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BOOKS-NEW AND OLD.

(By James Wortley). THE TITOKOWARU WAR. "The Adventures of Kimble Bent: a story of wild life in the New Zealand Bush," by James Cowan; with illustrations. (London, Melbourne and Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., 1911). Mr. James Cowan, who has already ah assured place among the contributors to the historical literature of New Zealand, has just added this new work. It is one of particular interest to Taranaki settlers, insomuch as it deals with men and events still fresh in the memory of many of them, and no library aiming to p«s- ( sess the books dealing with our country's history will be complete without a copy.

KIMBLE BENT was born an American citizen, his father being a Yankee shipbuilder and his mother a half-caste Indian. His roving proclivities were, early apparent, for at seventeen he went into the navy, serving his full term of three years under the Stars and Stripes. After various other vicissitudes, he found himself "ashore" at Liverpool in a double sense. He then took the Queen's shilling, being drafted to the 57th Regiment. With it he went to India, and later to New Plymouth. While serving at the camp at Manawapou, near the present town of Hawera, his impatience of discipline got him into trouble, and he was flogged. A few days later (June 12, 1885), he deserted, fleeing to the Maori country, and was taken prisoner by a scout, into whose hands he fell.

A HAU-HAU CONVERT. His captors were the natives then in revolt under Titokowaru, and Bent's history from now on is an account of this war from the side of those in arms against the settlers. These were all followers of the new Maori religion, a religion evidently cleverly concocted of a mixture of heathen rites and Bible ki«tory and teaching by the wily Maori leaders, who used it to influence'the passions of the natives. Into an excited camp of Hauhaus Bent was led, and after much korero-ing and performance of mystic rites, the natives were thus address-, ed by Tito te H&nataua, the rangatira who had found the my tribe, listen to me! Take good care of the pakeha and harm him not, because our prophet has told us that if any white men come to us as this man has done, and leave their own tribe for ours, we must not injure them, but must keep them with us and protect them." This decision practically assured Bent's personal safety, for he forthwith became the slave of his captor, and probably worked harder for many a day, with less food and no clothing, than he had ever done beiore.

It has been asserted that Bent actively engaged in the fighting against his late comrades, but this is not borne out by any evidence available, and is distinctly contradicted by Bent, and this is corroborated by natives still living. In speaking of the Hauhau-ism then prevalent | throughout the rebel camps, Mr. Cowan gives us very full accounts of their rites and ritual. The Maori-fled English, as he rightly terms the latter, is very crude indeed. Here are some fair samples:— Hema (Shem); Rurawini (Rule the wind); Tu mate wini (Too much wind; Kuma te ti— (Come to tea—); Teihana! (Attention!); Koti te Pata, mai marire (God the Father, have mercy on me) • Koti te Orikoti (God the Holy Ghost). '

TITOKOWARU. In 1868-9 raged one of the fiercest wars ever waged between black and white races, and it is locally known by the name of the Maori chief, whose strategy was responsible for the serious defeats suffered by the Government forces. In the appendix he is thus described by Rev. T. G. Hammond, of Opunake:— It was Titokowaru's right eye that had been destroyed by a bullet in some engagement (Sentry Hill, vide Cowan). He was feet nine in height and somewhat spare and muscular, with fine bone, an alert, active man, but by no means good looking. His skin was rather darker than the general run of Maoris, and his nose low on the bridge, with wide nostrils. His face rarely lit ftp pleasantly, and he was reserved in manner.

Bent says "when roused he had the voice of a lion. In attire he was quaintly pakeha, for he frequently appeared in a black 'hard-hitter' hat and a full suit. • ... He carried no weapon but his sabred taiaha."

During the hostilities Bent was employed by Titokowaru making cartridges. He reports a plentiful supply of good powder available per medium of the neutral and "friendly" natives. Much of the book is taken up'with v details of the fighting in the various attacks made by each side on the other's strongholds in the bush, and authorities. are quoted from both parties engaged. The chief of these engagements was the attack on Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu pa, and the most picturesque figure was MAJOR VON JEMPSKY.

This soldier of fortune was adored by the bushrangers who followed his lead, and he was feared by the Maoris. Manu-rau" (hundred birds) was the name by which he was known among the Hanhaus. This because of his activity in rushing from place to place, fighting here and there, as swiftly as the forest birds flitted from tree to tree. Von Tempsky who fought his last fight at this engagement, had had a romantic career. Of Polish blood, he commenced soldiering under Prussia, served as a soldier of" fortune m Mexixo and several small wars of Central America. He had written a book of travels on Mexico, illustrated bv his own pencil, with which he was very clever. Of his sad end, and that of the other men under him, I would refer the reader to Mr. Cowan's book. It is a gruesome yet stirring tale of brave men caught at a disadvantage. The illustrations of the book are pubished for the Qrst time, an/many of hem are of keen historical interest to is locality. The main features of the story were gathered from Bent whom Mr. Cowan met, when this old pakeha-Maon went to Wellington, at the F o rl°V Ml '- T " K Donne > 1903 | For severa years after the wars Bent n ?he P £2- aIIy a SIaVG t0 the Maori*. Wa?tar? g T? aiU C ° Untry ' on the U PP e r one with" r. n c T° ry is 110t a P the Sth Y onnei ' C ° mradeS of '

The book is very moderate in price (only ss) and should be eagerlv soS after by those interested i/the ffij oi the land upon which they live.

SOME RECENT FICTION. "Burning Daylight7~by Jack London ! \ utho r r <* "The Call of the Wild"' etc. London: Win. Heinemann, 1911) Mr. London's latest book is a clean b rong story, making a dear can reader for a return to a more simple 1 ? e The characters are somewhat overdrawn the Pacific Slope, but we can forgive this 1 17-T Wh ° gives us such * splendid i™" With ? ut an ? *PP"'ent irZ « h *W concl «sion, and is free from the mawkish sentimentality so pre' valent m many novels. "Burning Dayl>ght" u the nickname of Elam HaraiK bundle, of e xtra ot dinarv^n ß and " £ a

eighteen, we find him an acknowledged! leader of strong men at thirty. The] scene opens upon a gambling hell at; Circle City, which Daylight "blows-in" I upon, and quickly makes life stirring. By j morning he has lost everything but his dog team. The tale movea rapidly, but | soon Daylight has again struck it rich, and, by business organisation, in about six years leaves the frozen north for the ' large field of 'Frisco, an eleven million dollar millionaire. Here his operations are all gambles. Experience teaches him that the players at high finance do not "deal" as fairly as the Klondyke miners, and he adopts their methods, and becomes seared of soul and flabby of body. Sick of the office and business strain, he goes off for a ride in the hills. Here it comes upon him that he is not the man' of bone and sinew he was, and that the best things of life are passing him by. Here is the kernel of the tale: He decended the trail that evidently crossed the canon. Part way down he met an old man coming up through the ■ sunse-t. In his hand he carried a pail of foamy milk. He wore no hat, and in his face, framed with snow-white hair and beard, was the> ruddy glow and content of thep assing summer day. Daylight thought he had never seen so contented a bsing. i "How old are you daddy?" he queried.

"Eighty-four," was the reply. "Yes, siree, eight-four, and spryer than most." "You must have taken good care of yourself," Daylight suggested. "I don't know about that. I ain't lpafed none. I walked across the plains with an ox team and fit Injuns in 'sl, and I was a family man then, with seven youngsters. I reckon I was as old as you are now, or pretty nigh on it."

Ultimately Daylight decides it is better to lose his millions, buy a ranch, and enjoy the delights of the country. , How he does this, finding a fitting mate in Dede Mason, his stenographer, is' well told. '

"Lord Stranleigh, Philanthropist," by. Robert Bar. (London: Ward, Locke and Co., Ltd., 1911).

This book tells of how a monied peer deals with the folk among" whom he mixes, allowing the use of his name and wealth to a varied selection of impecunious people. The power of his pocket comes at the eleventh hour to turn the tables of a number of otherwise hopeless situations. The story is entertaining, but little more can be said for it.

The novels reviewed have been received from Brooker and Keig, booksellers, Deon street, and "The Adventures of Kimble Bent" from the publishers, Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Wellington.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19120203.2.58

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 3 February 1912, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,647

BOOKS-NEW AND OLD. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 3 February 1912, Page 6

BOOKS-NEW AND OLD. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 3 February 1912, Page 6

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