MANIHERA AND KEREOPA. 
563 
bodies of the tribe,, alluding to those who had been slain 
by the Nga ti ruanui in their former wars ; they said, that 
although they deferred the journey, they could not forget 
they were tapu, or devoted to the Lord. 
It is necessary here to state the cause of the great enmity 
which the Taupo natives entertained towards Manihera, as 
belonging to the Nga ti ruanui tribe. In 1841, Tautekaand 
several other Taupo Chiefs, headed a taua (or fight) against 
Waitotara ; they were all slain, and some, who were spared 
after the battle, and had food given them, were afterwards 
put to death by another party, which was indignant at their 
lives having been thus preserved, this act was never for- 
gotten. The Taupos said, after they had shaken hands with 
their prisoners, and fed them, they killed them in cold blood, 
and, therefore, they determined to murder the first they 
could meet with from that tribe, as a satisfaction for the 
treacherous act. 
Manihera and his companion knew this, and without waiting 
until Enau returned, wearied with his long absence, their zeal 
overcame their prudence and urged them to commence this 
mission of love. On the 6th of February 1847, they left 
Wanganui. 
One part of the duty to which they devoted themselves, 
was to remonstrate with those who were still living in hos- 
tility to the British Government, as well as to proclaim the 
Gospel, and urge them to embrace it. They, therefore, first 
bent their steps to Poroutawao, where Rangihaeata resided 
after his retreat from Porirua. They reached his abode, 
and plainly, but affectionately, spoke to him ; he replied 
to their address by laying his hand edgewise on the back 
of his own neck, intimating to them that they were expos- 
ing themselves to great danger, by the step they were 
taking ; but he treated them with much respect, and made 
a feast, advising them to proceed no further. They thence 
crossed over to the east coast, and after a very long journey, 
reached Rotorua, where they remained several days. Mr. 
Chapman, the Missionary there, was much interested with 
them. I had given them a letter for him, and by mistake it 
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