512 
HONGI. 
in fixing his desires upon war, as a means of acquiring the 
power longed for to make him a great man like King 
George, dissuaded Hinaki from proceeding there, and 
hearing how very ill Hongi had been, he at once complied 
with his wish, and agreed to return to New Zealand with 
Hongi and Waikato, whilst they were all thus living together 
under Mr. Marsdeffis hospitable roof, Hongi gave the first 
intimation of his savage disposition. Hinaki was a Chief 
from the Thames, Hongi told him one day that he had heard 
one of his people had been killed by some of the Thames 
tribes, and he must have satisfaction ; then, thrusting out 
his tongue and distorting his countenace, he said with a con- 
temptuous sneer, “ Make haste home, put your pa in a state 
of defence, for as soon as I can assemble my people I shall 
fight you in vain did Hinaki try to persuade him to make 
peace ; they sat at the same table, slept under the same roof, 
and sailed in the same ship, no one would have supposed they 
were enemies ; Hinaki, finding Hongi was in earnest, and 
that there was no prospect of peace, hastened home, and 
assembled all his forces to resist the invader, who having 
given his enemy time to prepare, soon made his appearance 
at the head of three thousand men, determined to turn the 
deadly gifts he had received to account, without loss of 
time ; although the tribe he went to attack was related to 
his own, still the pleasure of trying the efficacy of his mili- 
tary stores prevailed over every other feeling : the battle, 
however, was for a long time doubtful. Hinaki was a man 
of noble form, and determined courage, and though fighting 
on unequal terms, he still maintained the combat, until 
Hongi, arranging his men in the form of a wedge, and 
placing himself at the apex, directed his men to wheel down 
to the right or left, according to circumstances : at last he 
shot Hinaki, who did not fall until he had received four 
balls ; his savage conqueror rushed forward, and with his 
English clasp-knife scooped out the eye of his expiring 
enemy, and instantly swallowed it, he then stabbed him in 
the neck, and drank his warm blood, as it gushed forth from 
the wound. 
