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History and traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand, prior to 1840

Ngati-Tama Defeated at Toka-Kawau. — ? 1827

Ngati-Tama Defeated at Toka-Kawau.
? 1827.

These various tribes did not always live in peace with one another in their new homes, though allied in their general policy. It was somewhere between 1826 and 1828 and after the arrival of some of the Ngati-Rau-kawa that this latter tribe fell out with Ngati-Tama, and some fighting ensued at Toka-kawau, Ranga-tira (? on the banks of the Manawatu), where the latter tribe got the worst of it, losing a chief of note named Pehi-taka and an Ati-Awa chief named Te Kaurapa, killed by Te Ao of Ngati-Toa; whilst Ngati-Toa (who were assisting Ngati-Rau-kawa) lost Kahu-pake and Moe-araara. The dispute was about some of the conquered lands, but Te Rau-paraha, after a time, persuaded the disputants to make peace. It was in consequence of this page 422trouble and the fear that such turbulent tribes might in the future disturb the harmony of their alliance, and thus frustrate his further schemes of conquest, that Te Rau-paraha (on the advice of his sister Wai-tohi—says Mr. Travers) finally arranged that all the Ngati-Raukawa people should settle and own the lands to the north of Kuku-tauaki stream, whilst Ati-Awa should hold those to the south, including Wai-kanae.

Some lady of the Ngati-Tama composed the following Kai-oraora against Ngati-Toa on account of the losses of her tribe at Tokakawau:—

Kaore te hukihuki ki te hoa kua riro,
Ko te waiho atu ki te puta whakakapi,
Ki Toka-kawau—e,
Ka whakapae te riri, e piri mai,
Homai nga are nui ki au mau ai,
Kia whakaturia te komenga i raro nei,
Kia tuwhera te haké hei rui i nga roro,
No Ngati-Rau-kawa, no Ngati-Whakatere,
He rerenga mai hoki—e, te umu a Te Huia,
Kai rawa atu au to tumuaki rahi,
No Paringa-tai, no Te Whawharua,
Na Kahu-nui—e, ka kita aku niho,
Mene rukuruku te kare o 'Rarua,
Ki roto ki taku ipu, e koropupu nei.

Transliteration.
Alas! the startled heart for my departed friends
Left on the desolate battle-field
At Toka-kawau.
Wrath may turn aside, but still be felt.
Give to me those great ones to keep,
To be used as a feast for those below;
Let the bowl be open to receive the brains
Of Ngati-Rau-kawa, of Ngati-Whakatere, 1
Collect them all into Te Huia's oven.
I will thy sacred heads consume—
O Paringa-tai! O Te Whawharua!2
At Kahu-nui will I gnash my teeth,
And gather the beloved of Ngati-Rarua3
Into my gourd that is boiling there.4

1 Notes.—Ngati-Whakatere, a hapu of Ngati-Rau-kawa.

2 A chief of Ngati-Toa.

3 Ngati-Rarua, a hapu of Ngati-Toa.

4 Water was boiled in a gourd by placing red-hot stones therein.