344 
HOKE HEKE. 
anxious to see the strange sight,—alluding to the flagstaff and 
loop-holes in the block house. 
This large force encamped about a mile from the town, out 
of the range of the Hazard's guns. Several skirmishes took 
place, Lieutenant Philpott was taken prisoner; they took 
away his pistols, but, having danced the war dance around 
him, they returned one pistol, and good humouredly let him go, 
bidding him take more care of himself for the future. On the 
Sunday, one of the Missionaries went and preached to them 
from James, whence came wars and fightings. When he had 
finished, Ileke bid him go and preach the same sermon to the 
sailors and soldiers, who equally needed his warnings. 
On the evening of the 10th of March, Heke went with a party 
of 200 men, and placed himself in ambuscade near the block 
house, whilst Kawiti, at the head of a similar number, advanced 
upon the town, not to injure the settlers, as he afterwards said, 
but to draw off the attention of the sailors from Heke’s attack 
on the block house. About four o’clock in the morning of the 
11 th, the inhabitants of Kororareka were aroused by the sound 
of musketry. Kawiti was making his descent upon the town, 
when his course was arrested by Captain Robertson, at the head 
of about twenty-five men, who defended a narrow defile against 
an overwhelming force. A sharp encounter took place, in 
which six or seven of the sailors were killed, and as many 
more wounded, amongst whom was the Captain, who had 
suffered so severely that his life was at first despaired of; 
but he eventually recovered. He showed great bravery, and 
killed several with his own hand. Kawiti lost near twenty 
men, and amongst them several high Chiefs, and he had 
many wounded. 
Ileke succeeded in taking the block house, and cutting 
down his enemy, the flagstaff; he then danced the war dance 
with his men on the hill, in token of victory. 
The natives finally gained the day, and the explosion of the 
gunpowder magazine induced the British to evacuate the town, 
which was safely effected under the guns of the Hazard. The 
natives themselves appeared surprised at their victory and at 
the abandonment of the town, which thev for a Ions' time for- 
