Chap. XV. EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE MASSACRE. 393 
over the heads of some of the defenceless men. Mr. 
Thompson observing this, said to Rauperaha, " Kati ;" 
which he repeated, and the others then desisted. Ran- 
giliaeata had wounded his foot by treading on a sharp- 
pointed stump ; and Captain England, seeing the nature 
of the wound, took a penknife from his pocket, which 
Bampton handed to him to cut out the splinter with. 
Having succeeded in doing so, he offered to return the 
knife ; but Captain England signified that he would 
make him a present of it. Gold was offered as a ransom, 
but ineffectually. Two natives then approached Captain 
Wakefield, and, seizing him, attempted to strip off his 
coat. Colouring highly, it seems he endeavoured to 
draw another pistol, as Mr. Howard was heard to say, 
" For God's sake, sir, do nothing rash !" or words to 
that effect. Other natives laid hold of Mr. Thompson, 
and were taking his coat and watch. 
Up to this point there is the evidence of White men 
and eye-witnesses for all that I have stated. The only 
man that escaped of all who surrendered themselves to the 
natives, and from whose deposition I have gathered the 
incidents I have related as occurring after the surrender, 
was George Bampton ; who, at this moment observing 
the attention of the natives drawn off him, slipped into 
the bush on a natural pretence, and succeeded in con- 
cealing himself. While lying there he heard some per- 
sons passing near him, one of whom (he believes Mr. 
Howard) said to the other, " For God's sake, if we are 
" to die, let us die together." To whom this was said he 
could not tell. After having lain there near ten mi- 
nutes in all, he heard about five guns fired ; and im- 
mediately after a heavy dull sound, as it appeared to 
him, of a beating or chopping on the ground. He heard 
no cries or screams. Another of the party who escaped 
before the actual surrender, and lay hid at a greater dis- 
