324 
TE RAUPARAHA AND RANGIHAEATA. 
own relatives. This feeling was increased by his collecting 
around him a band of the most worthless characters, whose 
constant excesses became at last so intolerable, that his neigh¬ 
bours arose, and forcibly expelled him from their tribe. 
The first exploit attributed to Te Rauparaha, was his 
cutting off a Nga Puhi Chief, Waero, and 140 of his followers, 
on Motu Tawa, a small island in Roto Kakahi. Leaving 
his friends there, he made his way overland to Taupo and 
Rotoaira. The people of Motuapuhi sought to kill him, hut 
one of the Chiefs became his friend, and hid him in a food-store, 
until he could make his escape. He reached the Wanganui, 
and thence returned to Kawhia, where he gained the aid of 
Tuwhare and his tribe, who thenceforth assumed the command 
until his death, when Rauparaha succeeded him. They 
attacked the Taranaki natives, and took their stronghold, 
Tapuanikau. At Tihoi they erected a pa, and remained there 
some time. On reaching the Wanganui, they encamped at 
the heads for nearly a month, making moki, or canoes of 
the raupo leaf, at Kokohuia. They then quickly crossed the 
river, and attacked the natives at Purua. The pa was taken, 
and about forty men killed. 
Tuwhare and his party proceeded along the coast as far as 
Wairarapa, where they killed the Chief, Rore. 
In returning, Tuwhare noticed the wreck of a vessel, which 
made him think that Cook’s Straits would eventually become 
a place of great resort for the Europeans. He therefore 
advised Te Rauparaha that they should go back to Kawhia, 
and raise as large a force as possible, and then take permanent 
possession of the Straits. Hitherto they had merely destroyed 
the pas, for the sake of plunder. Rauparaha entered into the 
views of Tuwhare; they therefore went to Kawhia,. and 
having there raised a large force, again returned. On reaching 
Putiki pa, at Wanganui, they were received very hospitably by 
a few women, its only inhabitants, their husbands being ab¬ 
sent ; food was cooked for them. Afterwards they arose and 
slew their entertainers, and then pursued their journey 
south. The natives hearing of their coming, took care to 
remove themselves and their property inland. The party took 
