530 
TE RAUPARAHA AND RANGIHAEATA. 
which was coDsidered such a favorable omen for the besiegers, 
that the defenders were disheartened, and the place was taken. 
Rauparaha hemmed in on every side, narrowly escaped being 
captured. About this time, Pehi returned from England, 
having obtained from the thoughtless- kindness of those who 
there saw him, a large collection of guns and ammunition. 
Hekeringa, a noble-looking Chief, who was celebrated for 
his very fine rnoho , had gone to reside at Arapawa, where 
he was murdered by the Ngaitahu ; being a great favorite 
of Rangihaeata, although he had fled on account of his not 
having conducted himself with propriety towards that Chief's 
wives, he sought satisfaction for his death, and fought with 
the Ngaitahu, killing a great number of them. 
Pehi went to see Tamai hara nui at the Waharaupo, where 
Hakitara, a Ngapuhi Chief, with a number of his tribe, was 
staying; this Chief remembering the death of Wairo at 
Rotokakahi, persuaded Tamai hara nui to let them murder 
Pehi, as a payment for it, he consented. Pehi and forty of 
his companions, all great Chiefs, were murdered, although 
they were the friends of Tamai hara nui, and then his guests. 
Rauparaha himself had a very narrow escape, he was pur- 
sued, and finding his canoe was near being overtaken, 
having rounded a point he jumped into the sea, and dived 
a considerable distance, then coming up beneath a mass of 
floating sea weed, he remained a long time with only his 
mouth above the water, until his baffled pursuers gave up 
their search, he safely reached Kapiti, with a full determina- 
tion of having ample revenge for those treacherous murders, 
and circumstances too soon gave him the desired opportunity. 
On the arrival of a vessel called the Elizabeth, commanded 
by a fellow named Stewart, who came to trade for flax, Te 
Rauparaha offered to give him a full cargo, provided he 
would convey him, with a hundred of his followers, to Wa- 
haraupo ; influenced by the hope of gain, Stewart lent him- 
self as an instrument to accomplish the will of those savages ; 
they embarked, and he sailed direct to the abode of Tamai 
hara nui ; the Captain sent a youth named Cowell* in the 
* This man is still living : he married a native woman, has a large family, 
and resided on the Waipa. 
