The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-12-23


own words
had often heard of the wonderful tenn
pie Of the Nooranoe god aud longed to
see it myself Its beauty was described
to me in the most glowing terms by the
natives, who state it to be Il cavern of
great dimensions, which was entered from
the sca-shore. 1t WAS said it could only
bc entered twice II year, in the months of
March and Oatober; this being because at
all other seasons its entrance was below
low tide.
The Ma"ries, IMMERSED as they We're in
tidal theories, attributed the phenomenon
IT, the power If the great M,unwirriru,
aud imagined that he hereby expressed
his wishes that at these times only should
he be approached.
IT was reported amongst the natives
that the temple was adorned in the most
brilliant manner, according to the Maori
tastes and customs; and that offerings
were uade "ths deity i,y all tribes, even
by the chief foes Of the Nooranr"s, dread
inc the anger OF this god. as greater than
even their own peculiar deities.
1t was on fine spring day in October
that, having determined 70 g our TO the
heads of the bay to fish, told my native
servant, Manwi tn prepare my boat AT
the time | started everything bore the ap
pearaace of continued good weather, aud
| was in hopes of being able to return be-
fore night with my boat full. We reach
ed the fishing ground, and having let down
the lines enscouced myself III the stern,
lii my pipe. and let M4nwi look after the
fishing. We were very successful, and
in about two hours obtained nearly as
much as we wanted. | was just thinking
about returning, when Mlnwi directed
my attention to small, dark cloud in the
northern sky which | we'll knew porten-
ded the sudden and fur Gus blast Of the
"northcaster.' [ Immediately pulled up
the line; and knowing not moment was
to be lost, [ sprung to an oar, aud com
manded the Maori TO d. the same We
pulled in shore as quickly as possible; and
L was beginning To b 'pe we would reach
it before the storm came on, when our boat
quivered as if under the stroke of giants
sled ge-hammer, and the blast rushed over
US. In Il few seconds the SCI rose fear
fully, aud swept over the boat every min
ute. Seeing that we should be swamprd
it we did not keep her before the sea
sprang to the stern, and showing out the
steerng-oar, kept her running before the
wind; we theo rode comparatively safe,
as our little craft, being an old whaling
boat, wa built to stand heavy weather.
We were flying along with the speed of
race horse, and were fast approaching the
southern extremity of the bay. | was
now utterly undecided what to do. IF we
ran shore, aud escaped through the ire
meuious surf, we would in all likelihood
be killed, perhaps devoured by the savage
Nouranoos; and if we kept out to sea tue
bOlling pillows would as certainly enguf
US.
remained undecided; meanwhile keep.
Ing the boats PROV directed towards the
southern eud OF the bay, so that | might
follow either course, as | saw tit. Mauwi
had lam down IN the bottom OF the boat,
quite lnsensble through terror, so that no
advice or help was ~ he had from hlm.-
AT last We were drawing close to the rocks,
anu now observed little cove in their
extreme point wnich might afford us shell
ter. The entrance to ii seemed narrow
aud shallow, tue waves rushing in with Il
fearful surge aud even at the distance
then was, which, though seemingly small,
pnIIn Ia, /, Ia -
mile, | cIuid hear the thunder Of the
surge as ii dashed against the racks. |
had now chuicc lett as to my course,
tcing too far i'll shore 60 weather the
po'pi; so, cnnnrnhlng my life to Provl-
Ceure, L guided the boat towards the
rocks. stirred up Manwi with my foot,
telling him that unless he cxpried hun
self We should both be lost. lie despair
iNg'y &sscnted, aud accordingly | gave him
the steering oar, kupwlng that his Sups-
ror skill would he useful in the montut
OF niger. | took my post in the bow,
aud gutdcd her c"uisc by siyn,-the roar
of the surf maE'n. speech Useless
We now both st I'd prepared for our
struggle for life and Il terrible moment
II Was. Borne upon the crest of giant
roller We das'en into the little channci. -
1t required an arm Of oak aud uer,e OF
iron TO guide us through this CharS bdls.
was afraid the wave might sweep back
before carrying us through the channel,
and dash us TO pieces against the shallow
bottom aud unfortunately this proved to
be the case the backwater dragged Us
again from he shelter of the cove. and
tore the bottom clean of the boat as it
dragged it over the rocks. AS We slrug-
gied amongst the fragments of our little
craft, another gigantic roller swept US
through the passage, and dashed me bleed
ing and nearl senseiess on the rocks. l
grasped the sea.weed, aud crawling up the
face of tie rock, was fortunate enough to
get GU: Of the reach Of the sucge bur
casting 10 k downwards | saw poor
Manwi's bleeding body amongst the trag-
III nts Of the boat, sw pit about in the