Chap. XV. EARTHQUAKE. 367 
men and meet us at Rangitikei. He assured me that 
Raitperaha was very likely to set slaves to watch for 
me and shoot me on the way, if I did not take this pre- 
caution, though he would not dare to touch me openly 
in the midst of my friends the Ngatiraukawa. So I 
engaged that we should go to meet E Ahu at Rangi- 
tikei, as soon as I should receive letters from Colonel 
Wakefield, and I should hear that the escort was there. 
Having heard in reply from both E Ahu and Colonel 
Wakefield, I prepared to start. In the meanwhile, 
Wahine iti and I had felt the utmost confidence in 
each other. Far from keeping him uBder surveillance 
as a security for my safe journey, I scarcely saw him 
more than every other day ; for he was living on the 
south side of the river with E Para and some relatives 
from Taupo, who took him out pig-hunting in the 
country towards the Wangaihu, whilst I lived in the 
town of Petre on the north bank. 
A few days before I started, the most severe earth- 
quake occurred that I had yet felt. 
This was on the 8th of July. The day had been dull 
and calm, and a little heavy rain had fallen about noon. 
After this, the wind breathed lightly up the river, and 
then shifted in a sudden squall to N.W. with some 
more rain. After this squall, a curious mist drove 
swiftly up the river from the sea, such as I had never 
seen before. It was in a light thin stratum about 60 
feet above the ground, and did not extend either to the 
level of the river or to the tops of the hills. Then the 
mist cleared away, and the afternoon became warm and 
fine at about three. 
Two hours afterwards a sudden waving motion of 
the earth commenced from the direction of Taranaki, 
accompanied by a low rumbling noise. The motion 
continued to increase in force, with occasional wriggles. 
