HISTORIC EVENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 490, 31 July 1902, Page 2

HISTORIC EVENT.

LANDING OF CAPTAIN COOK IN NEW ZEALAND^ GISBORNE AND TOLAC.O BAY, (Written by 11if> Lordship Bishop .Williams.) No. 11.

The party of natives thus encountered was not tho same as that which had been seen the evening before. According to tho Maori tradition, tho ship had boon seen coming into tho bay tho day before, and was thought to bo a floating island ; and this was a party of the Ilongowhakaata tribe, who had coino from Orakaiapu, a pa just below the junction of tho Arai and Waipaoa rivers, for tho express purpose of trying to take possession of the ship, and hence thoir hostile attitude. Tho man who seized Mr Green’s hanger, and lost his life in consequence, was To Bakau. The landing was effected, as before, at the boat-harbour, and tho place whero the marines were posted could easily bo identified before the whole aspect of the place was changed by the harbourworks which are now in progress. It was a nearly level piece of ground, about one acre in extent, from 4ft to Bft above the level of high-water mark, and immediately adjoining the spot whero the river was crossed on the preceding ovening. A part of it may still be recognised between the outer end of the block yard of the harbour works and the base of the hill. The rock in the middle of tho river which the natives used as a resting place is known by the natives as Toka-a-Taiau, and, from the way in which it is spoken of by Cook, would seem to have stood higher at that time than it has done now for many years past, and perhaps to have been awash, if not dry, at low water. Till within the last few years its position was always indicated at low water by tho rippling of tho current, but since it has been partially blasted away with dynamite it has not been so easy to detect it. Having failed, as above related, to establish any sort of friendly intercourse with the people, Cook proceeded, with hib three boats, to examine the bay in search of fresh water, and also with the design, if possible, of surprising some of the natives and getting them on board his ship, that by kind treatment their friendship might bo secured, and that by their means an amicable correspondence might bo established with their countrymen. Two canoes were seen coming in from the sea, making apparently for the mouth of the Kopututea river, which was then situated much nearer the Turanganui than it is now, and somewhere near where it is shown in tho accompanying map (PI. XXXIII.). One of these canoes was intercepted, but on the approach of tho boats tho crew, seven in number, began the attack so vigorously with their paddles, with stones, and with other weapons, that the order was given to fire upon them, when four were, unhappily, killed. The other three, who were all young lads, immediately leaped into the water, but were soon captured and taken on board the ship. Their names were Te Haurangi, Ikirangi, and Marukauiti. [Cook writes the names thus : “ Taabourange, Ivoikerange, and Maragovette.” The descendants of Ikirangi and Marukauiti still talk of the intercourse which their ancestors held with “ Tepaea,” but the name of To Haurangi is forgotten. | The kind attentions of their captors soon allayed their fears, and they became very sociable, asking and answering many questions with great appearance of pleasure and curiosity. On the following morning (Tuesday, 10th October) they were told, to their great delight, that they were to be put on shore again, but it was not without considerable reluctance that they consented to bo left at the place where the boats had landed the day before. An officer and a party of men had alreadybeen sent on shore to that spot to cut wood, and Cook afterwards landed at the same place, with the three boys, Mr Banks, Dr. dolander, and Tupaea. Whc-n they had crossed the river, the boys, after some hesitation, took their leave. Cook and his other companions then crossed the Waikanae at the old ford, a short distance from the mouth, and strolled up the right, or seaward, bank of the creek, hoping to be able to shoot some ducks, four marines being directed to keep abreast of them on the sandy ridge between the creek and the sea, to guard against surprise. After they had advanced about a mile a large body of natives was seen coming rapidly towards them, whereupon they drew together, took to the beach, and hurried baca to the boats, the three boys joining them again and claiming their protection. As soon as they had got safely across the river, the natives, all armed, to the number of about two hundred, followed them across the Waikauae to the point. The boys, recognising the body of Te Bakau, which still iay exposed on the beach, went to it, and covered it with some of the clothes which had been given them. Soon after this a single man, unarmed, who proved to be the uncle of Marukauiti, swam over to them, bringing in hi 3 hand a green

branch, which was taken to he an emblem of peace. After making him a few presents, they left him and returned to the

ship, the hoys accompanying them. The actions of the natives were closely watched from on board the ship. The man who had swum across to them was seen to perform some peculiar ceremonies over the dead body of Te Italian, which was afterwards fetched across the river, and carried awav on a litter. The boys were landed again in the afternoon, and were seen to go away with the main body, as thc-y returned by the way by which they had come. The Maori tradition states that fkirangi and in's companions had been out fishing, and that in answer to Tupaea's questions they had told hint that the ariki. or principal chief of the district, was Te Ratu. This man was chief of the Kongowhataata tribe, and must have possessed great influence ; for afterwards, when coasting along the Bay of Plenty, Cook says, “ As far as we had yet coasted tiiis country, from Cape Turriaguin, the people acknowledged one chief, whom they caiied Te Ratu, and to whose residence they pointed in a direction that we thought to be very far inland, but afterwards found to be otherwise.” There are no direct descendants of Te Ratu now living, hut the family is represented by the descendants of his brothers. The Maori tradition also mentions a red garment as having been laid upon the body of Te Rukau, to which they gave the came of Te Iliuu o Tuhura.

“ The next morning,” Cook says, "Wednesday, 11th, at six o'clock, we weighed and stood away from this unfortunate and

inhospitable place, to which I gave the name of Poverty Bay, and which by the . natives is called Te Oncroa, or Long Sand, | as it did not afford us a single article that wo wanted, except a little wood. . . . The south-west point of the bay I named Young Nick’s Head, after Nicholas Y'oung, the boy who first saw the land.” Thus ended Cook’s only visit to this part of New Zealand ; hut as the ship lay becalmed in the afternoon, a little to the south of Young Nick’s Head, several canoes put off, and one, which had followed the ship out of Poverty Bay, came directly alongside. With a little persuasion the four men who formed the erew (one of whom was recognised as one of the hostile party encountered on the Monday) were induced to come on board the ship. Their example was shortly afterwards followed by the rest, and there were soon around the ship no les3 than seven canoes and about fifty men. About an hour before sunset the canoes all moved off, but three of the men wevo left on board, and wefo transhipped on the following morning to a eanoo off Table Cape. After this Cook continued his voyage southward, following tho coast as far as Capo Turnagain, whence ho returned on the 17oh October, with the view of examining tho coast to the northward of Poverty Bay. On Friday, tho 20th, being prevented by the wind from fetching Tolago Bay, he anchored about II o’clock in another bay, a little to the north, tho name given to which by the natives, ho says, was Tegado. What Maori name this represents 1 have been unable to discover. Ho gives no description by which tho bay may be identified, but from Parkinson’s journal it is clear that it was Annum. I “On the 21st we anchored in a very indifferent harbor, in 81 fathoms of water, about one mile and a half from the shore, having an island on the left hand, which somewhat sheltered us” (Parkinson, quoted by Mr Colenso, “ Trans.,” vol. x., p. 123). It will be noticed that there is a discrepancy in tho date ; but throughout this portion of tho narrativo Parkinson’s dates arc one day in advance of those given by Cook, j The people were all remarkably friendly, and wore found to be acquainted with what had happened at Poverty Bay less than a fortnight before. On the 21st Lieutenant Gore, with a strong party of men, obtained a supply of fresh water, and Mr Banks and Dr. Solander found many new plants, and shot a few birds. (To be continued.)