Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Ena, or, The Ancient Maori

Chapter IX. Designs Unveiled

page 49

Chapter IX. Designs Unveiled.

"Dost thou force me from my place? replied lie hollow voice.
The people bend before me.
I turn the battle in the field of the brave.
I look on the nations and they vanish:
My nostrils pour the blast of death."

A few atoms of silvery light slowly approached the eastern horizon, and, radiating in slender pencils of opalized scintilla on the far-off line of contact where space and matter seem to meet, the sparkling, gem-like raylets lingered for a conceivable moment A low and distinct murmur was heard, becoming more distinct and more rapid in its throbbings as it travelled over the surface of the ground. This mysterious moan was familiar to the ear of the tohunga, as he stood on the hill top, wrapped in his mantle, to watch the dawn. The moaning phantom brushed his page 50lean cheek, and fluttered through his elfin locks, as it onward rolled on viewless wing down through the valleys, and away over the neighbouring mountain peaks and leafy wildernesses, announcing to all who listen the flight of the "wind that brings the daylight": ribbon after ribbon of light now streamed over the morning meadows of the aerial cloudscape; and as the dewy ring of the sun glittered on the crown of the distant eastern sierras, the priest was joined by his three guests. They were now returning to their homes, cheerfully reassured by the prophetic utterances of their soothsayer on the preceding night.

The figure of the seer, as clearly defined against the golden dome of the sky, was impressively kinglike: he was much taller than either of his three companions, and as he stood at a little distance from, and elevated himself above them by mounting a smooth, flat-topped boulder, his presence was regal to a degree. On his face the tattooed lines and curves were clear and symmetrical; his limbs lithe, their joints gracefully compact; his body full without rotundity; his action determined without effort; his hair bluish black, waved, not curled; his eyes deep set, lustrously black and piercing; his look calm and penetrating; the expression of the mouth firmness of purpose and determination in execution: among his equals, easy page 51without awkwardness, never familiar; among his inferiors, haughty without contemptuousness, never affable. Such was Hahaki, a lineal descendant of the Hawaiikian chief, Houmatawhite. Extending his right arm in the direction of the sea-coast that from this point of view lay beneath, trending away in a northwesterly direction far as eye could reach, Hahaki pointed to the cone of Taranaki, that, at the moment the seer looked, received on her eastern ridges the light of the morning sun. The priest looked toward the queenly pile of rock, forest, and snow; his aspect changed, the haughty lines of his brow fell back, the iron lips relaxed to softness, and the trembling tears of poor humanity rolled down his tattooed cheek, as with an adoration intensely absorbent, the kinglike man drew back his arm, muffled his face in his cloak, sank on the inhospitable bosom of the stone, and wept as an infant weeps.

Te Rangitukaroa understood the reason of the tohunga's grief, and felt its influence; turning aside from his followers, and squatting low on his haunches, still looking toward the snow-white cone, he sang, with tears and many stifled sobs, the following lament:—

O! that on thy snow-white breast
I might weep,
Might within thy valleys rest,
And calmly sleep
page 52 My last long sleep; my death is near—
I feel it now;
It creeps cold o'er my vision drear,
And scathes my brow.
Home! O! home beloved by me,
Shall I again
Breathe thy air, so pure, so free,
On hill and plain?
On the blue wave I shall ride,
Safe, whilst death
Brings the exile o'er the tide,
Like crested wraith.
Home to thee, dear mountain, mine!
And ne'er again
Shall my worn spirit there repine
At earthly pain.

When the chief concluded his lament, the priest arose, and, pointing toward a hill among the yellow Sand-dunes, said, "Yonder is the pah of our greatest foe; two sunsets since, I went by night to his fortress. The hour was dark; only a few stars shed a pale, glowing light on the grey stones; the winds were hushed as I crossed the dunes. I travelled until midnight, when, with great difficulty, and in momentary danger of being discovered, I got up to within earshot of the palisades of the pah front, behind which I could discern at intervals the sentinel as he passed and repassed on his beat. I did not remain long in suspense, for, hearing the sound of voices, I crept slowly and noiselessly round toward the gate, where within the page 53fortifications two whares stand, one on either side of the entrance: these were the houses for the guards, and as the night wore on the doors were open. The sound of the voices I before heard proceeded from one of the buildings. Listening attentively, I heard one of the guards say to his fellows, 'We will soon advance on the hill-fortress, immediately after the reinforcements arrive from Waikato, now so long expected. A spy came in to-day; he has been reconnoitring the pah, and reports it as being exceedingly strong: a vigilant watch is kept night and day. He has discovered a path going up from a gully at the back of the pah, leading to a small gate in the outworks of the fortress: by that path it is intended to march the stronger portion of our attacking party under cover of the bush; next, a feint will be put in practice in view of the pah, with the object of drawing the people out. We are to act with seeming indecision and unwillingness to attack: this manœuvre will likely have the desired effect, that of drawing out the garrison in pursuit; if so, our rear division will have easy work to get into the stronghold. If the stratagem does not succeed, its failure will be made known by a prearranged signal to those in the rear: on this, these will retire and meet their comrades in the gully by a waterfall at a safe distance from the page 54fortress.' 'Yes,' said another; 'and our chief desires, more than the capture of the pah, to secure the enemy's tohunga, as he is exercising all his powerful spells for the protection of the tribe.' As this information was all that I needed, I crept away from the pah by the way which I came. With a weary step and an aching heart I retraced the long dunes, and day had dawned ere I entered my cell. You now know the precise state of your own affairs, and the exact intentions of the enemy toward you; let your future action be guided by this intelligence, and take measures accordingly. Prepare a party to intercept the arrival of their expected reinforcements; establish a line of scouts to give you timely warning of their approach. Farewell!"

Thus saying, Hahaki waved his hand, and the chieftain and his followers hastened homeward with dark and gloomy forebodings of the future. Their enemies had driven them from their homes at Taranaki, and from resting-place to resting-place had they followed them, year after year, with an indefatigable pertinacity, and with the seeming determination of exterminating the entire hapu, whose numbers were fast dwindling away.