Asheville daily citizen., 1894-09-26
A GREAT INDIAN CHIEF.
Death of the Famous Napoleon Of
New Zealand.
Ills Lifc Career Of Savage Warfare aud
Bloodshed--IIe Once Held q
British Army at
hay.

Rcwi Maniapoto, whose death was
recently reported, was almost the last
of the great chiefs of the Maoris. lie
vas born in 1907, and was a warrior
aud leader in council among the Ngati-
maniapotos from his youth. His earli-
est years, says the Washington Gazette,
were passed amid savage scenes Of
inter-tribal strife, nmbuscades, fierce
hand-to-hand battles, massacres and
cannibal orgies. lIougi, chief OF the
Great Northern tribe OF Ngapuhl,
visited London, was petted by Exeter
Hall, patronized by George w., pre-
scntcd with suit of armor and gilt
crown, and loaded with gifts. At
botany Bay, on his way back, he con-
verscd these into guns and powder, and
on landing at the Bay OF Islands pro-
claimed himself the Napoleon Of New
Zealand, entered on n career of slaugh.
ter and rapinc. and swept the country
south of Auckland with fire and sword.
His victorious march was stayed by
the Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos,
and the tide of conquest rolled back
northward 1t was in these and sub
sequcnt inter-tribal wars that Rewi
won his reputation as n fighting chief.
When Sir George Grey, as governor OF
New Zealand, declared war against
the Waikatos in 1868, Rewi became one
of the leading Maori generals. For
two years the struggle ragged with va
rying success against ten Thousand
British troops, supported by power
full squadron, but step by step, and
contesting every inch OF ground, the
Maoris were pressed back to Orakan,
where Rcwi made last heroic stand
with three or four hundred followers,
the remnant of his tribe.
He was besicged Ivy fifteen hundred
British troops for three days, during
which the garrison were without wa
ter. and subsisted on raw potatoes ant
maize. At length, after repeated as
saults had been repulsed, the flying
sap broke into the trenches, and L
storm Of canister and musketry swept
the works. Gen. Cameron, with sol
dier's chivalrous admiration of the
spirit and bravery of the enemy, of
fercd terms of capitulation. Then &
slight, wiry figure, with closely tat
tooed face and fiery cleaning eyes
!capt on the brcastworks, and flung
back this stern defiance: "Ka wha
whai matau, toma, AXE, axe, akeV' 1--WE
will fight on for ever and ever ant
ever"
The stronghold was carried with 4
rush, but Rewi and few others es
capped Realizing the hopelessness OF
the struggle, he successfully exerted
his influence to bring about u peace,
and since that time he has been n con
sistent and loyal ally of the Europeans
and promoter of every movement
for the welfare of his countrymen. Tt
the last his affection for Sir George
Grey was simple and touching. A few
months ago, when he felt that his end
was nigh, he expressed desire that
they should rest side by side in on,
grave, and only few months before
his death n handsome monument, made
in Auckland to the order of Sir George
Grey, was erected with much ccremo
ny near the old chiefs home at Xiii
lsihi 1t bears the following inscription
Tn memory of Rewi Maniapoto, thu
last great chief of Ngatimaniapoto
Ngatirankawa and Waikato."