CHAPTER IX

WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE 331

ILLUSTRATIONS

PORTRAIT OF TE RAUPARAHA _Frontispiece_ _After a drawing in the Hocken Collection, Dunedin_

FACING PAGE

DEPARTURE OF "THE FLEET" FOR NEW ZEALAND 16 _From a painting by K. Watkins, Auckland. By kind permission of the Artist_

POMOHAKA PASSAGE, KAWHIA 32 _From a photo by Jonston_

BURNING OF THE "BOYD" 48 _From a painting by W. Wright, Auckland. By kind permission of the Artist_

TE ARAWI PA, KAWHIA 64 _The Point from which the Ngati-Toa migration commenced_

THE MEMORIAL TIKI, KAIAPOI 128 _Erected on the site of the pa destroyed by Te Rauparaha_

GILLETT'S WHALING STATION, KAPITI, 1842 144 _By kind permission of Miss Gilfillan. From a sketch by her Father_

MONUMENT ON MASSACRE HILL, WAIRAU 256 _Erected by public subscription, 1869. Photo by Macey_

TAUPO PA, PORIRUA 288 _After a drawing by G. F. Angas_

TE RANGIHAEATA 304 _After a drawing by C. D. Barraud, Esq._

MAP DELINEATING JOURNEYS OF TE RAUPARAHA AND TE PUOHO _At end_

LAMENT ON THE CAPTURE OF TE RAUPARAHA

_Composed by Hinewhe, and supposed to be sung by Te Rangihaeata._

I

Alas! my heart is wild with grief: There rises still The frowning hill Of Kapiti, in vain amid the waters lone! But he, the chief, The key of all the land, is gone!

II

Calm in the lofty ship, O ancient comrade, sleep, And gaze upon the stillness of the deep! Till now, till now, A calm was but a signal unto thee To rise in pride, and to the fray Despatch some martial band in stern array! But go thy way, And with a favouring tide Upon the billows ride, Till Albion's cliffs thou climb, so far beyond the sea.

III

Thou stood'st alone, a kingliest forest tree, Our pride, our boast, Our shelter and defence to be. But helplessly--ah, helplessly wast thou Plucked sword-like from the heart of all thy host, Thy thronging "Children of the Brave," With none to save! Not amid glaring eyes; Not amid battle cries, When the desperate foes Their dense ranks close: Not from the lips of the terrible guns Thy well-known cry resounding o'er the heath: "Now, now, my sons! Now fearless with me to the realms of Death!" Not thus--not thus, amid the whirl of war, Wert thou caught up and borne away afar!

IV

Who will arise to save? Who to the rescue comes? Waikato's lord--Tauranga's chief, Thy grandsons, rushing from their distant homes, They shall avenge their sire--they shall assuage our grief. While you, the "Children of the Brave," Still sleep a sleep as of the grave, Dull as the slumbering fish that basks upon the summer wave.

V

Depart then, hoary chief! Thy fall-- The pledge forsooth of peace to all-- Of Heaven's peace, so grateful to their God above, And to thy kinsmen twain, by whom Was brought us from the portals of the "land of gloom," This novel law of love-- This law of good: Say, rather, murderous law of blood, That charges its own crimes upon its foes-- While I alone am held the source whence these disasters rose!

An Old New Zealander