MANIHERA AND KEREOFA. 
363 
principal Chiefs, and also a teacher, said, “At baptism we are 
made the soldiers of Christ. The soldiers of the Queen perish, 
but the soldiers of Christ live for ever. Manihera and Kereopa 
were true soldiers of Christ; can we doubt their happy state ? ” 
Another remarked, “Although their blood had been poured out 
on the ground, it was no proof that God was angry with them, 
for Christ’s blood also was shed—that the blood of the people 
of God fertilized the earth ; and although these two were 
dead, we should not be discouraged, but send two more to 
preach the Gospel; and if they also were killed, two othei*s; 
and if they perished, still keep supplying their places until 
the summer came, and then, perhaps, their enemies would 
give in, and be converted.” 
Several others addressed the meeting in similar terms. It 
was then decided that the matter should be left entirely 
with me. I proposed to visit the tribe which had murdered 
Manihera and. his companion, as well as the Christian natives 
of Taupo, to allay the excitement these deaths had made, 
and to exhort the murderers to repentance. 
On the 5th of April I left home, and found the natives up 
the river in a very excited state, and extremely hostile to the 
British Government, and to the Putiki natives as well, for having 
made common cause with the Europeans. I was several times 
threatened, and advised to return; but on the 21st we safely 
reached Pukawa. A rumour had preceded us, that we were 
coming with a party of three or four hundred men to avenge 
the death of Manihera. Te Heuheu received us with every 
demonstration of joy, and after the usual tavgi, or crying, 
was concluded, be addressed us in a very long speech. He 
said that the great and lofty had fallen, and that all was dark 
on their account. He bade us welcome, whatever might be 
the object of our coming—whether to cover up, or uncover, 
the crime. He said, “ This land has been polluted with blood 
from the time of our first ancestors to this day. My brother, 
my child, my father Te Teira, welcome ! Go you to Huiatahi: 
you are strong: I cannot. Don’t say I conceal my thoughts.” 
I told them this was my second visit on account of the dead; 
first for Te Heuheu, and now I came for Manihera and 
