Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/43

years several populous settlements sprung up, and of these Panau and Okaruru (Gough’s Bay) were the chief. The inhabitants of these settlements might have continued in peaceful possession of them, but for the repetition by some of their number of an act similar to that which originated the Kai-huanga quarrel, and which brought upon them the anger of their near neighbours, who were as familiar as themselves with the paths that led over the forest-clad hills to their several retreats. The circumstances that brought about a renewal of hostilities were as follows:—During Rauparaha’s first visit to Kaiapoi, two chiefs, Hape and Te Puhirere (the latter was the father of Big William), accompanied by several other persons, some of whom belonged to Panau and the other bays just referred to, went to visit their friends at Kaiapoi. While on the way, one of their companions, a woman named Te Whare Rimu, said, “My atuas (familiar spirits) tell me that our path is obstructed; there is darkness before us; destruction is in front of us; death is in front of us.” Te Puhirere replied, “Well, my atuas tell me we are safe; there is no danger.” He did not know (as Big William said when telling the story) that he was being sold to death by his atuas for a slight he had put upon them before starting on his journey. Just before leaving home, his atua had cried out for food to be placed on its shrine. It had said, “I hunger after eel.” Te Puhirere told his wife to give the atua what it asked for, but she grudged to give it the best fish, and not knowing the risk she was running by not doing so, being a new wife—the old and experienced wife being dead—she gave the atua a very small and thin eel. Her conduct exasperated the atua, who, to avenge itself, delivered Te Puhirere and his companions into their enemies’ hands, by permitting them to continue their journey without warning them of the great risk they were