The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-09-14

between orr forces and the Maores Koheroa Mere Mere
Rangirirei, Pike Riko, and Rangawahla The natives
fought with heroic bravery and yielded only to the pressure
superior numbers We had ten regiments and they could
bring more than five hundred men into the field
Thompson tried negotiate but the time Tor was
past all left the decision of the sword The natives
made their last stand at Orakau where three hundred men
and held for three days. without water without
provisions, against thousand two hundred British
soldiers General Cameron tried to the women; they
refused to leave their husbands and brothers Their only
answer fight AXE AXE AXE forever forever
forever And they did fight the women with the same
bravery the till their pa sapped up to- when
half broke through ranks and escaped The rest
were slain or captured.
Thompson not at Orakau he had retired his
stronghold at Mangautaua which he defended for time
and then fell back to the Thames district where he remained
quietly till the close of the When he that the
test hopeless he requested interview with Brgadier
Carey and gave in his submission He attached to the
Maori king but he formally acknowledged the supremacy of
the British crown, which, in fact he had denied He
showed his insight into human nature by his symboica
BILE twig he bent it round. "Ths" -, he said, 'is the
t out he added "thus" IS general ghtforward
in all that he does and says" Thompson was faithful to his
oath of allegiance He prevented his followers from taking
part in the at Tauranga. He devoted his time
the Improvement of his tribe Drunkenness with all its
attendant evils, sweeping them away He repressed
drunkenness with high hand by prohibiting the of
spirits and making it death for any who introduced it
among his followers So touching the picture he drew
of the evils of this vice, during interview with the
that the latter to take the pledge
he allowed to retain his possessions the Thames He
refused to part with single "Why should you Pake
has buy land, when you have too much already ??
But he leased large tracts to the settlers and such their
confidence in his good faith that they sent their ocks and
herds the Thames with other protection than his
pledged word.
friend of mine paid him visit toward to close of 1865
The only question put him his way past the natives
was Are you missionary On learning he not he
allowed pass Thompson had given strict orders that
missionaries should be allowed to enter the territories of
his tribe other Pakehas mi h travel in safety Thompson
and his tribe had ceased to be Christians and gone
TO ind of Of
which he became the officiating high priest Much of their
time spent in dancing around MUS worshipng
posts and chanting sort of litany which he had taught
Them He excused himself to his visitor by saying "The
people have of religion and this is better
nothing. have done with the missionaries forever AT
first believed all they taught their religion like
which fitted me well. When came to know them bet
first sleeve dropped off then another then the whole
coat. must have coat to wear, so put Pal
Marie for want of something BETTER but it hangs loosely
about me- and some day drop it, too. He accompanied
these words with the usual symboca action pulling off first
one sleeve, then the other then the whole coat.
Though the had taken the pledge and proesed
himself his FRIEND he still believed in his crooked policy
and suspected him of design to take him prisoner He
slept twice in the place. of his followers
knew beforehand where he was to sleep.
Thompsons death in keeping with his life About
six months ago he started for Wellington on mission of
mercy Maori often undertakes journey of hundreds of
miles with other luggage than the calico shirt flax
he He swms rivers plunges into swamps threads
his through the bus feeds wild berries and quenches
his thirst from the running stream There time when
Thompson would have thought nothing of such journey
but mental anxiety constant exposure and the harsps of
war; had weakened his constitution and affected his health
and spirits When the governor visited him, he had
to visit the governor and had the right expect the
hospitality He asked nothing for himself he inter-
cede for his cotymen whose lands had been conscaed
On reaching wellington he treated with marked cold
and neglect. The gates of Government House
closed against him. and he sent to lodge in the
ary set apart for the lowest class of Maores The House of
Representatives refused to entertain his petition and finding
that nothing further could be DONE he turned his eyes
north and began his journey homeward Hewasnot destined
% finish e died he and
ashes repos with those of his fathers the banks of
the Thames.
The passions evoked by the must be allowed to
ubsde before justice be done such man as Thomp
but safely leave him in the hands of posterty
His life was sense failure but the may be said
of the lives of all great men, and his will survive in
annals Of Zealand strouo Loao.a