A TRAGIC STORY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 7

A TRAGIC STORY

TB fiAUPARAHA'S REVENGE. (By "Wairaea.") In. the early part of last century tho Ngatitoas came down the West Const in canoes from lvawhia. They were led by tlireo notabio men—Te Pehi, To ltaujiaralia, and Uangihaeata. Te Rauparaha led tho migration, and tradition says that 200 Ngapuliis were armed villi guns and 60 Ngatitoas carried old-time weapons. Tho possession of fijearins gave theso people great advantage. To Kauparaha was repulsed again and again by tho Mnnupokos, and hundreds of Maoris fell on both sides. The Manopokos were a brave, people, and- had it not been for the firearms possessed by their enemies it is doubtful if they would have been conquered. At last a period of peace appears to have dawned, and the Manopokos invited Te ttauparaba to a feast at Horowhenua. This chief did not tome, but sent his daughter with 60iuo of his bravest mon. Tho feast took place on. the land which the State Experimental Farm now occupies. Hakas of welcome were danced, lovo songs wero chanted, and tho feast was without stint. At this time Te Hauparaha'B headquarters wero at Kapiti. Tho feasting over, there were speechesall spiced with nice sentiments about brotherhood—and then the visitors were shown their sleeping places, made .comfortable, with fern. Hours passed, and all Nature was in blissful repose. Meanwhile the Manopokos, moved stealthily to the placo appointed, 'until.they formed a circle around tho doomed visitors. Then the air was rout with savago war cries, and a bloody massacre followed. A few of tho visitors escaped, but Te Kauparnlui's daughter was slain, and, horrible to relate, tier body was roasted and feasted upon as a rare delicacy by tho fighting men of the Manopoko tribe. Tho following day all tho tribe feasted .upon the murdered visitors.

When tho news of the ' Manopokos' treachery \roached 'Jib lUauparoba, he made a vow. that ho would exterminate the olfendiiifr tribe, and from that time he lnitt his piuns, did not hurry to make reprisals. Ill's council of war deemed it best'to let tho Manopokos think that To llaupnrnha was afraid to attack then), and months and months passed and pcaco reigned. "Eternal vigilance is tho price of liberty." This the Manopokos had not learned, and tiu-.v became unwalchful. Where tho little seaside township of Ilokio now .stands is whore Te llauparaha and his warriors landed when he intended to attack his enemies. Ho came from Kapiti in canoes, landed scouts at the entrance to the Hokio stream, and the main body kopt to the stream and lifted their canoes when the bends made progress difficult. Tho ucouts made their way overland and lay in ambush it tho bush at the south end of tho lake. They were to tomahawk any escapees from the 'ittle island which is at the outlet lake into the Ilokio stream. Just More daybreak the canoes were manned and a dash mado for this island, where all the Manopoko braves were sleeping. Savage yells and war-cries aroused them, and as they issued from their whares tho attackers, with their flintlocks, shot thorn down. The island was a trap from which thero was no escape for the majority. A few plunged into tho water, but the scouts tomahawked them whon they reached the shore. It was a frightful massacre, and not a Manopoko scaped. No t mcrcy was shown or expected, and one chief said, ''The lnkc was all blood." About 200 perished. ..'..• . .Each' island was visited,. and tho slaughter''continued. On the island at tho mouth cf tho Kawiu stream, at the north end of the lake, jßaupnralm found many women and .children. These wero massacred in cold Wood, and when tho hellish work was completed arrangements were made for a great feast. Some of tho women found on this island were slain and their bodies drawn through tho water to the roulhern tnd, where the fcnst'lonk place. Those wjio wero saved were kept as slaves. Very few escaped, and only reached Wanganui after enduring _ severe hardships. After years of banishment a Native Land Court gave judgment that the lake belonged to tho Manopoko tribe, and the remnants came back and settled on the western shoro.