358 
MANIHERA AND KEREOFA. 
for there was an unusually large assemblage of natives, more 
than two thousand, and those too of all the various tribes who 
inhabit this part of the island, and who, a few years ago, 
could not have been induced to meet on any terms, but now 
they sat quietly by each other’s side as brethren. The duty of 
aiding those still sitting in heathen darkness was alluded to, 
when Manihera arose, and said, they had received the Chris¬ 
tian faith from the distant country of England, and if we had 
left our native land, in obedience to the Lord’s command, 
“ To go unto all the world, and preach the Gospel,” surely it 
was theirs also to do the same amongst their own benighted 
countrymen. For his part, he willingly offered himself as a 
Missionary to go to his enemies, the Taupo natives, who were 
still heathen. Kereopa, who also lived at Waokena, re¬ 
quested to be his companion. Two other young men also 
volunteered. Having full confidence in the spiritual state of 
the former, their offer was accepted, and they were solemnly 
commended to the care of the Most High ; all present ap¬ 
peared deeply affected by the scene. 
Wiremu Eruera, and Tahana, two of the teachers, came 
forward and said, that as these two were now devoted to the 
Lord, they did not think it right the servants of God, as am¬ 
bassadors of Christ, should go forth without suitable clothes; 
they immediately gave each a pair of black trowsers, the only 
Sunday ones they had ; others contributed coats ; one person 
gave one garment and another gave another, until they were 
perfectly provided with proper clothing. 
Afterwards Manihera and his companion came to say, that 
Enau, the brother of Herekiekie, told them, they had better 
defer their proposed journey to Taupo until his return, 
as their going before would be like walking over the dead 
bodies of the tribe, alluding to those who had been slain by 
the Nga ti ruanui in their former wars. They said, that 
although they deferred the journey, they could not forget they 
were tapu, or devoted to the Lord. 
It is necessary here to state the cause of the great enmity 
which the Taupo natives entertained towards Manihera, as 
belonging to the Nga ti ruanui tribe. In 1841, Tauteka and 
