Chap. XV. RAUPERAHA'S STRATAGEMS, 371 
Every one who knew Rauperaha at once understood, 
that he had taken this line in order to secure the 
alliance of the missionary natives, who were now a 
very large and influential party among the inhabitants 
of Otaki and the neighbouring country, i.-.-.uvr • : 
To the other natives he was constantly showing a pair 
of handcuffs taken from one of the constables who was 
slain, and exciting them to resistance by saying that 
these were meant to take the young and strong men 
first, and not weak old men like himself ! His wife 
and his slave-women wore the rings of the murdered 
men. His houses were full of their clothes, their arms, 
and their watches ; a tent belonging to them was pitched 
ostentatiously in the pa, and various other articles were 
hung about as though in triumph after a victory. And 
yet he went to chapel every morning and evening ! Mr. 
Spain, who had been deputed hither by the Wellington 
Magistrates to assure the natives that the White people 
would not attempt to revenge JWairau, but would 
leave it to the Governor, had reported on his return 
that all was pacific and quiet ; and Mr. Hadfield, who 
had accompanied Mr. Spain on that mission, and whom 
I met on my way to TVaikanae, made me turn away 
from him much hurt, when he told me that these poor 
men had only acted in self-defence against people who 
did very wrong ; and that it would be not only unjust 
and illegal, but most imprudent, to attempt to take 
them or try them for their deed. 
I would not give up my flax operations at Otaki^ as I 
thought it better to continue the same friendly inter- 
course as before with my Ngatiraukawa friends, as a 
convincing proof that no hostility between the two races 
generally would follow from the deeds done by two of 
their number. And I trusted to the friends whom I 
had thus made for protection in such dangerous vicinity 
2b2 
