Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/37

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Stories of Banks Peninsula.

came to be known in the annals of the tribe as “Eat Relation.”

Leaving Wairewa, the expedition marched up the Okiri Valley, and over the Waipuna Saddle, and down the Otutu spur, to Koukourarata. The scouts in advance came there upon Te-ha-nui-orangi, an elderly chief, who was sitting in the sunshine quite unconscious of the existence of danger. His youthful companions were all asleep under the trees, at a short distance off, but before they could be alarmed he was killed. The noise of the struggle roused the young men, who flew too late to his rescue, but they caught one of his assailants, Te Whaka moa moa. The rest of them took to flight, and rejoined their main body, who, hearing what had happened, decided to push on at once to Purau, fearing if they were to delay that night Tau nunu might receive warning of their approach. It was arranged that all who were armed with muskets should embark in canoes, and proceed by water to Ripapa, while the rest should climb over the hills, and assault the pa on the land side. Taiaroa, who was desirous to give Tau nunu a chance to escape, hurried forward, and was the first to get within hearing of the pa, when he shouted out, “Fly! escape! guns are our weapons!” But Tau nunu had anticipated an attack, and had already taken the precaution to cross the harbor a day or two before. Many, however, adopted Taiaroa’s friendly advice, and tried to escape in their canoes, but were not quick enough in getting out of musket range, for the attacking party that went round by water reached Ripapa almost as soon as their companions arrived by land, and they at once opened a destructive fire on the escaping canoes. The result was that few who tried to get away by water succceded; but, with the connivance of Taiaroa, many of the inhabitants passed through the assailants’ ranks and reached the hills at the back of the pa, where they stopped pur-