354 
MAMAKU. 
The murder made a great sensation, but no one ventured 
there that night to see what had been done. The following 
morning, sevei'al of the settlers, officers, and Putiki natives, 
with the schoolmaster of the Mission Station, went to the 
scene of this tragedy. They met the two children on their 
way to the Mission-house, and afterwards found the eldest 
daughter, to their amazement, still alive, with the baby in her 
lap, covered with her blood, although the cleft in her skull 
extended full six inches from the bridge of the nose to the 
forehead. The cold of the night staunched the blood and 
saved her life. She afterwards recovered, but had a fearful 
bright red seam, nearly a third of an inch wide; a lasting 
remembrance of that dreadful night. She and the two infants 
with the corpses were brought to the town. The timid 
man stated, it was at his wife’s request he left her to seek for 
aid, as she had no fears of their injuring her, but this was 
contradicted by his daughter, who said, her poor mother 
entreated him with teal’s not to abandon them. Imnxediately 
the natives heard of the murder, Ploani Wirimu axxd the Pxxtiki 
Chiefs held a meeting; they resolved to capture the murderers, 
as the best way of proving their innocence of the crime. 
They crossed over the same night, and made the officer in 
command acquainted with their intention; he strangely refused 
his consent, but by the advice of his brother officers, at last 
did so. Hoani Wirimu, taking several determined young 
men with him, set off without loss of time, selecting a light 
and swift canoe. They paddled rxp the river, justly sup¬ 
posing they would hasten that way into the interior; they 
called at every place to enqxxire, and were ixot mistaken. On 
reaching Ikunikau, they told a feigixed tale to the lxatives of 
that place, who inxmediately manned a lai’ge canoe, and con¬ 
tinued the pursuit. At last, the murderers were perceived. 
The Putiki lxatives laid down in the canoe, lest, being recog¬ 
nized, the object of their journey should be suspected. On 
coming alongside, they jumped up and seized them ; a struggle 
ensued, and the canoe was capsized; they however retained 
their grasp, and secured five of the murderers, one having 
previously left their company. Having bound their prisoners, 
