364 
MANIHERA AND KEREOPA. 
Kereopa: the falling of a mountain had crushed the one, but 
the others had been basely murdered, when they only came as 
messengers of peace: that Heuheu did not gain his rank by 
murder—he was too noble to use such means: that if a tribe 
thus sought to prosper, it was as though a man were to ex¬ 
pect his house to stand firm though built on a bog. I was 
indeed grieved—not for Manihera and his companion, for they 
were happy, and had received their reward, but—that any 
could be guilty of such a crime. They had heard a rumour 
that I was coming with several hundred men to avenge their 
deaths: I had indeed come, and they beheld my party! our 
only weapon was the Word of God! We came, not to 
avenge, but to make peace—judgment we left with God. I 
was not sorry for the indignation which the natives of the 
other side of the lake had shown against the murderers—for 
the dead were their guests, and they were murdered in their 
presence : had they not shown their abhorrence at the deed, I 
should have thought they had connived at it; but we came to 
make an end of the quarrel, and the terms were, that peace 
must now be made with the Nga ti ruanui—as it had been 
purchased with the blood which was shed. 
About an hour’s pull on the morrow, brought us to Tokanu. 
We passed by the mournful scene of Heuheu’s glory and 
destruction : the grass had not yet grown over the common 
tomb of his tribe. The long-extended line of clay, which had 
covered up his pa, formed a striking monument to remind us 
that “ in the midst of life we are in death.” The surrounding 
lake was strictly tapu, and the wild fowl, as if conscious of their 
security, allowed us to pass without taking wing. When we 
entered the pa, which we did in a long line headed by myself, 
we received a suspicious welcome from a few females. ^Ve 
sat down in silence : the usual crying when friends meet was 
omitted. Opposite to us were Herekiekie and the murderers 
of our poor friends. Not a word was spoken on either side 
for full a quarter of an hour. Every now and then fresh 
parties kept arriving, most of them carrying their guns. At 
last Iiemapo, the next to Herekiekie, arose. He acknow¬ 
ledged the sin committed, and deplored that we—his relatives 
