320 
TE HEXJHEU. 
peace, he said, he was known amongst the tribes as a Chief 
who could make peace as well as make war. He listened to 
the advice, and returned with his war party without doing 
any injury, although the town was then in his power, and its 
inhabitants possessed no means of defence. A complaint was 
made against one of his men for stealing a poor man’s coat. 
At the very moment this was being made, the thief approached 
in a canoe, having on the stolen coat. Te Heuheu seeing him, 
rushed upon him like a tiger, threw him into the water, and 
held him under with his powerful grasp, until he was nearly 
drowned, and then pulled the coat off his back and restored it 
to the owner. He gave another proof of his natural peaceable 
disposition by erecting a house for a neighbouring Chief, with 
whom he had long been at variance. This was one of the 
noblest specimens of native architecture, and when finished he 
gave it the expressive name of “ Te riri ka ware ware," the 
burying of anger. This was nearly his last work. He was 
visited by ministers of various denominations, but though he 
received all with great respect, he yet refused to give up the 
faith of his forefathers, and when one exhorted him to be a 
member of his peculiar Church, he is reported to have said, 
“ When you foreigners tell me of so many different roads, and 
each affirms his own to be the only true one, how can I decide ? 
First agree amongst yourselves which is the right way, and 
then I will consider whether I shall take it or not.” He, 
however, accompanied the writer of this sketch to see the most 
lovely part of the vale in which he lived, and said, that shall 
be tapu as a residence for a Missionary, if one should be 
sent him. The principal residence of this Chief was at Te 
Rapa, a small valley at the south-west corner of the Taupo 
Lake. His house was a long building, nearly forty feet in 
length ; it resembled an eight-stalled stable, each compart¬ 
ment being occupied by one of his wives, who were occasionally 
employed weaving mats, whilst he sat at one end silently re¬ 
garding their labors. 
In May, 1846, a remarkable accident (already alluded to) 
terminated the life of this Chief, as well as the lives of his 
wives, and of all his children who were then living with him, 
