TE RAUPARAHA AND RANGIHAEATA. 
539 
paid for with blood ; this was what the Chiefs themselves 
expected ; it would have asserted our power, and made a 
salutary impression on the native mind, for it is a fixed 
custom amongst themselves, and in after years, when the 
Middle Island was sold by Taiaroa and the descendants of 
Tamaiharanui, Rangihaeata himself demanded part of the 
payment for the blood of his relatives Pehi and his com- 
panions, who were murdered at Waharaupo, and their claims 
were allowed by Governor Grey, and not doing so, made 
that Chief entertain a very low opinion of British power; he 
is reported to have said, “ He jpaukena te pakeha ,” — The 
Governor is soft, he is a pumpkin. 
After the Wairau affair, Rangihaeata went up the Rangi- 
tikei ; two Wanganui Chiefs pursued after him, and had 
they not been dissuaded by others, would certainly have 
taken him prisoner, and given him up to the Governor, for 
they had no love for him. When the disturbances three 
years later broke out in the Hutt, he went and put himself 
at the head of the hostile natives.* Rauparaha remained 
neutral, but having so many of his relatives engaged in the 
war, who in the native style continued to hold intercourse 
with him, he was suspected, and the Governor ordered the 
Captain of the Calliope to seize him, which was no difficult 
matter, as he continued to reside in his house close to the 
sea-shore. A boat's crew quietly landed one evening, and 
carried him back with them to the ship. 
Although an old man, Rangihaeata accompanied the 
* When Rauparaha heard that Rangihaeata intended to fight with the Euro- 
peans, the following angry conversation took place between the two Chiefs : — 
E mea ana te Rauparaha ki a Ran- Rauparaha said, go to the mountain, 
gihaeata Haere koe ki te maunga kia that you may be smoked to death by 
waka pongia ki te ahi rarauhi. wet fern, alluding to his having to en- 
camp out in the depth of winter, and 
use wet fuel. 
Te mea ana a Rangihaeata haere The answer given was, go you to the 
koe ki te moana kia waka puarutia ki sea, as a relish for potatoes, alluding to 
te tokanga kai maoa. * the custom of placing some fish or flesh 
on the basket of cooked potatoes, as a 
relish, and to his being taken prisoner. 
* These are taken from one of their fables. 
