Imprisoned at Te Kumi.

There, fastened up with bullock chains to the central post of the house, their hands bound, bruised, starved and thirsty, plagued by mosquitos which they could not brush away, the surveyors suffered a cruel imprisonment for two days and nights, until they were rescued by Ngati-Maniapoto men and by Te Kooti, the old rebel who had recently made peace with the Government, and who wished to demonstrate his friendship in recognition of the amnesty for war-time offences.

In their imprisonment they expected to be killed by the Hauhaus, who were yelling around the whare and chanting their wild hymns. Hursthouse had finally worked his hands free and picked up a length of chain to defend himself. Hardy campaigner though he was, he “fairly broke down and wept,” as he said himself, when rescue came.