The Newtown bee., 1904-03-25

tools and agricultural implements. With the proceeds, they purchased ad- ditional firearms, gunpowder and lead. During their stay in Sydney, Hongi and Waikato were the guests of the Rev Samuel Marsden, and whilst there they met Hinaki and Rauroha, two leading chiefs of the Nyatimaru tribe (Thames)but belonging to two different hapus, (branches) Hinaki belonging to the Nyatipava and Rauroha to the Nyatimaru. These two latter chiefs had heard of the success which had at tended Honji's and Waikato s mission in England in the procuring of fire arms, etc., and were desirous to emu late them in that respect, for up to that period very few guns had passed into the hands of Maoris. The Rev Samuel Marsden (who was at that time at the head of the church of Eng land Mission to the natives of AuStra- lia and New Zealand) however, pre- vailed upon Hinaki and his companion to abandon their proposed trip to Eng land, and to return to their homes in New Zealand instead.
 On the voyage across from Sydney, Hinaki, Rauroha, Hongi and Waikato were passengers for the same vessel, and as they had always been rival chiefs in the past, and had frequently met one another in warfare with vary ing success, Hongi, who was somewhat elated by the possession of so many guns, could not refrain from boasting what he intended doing with them, when he was at home with his tribe once more. He had learned, moreover, whilst in Sydney, that during his ab- sence in England, one of his people had been killed by the Nyatimaru, or Thames tribe, consequently here was a glorious opportunity of making use of his newly acquired weapons, against foe who had not yet been fortunate enough to secure firearms. With hor- ribly distorted countenance, protrud- ing tongue and eyeballs showing naught but the whites, Hongi ap- preached the rival chief, and with many grimaces bade them hasten with all speed to their respective homes and strengthen their respective pas, for he (HongD and his Nyapulir people in- tended to kill and eat the people of both Nyatipava and Nyatimaru. Hin aki, who represented the Nyatipava, and Rauroha, who represented the Nyatimaru, endeavored to reason with Hongi with the view of dissuading him from his purpose, hut their argu- ments pro we'd of no avail, so on land ing in New Zealand they hastened to prepare for the attacks Hongi had threatened. This story, however, has principally to deal with the attack on Totara, hence it will be sufficient to state here that Hongi carried out his threat on the Nyatipava pa at Maun- ga-rei Gin the Archland district) with success, short time before coming to Thames to attack Totara.
 I Previous to this, the Nyatimaru tribe had on several occasions been en- gagged in war more or less successfully with the Nyapuli tribe. But in these fights both tribes had been armed with the old Maori weapons, such as the greensboro mere, tor club the taiaha Ia spear shaped weapon) and the paia- ka, or wooden battle axe. Then the fighting was hand to hand, and the is sue depended upon the courage, skill and endurance of the combatants. Now the conditions under which they were to meet were of an entirely differ. ent nature. Hongi's tribe, the Nya- puhis, were to be armed with Euro pean guns, while their opponents, the Nyatimarns, possessed but weapons o1 |stone, wood, or bone. There was but one gun in their possession, but they knew not how to use it, whilst many of the tribe had never heard the re-
 port of gun.
 At this time the Nyatim aru tribe could raise war party of five thous and men, so they speedily set to work getting their pa at Totara in fighting order. It occupied splendid position for defence. Its front rose abruptly for height of about 100 feet from the strip of level land which separated ii from the seashore, thus forming ar unassailable point of attack. Its sides
 naturally steep, were rendered more so by months of labor, while series of earthworks and trenches and rows o1 palisading were constructed to protect all approaches to the fortress. At the rear of the pa was dug deep trench
 15 or 20 feet in depth, with almost perpendicular sides. At each corner of the pa high platforms were erected
 and on these were piled huge boulders
 which were to be hurled on the as
 saulting foe. It was perfect position
 for stronghold, for it commanded ar
 uninterrupted view of the surrounding country for miles. Away to the north and west stretched the Hauraki Gulf
 so that the fleet of war canoes of ar
 invading force could be discerned for g ! l<