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The Pa Maori

Fighting Stages at the Chatham Islands, 1839

Fighting Stages at the Chatham Islands, 1839

Major Heaphy made the following notes concerning the curious towers at Waitangi:—"This is the only instance that I know of page 411 Fig. 118—Nga Tapa. A famous stronghold of hostile natives in the Poverty Bay district. Taken by Colonial Forces in 1869. (See p. 410.) Plan by O. L. W. Bousfield page 412fighting stages or towers being built, although in the old times the Maoris used to have stages somewhat like balconies overhanging at their pa wall from which they could sling stones or throw spears at their assailants.

"The stages shown in the sketch were built at Waitangi, at the Chathams, by Maoris who had migrated thither and then quarrelled among themselves, after nearly exterminating the Moriori or original inhabitants of the islands. See Fig. 34, p. 105.

"The pa with the higher tower was built in order to besiege the people in the middle pa. Each story of the tower was from 10 ft. to 12 ft. in height, and from the summit the assailants fired down into the besieged place. The besieged built a tower also, but from lack of material its dimensions were inferior to the other. There were no earthworks to speak of, probably on account of the nature of the hill, which was chiefly of sand. Covered ways led down from the pa to the waters' edge. Of a night the besieged could obtain fresh water from near this way."

Fig. 119—The Village of Koriniti, Whanganui River. Illustrates the open village of late years. (See p. 410.) Muir & Moodie, Photo

page 413

Fig. 120—Form of Rifle Pits at Whakatane. (See p. 410.)