FROM THE CANTERBURY RHYMES.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 449, 2 August 1879, Page 2

FROM THE CANTERBURY RHYMES.

The Runaway : A Historical Ballad. There was an island in the seaj Of which some people say It was not very wise or old, Although its head was Grey. Now in this island all the men Fell out, as it was found, Into a quarrel, though it was Pacific all around ; For of the people some were black, And others they were white, Which was a serious difference, So they began to fightOne morn they fought—the fight was hot, Although the day was showery— And many a gallant soldier then Was hid memento Maori. The smoke was thick, tlie blacks fell down Upon the ground like rain ; Though once they joined a rising; now They’ll never rise again. And where the fire was very hot. It made a number cold ; It broke the ranks, it melted them, And cast them on the mould.

Among; the wounded was a man, To whom the names belong, Of Enoch Csesar Palmerston, Done into Maori tongue. How Enoch’s leg- had got in it A bullet from a gun j And when he tried to cut away The wound began to run. And since he conld not run with in, He stopped and bound his scars ; And though not hoping to be paid, Was pitched upon by Tars, Who, seeing Enoch so cast down, They took him up so short ; Said they, “ You are our prisoner,” So you must come to Court.” Said he, “ I’ve got a bad inside”— He did not mean to scoff—- “ I’ll go to Court, and you may then Present and lot me off.” “ No, no I” replied the Boatswain’s mate, Avast a bit, my hearty ! Let’s see the bill”—but as he spoke, They saw another party. A party of Militiamen An officer therewith, In camp he was a Corporal Jones, In town a general smith. The Corporal had a warlike nose, Gun powdery in hue, It trumpeted his honors, but It could not beat tattoo. For Enoch’s face was lined throughout With ornamental scars Of blue, with red ones added in The Taranaki wars. The first were cunning chisel marks, The second, crooked ruts ; Proofs, like the Witness journal, of Essays on gold, with cuts. This Jones took Enoch, to the camp, Where were a number more Of Maoris, whom his comrades brave Made prisoners before. The General stood in front of them, As upright as a larch ; And though November was the month, He sent them off to march. He sent them all on board a hulk Abreast of Auckland town ; He put them down the hold, and bade The soldiers hold them down. Some snivelled,' going in ; some howled Some noses blew, with bellows ; But careful keeping in the hulk • Soon mado them hulking fellows. Potatoes,-bread, and milk, and meat, Such was their commissariat; Tobacco, to assuage their woe ; And doctor’s stuff, to vary it.

At first they wanted bracing up, Their clothes so hung about ; But when they’d been a month on board They wanted letting out. And so they got a run ashore, For. souls’ and bodies’ profit, On Kawau’s copper beach ; of course They cut their sticks from off it. For Titus White, who guarded them, Had left them on the shore ; Says he,’ “ They’ve got no boat, no gear, Except the copper ore ; “ Therefore they cannot leave the isle.” -And at his joke he, laughed ; ' But silly Titus White ! he quite Forgot their native craft. ' And so by night they ran away, And got upon the main ; And in the morning Titus went To fetch them back again. At last he found them on a hill All fortified about ; They hollowed rifle pits within, And White he hollowed out. And at his shout, so loud aud long— It was a wondrous sight— Two hundred dusky faces then At once were turned to White. . “Come back!” he cried, “ ray prisoners”— Each hand directly rose, And with extended fingers, gave ’ Point to their silent nose.

“ Come back unto your Governor, He will avenge your slights, For Grey’s the only medium Between the blacks and whites.” Said they : “ No, no ! that’s very fine, But Grey will never do ; He is not black enough for us Nor white enough for you.” Said White j “ Yon are bis children dear, - And don’t he love you, rather : So be advised, and leave your pah, And come unto your father.” “ Perhaps,” they said, “ we were his sons/ But now we’re better nursed, We’re Royal Maori Infantry ; And will see him further first." Now, Titus White was puzzled quite, And knew not what to say ; So went and fold his tale, so blue, Unto his head, Sit Grey. “ Go back, go back,” replied his chief, With sternness on his tongue—• They are our rebel prisoners, Deserving to be hung. ° But tell them,” here he smiled so sly—- “ To make them come the qU’Citer, I’ll heap upon them chains of laad, And keep them tight in liquor.” So Titus White went back to tell y His chief’s determination, With Native Office notes which found A very free translation. “ I and Sir George, we love you well, Like brothers of your race ; We’ll swear we do till we’re as black As you are in the face. “ You shall be found in meat and drink* Houses and gardens too ; And make believe you’re prisoners By having naught to do.” “ Give land I” they say, “ ’tie all owu. Do naught 1 we do it now I Give meat ! we shan’t be hungry while A settler owns a cow. “ But if you must have prisoners You’ll soon accomplish that Catch them when starving, and you may * Detain them till they’re"fat. “ Treat them like us,, and do again The same good-natm ed tiling ; Recruit the native forces for His Majesty the King.” N.B.