SAVAGE RETRIBUTION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 144, 30 May 1884, Page 2

SAVAGE RETRIBUTION.

Upon the beach at Aku Aku, scene of the late gathering, is to be seen an old six-pounder iron cannon, a relict from the wreck of a whaling brig in or about the year 1830. There is a story told in connection with this gun that reminds us strongly of one of the American Indian episode, so graphically related by Fennimore Cooper. Two young warriors of different sub-tribes were rivals for the hand of a girl of the village. The rivals accidentally met, hot words ensued, and blows followed, and one was struck down by the tomahawk of the other. The murderer, not content with the death of his rival, struck eff the head of the dead man, and stuck it upon a stump, where it was afterwards found by the relation of the murdered man, who at once took up arms to exact the usual payment (wtu.) The war party pursued the murderer and captured him alive. He was then taken to the village of Aku to expiate this crime. The tribe of the captive organised a war party, and went to the rescue. Upon nearing the village they were received with thundering volleys of stones, emitted from the muzzle of the iron cannon which had been temporarily rigged up by the beseiged. The fight continued for some time, but at last a parley was called. Chiefs and warriors upon both sides spoke as to the evil of tribes hitherto on friendly terms now being at war for the act of a jealous man. A council of war was arranged to try the criminal, and it was decided he should expiate his crime in view of both parties. His sentence was “ crucifixion.” A cross was framed at the corner of the village, upon which the victim was impaled in the presence of both war parties. After being suspended for some time, a firing party from each tribe was told off, who poured volley after volley into the crucified man until his death agonies ceased. Barbarous as this execution seems to us, yet according to the Maori notions of justice the act was considered only an impartial act of retribution. The execution by crucifixion was novel, and was no doubt prompted by the Scriptures, which had only just about that time been introduced among the New Zealanders.