Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/60

J.B.Montefiore, Esq.

revenge the Death of an old Chief, who had been Twenty-two Years ago killed by the opposite Party. The Elizabeth, a British Brig, conveyed to Banks's Island about 300 Men, and when she anchored off the Island it was made to appear there were no Men on board the Vessel; they were all below, with the Hatches down. In the Middle of the Night the Captain started the whole of the Men; and took Fifty or Sixty Prisoners. I have made a more detailed Statement of the Facts, which, with your Lordships Permission, I will relate from my Journal; they are as follow:–It must be in the Recollection of many, that a New Zealand Chief was a few Years ago in this Country, by the Name of Pai or Tupai, who was introduced to our late Soverign George the Fourth. Some short Time after his Return to his native Country he waged War against the People of Banks's Island, or the Southern Island, and was killed by the Chief of that Place, named Mara Nui. This same Man is supposed also to have killed several White Men then, and Four Years ago cut off, and ate, with his Comrades, the Boat's Crew of His Majesty's Ship Warspite. Since that Period, Ecou, old Pai's Son, has been most anxious to revenge his Father's Death, as well as the Slaughter of the White Men, and has been for a Number of Years bartering his Flax for Muskets, Powder, &c. to prepare himself in the event of accomplishing his Intention. On the Elizabeth anchoring off the Island Entry (a small Island, as will be seen in the Chart), the Ropera, that is the great General or fighting Man here, and Ecou, the Son of Pai, came on board, and told the Captain and Supercargo they had no Flax made up, which was a Fact; they said they had enough Muskets and Powder, as on the Island they could muster 2,000 Muskets; but if he would go down with his Ship, and convey 300 Men to Banks's Island to fight, and again return to Entry Island with such Prisoners as they made, they would give him Fifty Tons of Flax, Value 1,200l. The Captain and Supercargo consented. How far he was correct in so doing, or how far he was correct in hiring his Vessel as a Transport, and being instrumental in the Cause of so much Bloodshed, it is not for me to say. However, he actually entered into a regular Charterparty, and he proceeded thither with about 200 or 300 picked Men, all armed with Muskets, War Clubs, and Tomahawks. The Elizabeth is regularly armed, carrying Eight Guns, besides Two Swivels on her Tafrel, and well found in every Description of small Arms. On arriving at Banks's Island all the New Zealanders conveyed thither were stowed away in the Hold. Some of the Chiefs coming on board, seeing her Guns, were rather suspicious, and the first Question they asked was whether the Ropera and Ecou were on board; they suspected they were, and took to their Canoes; immediately after this they (the Men stowed below) all came on Deck, and took some Canoes, full of Slaves, lying alongside the Vessel, made them Prisoners, proceeded to the Shore, and commenced Battle; and Ecou himself took the great Mara Nui that killed his Father, brought him Prisoner on board the Brig, and they killed several on shore. The Description the Captain gave of their fighting was most interesting; they killed about Fifty, and took about as many Prisoners. Only One Man on Ecou's Side was killed; several wounded. The Vessel returned to Entry with the Prisoners and the Chief Mara Nui; and Captain Stewart informed me, Two or Three Days after he had been to Sea, he found several Baskets of Legs and Arms in his Hold. He made them throw them all overboard. They were to be taken to Entry Island to be roasted and eaten; it is a Custom among them. This great Mara Nui is now on board in Irons ( at Entry Island ). Having gone so far in my own Vessel, I was deterred from proceeding, in consequence of expecting that the Whites would be slaughtered. He is kept by the Captain as an Hostage, until the Charterparty is finally arranged. Ecou and Ropera had despatched about 2,000 Slaves to make Flax; and in Six Weeks from the Date of his Arrival she is to be filled as per Agreement. The Brig which I had chartered then proceeded round the Island, but I would not go myself. I was obliged to take refuge in this very Ship where this great Chief was in Irons. I expostulated with the Captain on his Conduct; he said he saw the Folly of his Conduct, but, having gone so far, he must keep him. I begged him to take him up to Sydney. In Four or Five Weeks afterwards, no Flax coming forth, the Natives not having fulfilled their Charter,–I was anxious to get up to Sydney,–I told him I was quite certain he would not get his Flax,–he set sail, but gave up the Chief Mara Nui into the Hands of his Enemies. He was given up, and I went on shore and saw the whole Process of his intendedSacrifice.