(Translation)
Friend Wiremu,—
Writer of the letter to Pene Pukewhau: your letter has arrived in which you say that our guns and powder be given up. Hearken; we brought away no guns or powder with us. All the Pakehas witnessed the swimming across the lake of the survivors; their guns and their powder were all lost in the lake.
The are the persons who escaped hither belonging to the tribe Ngatihaua and Ngatikoroki:—
1 | Tamati Waka | 11 | (?) |
2 | Ko Kepa | 12 | Wiremu |
3 | Rihia | 13 | Matenga |
4 | Riki | 14 | Rawiri |
5 | Paora | 15 | Tutaki |
6 | Taniora | 16 | Poke |
7 | Heta | 17 | Te Pakaroa |
8 | Tarati | 18 | Patihana |
9 | Eparaima | 19 | Myself (ko-ahau); that is all. |
10 | Reweti Waikato |
Those of the Ngatimahuta, Ngatihinetu, Ngatiterau, Ngatiwhanaunga, Ngatihikairo, Te Nganngau, Ngatiteata, Ngatihine, Te Patupo, Ngatinaho.
20 | Ngakapa | 29 | Hone |
21 | Karihau | 30 | Tamati |
22 | Paora | 31 | Pene Pukewhau |
23 | Henare | 32 | Hone Parengarenga |
24 | Arapiu | 33 | Himiona |
25 | Erueti | 34 | Erueti |
26 | Henare | 35 | Himiona |
27 | Paora | 36 | Toma (that is all). |
28 | Kingi Waikawau |
All the guns and powder were lost in the water; not one was brought away. Do not suppose I am concealing (the truth) from you; no; this is the real truth—perfect truth. You say I am still in arms at the present time.
Now I will thus reply. If I were still desirous of bearing arms, I would have remained at Paetai, for some of our other tribes were staying there—200 (400 ?) with arms and ammunition.
Understand, I cannot bear arms whilst the Chiefs of Waikato, who have been made prisoners of, are making proposals of peace.
Friend, hear also that 200 (400 ?) went to assist (at Rangiriri). They paddled across the Lake, landed, and went on, and arrived at the top of a ridge, where they saw white flags flying. That was all; thereupon they sat down on the top of the ridge; afterwards Himi, a half-caste, came up in company with Teremie; they said, "Peace has been made."
The 200 (400 ?) then returned to their respective homes. Friend, it is your side alone which is still in arms—that is to say, the steamer which is at work in the Waikato, making pas as it goes on; when they finish one, they come a little further and make another.
Now, then, let the steamer stay away; do not let it come hither.—That is all.