36 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. II. 
the corpse, by means of a knot, which they recognized 
as oi pakeha tying, and never used by the Mauri peo- 
ple. This, even if true, was of course very insufficient 
proof; as a native might have done the deed, and then 
tied the pakeha knot in order to throw the suspicion 
on the wrong shoulders. 
The continuation of this belief among the natives, 
and the flocking of large numbers into the pas in and 
near the town, whether to weep over their relative or 
to discuss the matter, induced a serious apprehension 
that an attack was meditated by them. To inspire 
confidence, Mr. Murphy invited a large number of 
settlers to attend at the court-house on the following 
day, Friday the 6th, and swore them in as special con- 
stables for a fortnight. During Saturday and Sunday 
great excitement prevailed ; armed watches were kept ; 
and some foolish and timid people raised false alarms 
by spreading exaggerated reports and firing guns during 
the night. The natives continued to talk and bluster 
in the different pas in their usual noisy way ; and an 
instance was shown of their imaginative powers by the 
minute representation of the whole proceeding as suj)- 
posed to have taken place, performed by a chief in one 
of the villages before a large audience of both races. 
On Monday morning there was a large assemblage 
at the court-house ; and one of the special constables 
proved the use of calling out undisciplined men and 
arming them on an emergency, by shooting a man in the 
next rank accidentally through the leg. Mr. Murphy 
published a " Government Notice " this morning de- 
claring that there was no danger ; but appointing 
commanders of the volunteers, places of rendezvous, 
special constables, and signals of alarm. 
Two days afterwards the natives met, and jjerformed 
their funeral ceremonies over the corpse ; after which 
