Chapter I: Front Matter

OLD NEW ZEALAND,

A TALE OF THE GOOD OLD TIMES;

and

A HISTORY OF THE WAR IN THE

NORTH AGAINST THE CHIEF

HEKE, IN THE YEAR

1845.

TOLD BY AN OLD CHIEF OF THE NGAPUHI TRIBE.

BY A PAKEHA MAORI.

with an introduction

BY THE EARL OF PEMBROKE.

LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON,
Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen,
NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1876.

CHISWICK PRESS: C. WHITTINGHAM, TOOKS COURT,
CHANCERY LANE.

CONTENTS.

Page

Introduction ix

Preface to the Original Edition xxiii

CHAPTER I.

Introductory -- First View of New Zealand -- First Sight of the
Natives, and First Sensations experienced by a mere Pakeha -- A
Maori Chief's notions of trading in the Old Times -- A
dissertation on "Courage" -- A few words on Dress -- The Chief's
Soliloquy -- The Maori Cry of Welcome 1

CHAPTER II.

The Market Price of a Pakeha -- The value of a Pakeha "as such"
-- Maori Hospitality in the Good Old Times -- A Respectable
Friend -- Maori Mermaids -- My Notions of the value of Gold --
How I got on Shore 14

CHAPTER III.

A Wrestling Match -- Beef against Melons -- The Victor gains a
loss -- "Our Chief" -- His Speech -- His _status_ in the Tribe
-- Death of "Melons" -- Rumours of Peace and War -- Getting the
Pa in fighting order -- My Friend the "Relation Eater" --
Expectation and Preparation -- Arrival of Doubtful Friends --
Sham Fight -- The "Taki" -- The War Dance -- Another Example of
Maori Hospitality -- Crocodile's Tears -- Loose Notions about
Heads -- Tears of Blood -- Brotherly Love -- Capital Felony --
Peace 24

CHAPTER IV.

A Little affair of "Flotsam and Jetsam" -- Rebellion Crushed in
the Bud -- A Pakeha's House Sacked -- Maori Law -- A Maori
Lawsuit -- Affairs thrown into Chancery 52

CHAPTER V.

Every Englishman's House is his Castle -- My Estate and Castle
-- How I purchased my Estate -- Native Titles to Land, of what
Nature -- Value of Land in New Zealand -- Land Commissioners --
The Triumphs of Eloquence -- Magna Charta 60

CHAPTER VI.

How I kept House -- Maori Freebooters -- An Ugly Customer -- The
"Suaviter in Modo" -- A single Combat to amuse the Ladies -- The
true Maori Gentleman -- Character of the Maori People 67

CHAPTER VII.

Excitement caused by first Contact with Europeans -- The Two
Great Institutions of Maori Land -- The Muru -- The Tapu --
Instances of Legal Robbery -- Descriptions and Examples of the
Muru -- Profit and Loss -- Explanation of some of the Workings
of the Law of Muru 81

CHAPTER VIII.

The Muru falling into Disuse -- Why -- Examples of the Tapu --
The Personal Tapu -- Evading the Tapu -- The Undertaker's Tapu
-- How I got Tabooed -- Frightful Difficulties -- How I got out
of them -- The War Tapu -- Maori War Customs 92

CHAPTER IX.

The Tapu Tohunga -- The Maori Oracle -- Responses of the Oracle
-- Priestcraft 116

CHAPTER X.

The Priest evokes a Spirit -- The Consequences -- A Maori
Tragedy -- The "Tohunga" again 122

CHAPTER XI.

The Local Tapu -- The Taniwha -- The Battle on Motiti -- Death
of Tiki Whenua -- Reflections -- Brutus, Marcus Antonius, and
Tiki Whenua -- Suicide 129

CHAPTER XII.

The Tapa -- Instances of -- The Storming of Mokoia -- Pomare --
Hongi Ika -- Tareha -- Honour amongst Thieves 137

CHAPTER XIII.

"My Rangatira" -- The respective Duties of the Pakeha and his
Rangatira -- Public Opinion -- A "Pakeha Kino" -- Description of
my Rangatira -- His Exploits and Misadventures -- His Moral
Principles -- Decline in the numbers of the Natives -- Proofs of
former Large Population -- Ancient Forts -- Causes of Decrease 140

CHAPTER XIV.

Trading in the Old Times -- The Native Difficulty -- Virtue its
own Reward -- Rule Britannia -- Death of my Chief -- His Dying
Speech -- Rescue -- How the World goes Round 165

CHAPTER XV.

Mana -- Young New Zealand -- The Law of England -- "Pop goes the
weasel" -- Right if we have Might -- God save the Queen -- Good
Advice 174

HISTORY OF THE WAR IN THE NORTH OF NEW ZEALAND AGAINST THE CHIEF
HEKE 181