishmen to meddle with what does 

 not concern them. 



It appears that in 1840, Mr. Walter Plowden persuaded Lord 

 Palmerston to appoint him Consul for Abyssinia, and the year 

 following, acting in the name of England, he negotiated a Treaty 

 with Ras-Ali, the Ruler of Gondar, for at that time he was wagin? a 

 War with his rebellious subjects. 



