346 
Mythology of 
into the ditch, but could not so easily climb up the other 
side: the consequence was, that, being panic-struck, 
they all rushed to the ditches to make their escape; but 
before the foremost ones could reach the opposite side, 
those next to them were upon them, and those behind 
them were upon them again ; so that the ditches were in 
a short time full, and great numbers suffocated : and it 
is stated, upon pretty good authority, that few were 
killed by the Ngapuhis compared with those suffocated 
in the ditches. It is supposed that 1300 or 1400 perished 
in the taking of this place, besides a great many that 
were taken prisoners. This took place about the year 
1823. The Totara, Mauineina, and Matakitaki were 
all taken by Hongi, or Shunghe. 
Previous to any of these three just mentioned, the 
Ngapuhis undertook two expeditions to the East Cape : 
what success attended them, I only know in a general 
way. Several pas, however, were taken ; many men were 
killed, and numbers made prisoners. At this time, perhaps, 
when the Ngapuhis were well supplied with muskets, 
&c., and other tribes were not, it scarcely deserves the 
name of fighting. Besides those that were killed in the 
taking of these pas, no doubt many small parties suffered 
on the way to and from [the place. About a year sub¬ 
sequent to this, but previous to the first three, another 
expedition was fitted out for Rotorua. The alleged 
© 
cause of this was a Ngapuhi chief, who is said to have 
had a very narrow escape from the Rotorua natives 
on his return from the East Cape expedition. Several 
pas were taken at this time at Rotorua; many were 
killed, but the number taken prisoners far exceeded any, 
or perhaps all, that they had previously taken put 
together. The reason of this was, the pas were on 
the islands in the lakes ; and when the pas were taken, 
they had no means of escape. Numbers jumped into 
