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killed every one of them with his own hands; and then he cut up their bodies and sent portions to all the different pas and hamlets on the Peninsula.

While this tragedy was being enacted in Akaroa Harbor, Tawha and his people were journeying towards their home, and were already nearing the mouth of the Rakaia. On being apprized of the fact, Te Mai hara nui despatched a messenger to Kaiapoi to order a detatchment of warriors to come to his asssistance. About two hundred obeyed the summons, without knowing what their services were wanted for. The narrative of what followed, I give in the words of Hakopate atao Tu, an old Kaiapoi chief, still living. “On reaching Wairewa, we met Te Mai hara nui and a large gathering of men. As soon as we were seated, the Ariki rose up and made a speech to us; then we learnt for the first time that we were meant to attack Taumutu. We were ordered to commence our march at once, and Te Mai hara nui kept in advance of every one, to prevent any of the chiefs who accompanied him from going forward to meet the returning refugees and exchange pledges of peace with them. It was on this march down the Kaitorete spit that our old Kaiapoi warriors first handed a musket. It was very amusing to watch their efforts to conceal their nervous dread of the weapons; their hands trembled and shook as they took hold of them, and at the sound of the report that followed a pull at the trigger, they dropped the guns upon the ground exclaiming, ‘Eh he! how wonderful are the works of the pakeha!’ But they soon got over their fears, and learnt to use muskets with deadly effect. We camped the first night at the spring midway down the spit, and the next morning rose early and marched past Taumutu before breaking our fast. On the march Te Mai hara nui caught sight of Te Rehe, a Waiteruati chief, who accompanied the Kaiapoi contingent, and made a