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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 74

The First Taking of Oputake

The First Taking of [unclear: Oputake]

This [unclear: tells] of the old battlel-[unclear: g] of Tuhoe and Ngati-Apain [unclear: the] of old. The cause of the [unclear: war] the killing of Tahaki-a-nina [unclear: of] by Ngatimanawa at [unclear: Ruatahuna] affceied Whakarotu, the wife of [unclear: T] and she sent for Te Arohana [unclear: and] tonga of Tuhoe to avenge [unclear: the] of her husband. They [unclear: agreed] then arose Tuhoe and came to [unclear: T] whakntaratara by the old [unclear: war] from Ruatahuna to [unclear: Whirinaki] looking down from that great! [unclear: b] behold the broad valley of [unclear: Rang] and the smoke arising from the [unclear: f] the enemy, the descendants of [unclear: T] rakau and of Manawa-uha, of [unclear: W] pakau, and Apa koki. And of [unclear: T] haruru of old, who, with the [unclear: en] Apa slew the original people [unclear: of] land. Then Tuboe passed [unclear: s] down the narrow ridge that-[unclear: i] Tauaroa and Kokotahi, which [unclear: r] known to us as Te Pewa-a-Te-[unclear: W] he. For when the chief Te [unclear: W] saw the fierce war-party rushing [unclear: w] he uttered this saying:-Kia taku pewa, waiho tonu iho hei [unclear: i] mo taua wahi ko Te [unclear: Pew] Winirehe,

Thus the taua descended and rived at Oputara, the pa of [unclear: N] Manawa and Ngati-Apa. [unclear: The] page 25 [unclear: ht] began, as Tuhoe assailed the men [unclear: Whirinaki,] entrenched in their [unclear: rong] fort, in Oputara. For two days [unclear: a] battle raged and then the pa fell, [unclear: boe] had gained the victory and the [unclear: ef] taken was Hape-horomarama of [unclear: rati] Manawa, from which ancestor [unclear: nes] the Ngati Hape-He was the [unclear: ef] of those people and lie was killed [unclear: the] Tuhoe and his body thrown [unclear: over] [unclear: cliff,] that steep cliff yonder, [unclear: oppo-] Te Puta-Kotare. And Tuhoe [unclear: re-] [unclear: ed] to Ruatahuna.

Then the thought came to Ngati-[unclear: pa]. They would avenge [unclear: (ranaki)] death of Hape and call upon [unclear: ati]-Hine-uru to help them. Thus [unclear: y] went forth to give battle to the [unclear: n] of Tuhoe and they killed Tutonga [unclear: ed] his son Tamakero and cut off their [unclear: ads] which they placed in a [unclear: basket] carried off with them. And the [unclear: ivors] of Tuhoe fled to Karioi which [unclear: o] the largest pa at Ruatahuna. [unclear: l] the tribe to which that pa be-[unclear: ged] was known as Te Hokowhitu-[unclear: ira]-o-Komairira, which is a [unclear: divi-] of Tuhoe. And the survivors [unclear: d,] "Tutongra and Tamakere have [unclear: en] killed by Ngati-Apa." The [unclear: kowhitu]-pakira asked, " Where [unclear: e] they killed?" The survivors said, They wore killed inland of Whaka [unclear: re."] Then arose the Hokowhitu-[unclear: iara] and came near to the invaders. [unclear: old!] Those lifeless heads spake [unclear: m] to another saving, "A heahea"? To which the other replied, [unclear: ka] tata, ka tata." Then cried head [unclear: e] bore them, "These heads are speaking one with another." [unclear: e] chief of the party asked "Of [unclear: t] manner is their speech?" [unclear: The] says, "A heahea ano?" To which [unclear: h] ether replies, "Ka tata, ka tata." [unclear: Bring] the heads to me," said the [unclear: Her], "I wish them to be cast away." [unclear: l] the chief gave an order that [unclear: e] strange heads should be thrown [unclear: y."] And even as they were cast [unclear: e] the Hokowhitu-pakira were upon them, and then came a great struggle between Tuhoe and Ngati-Apa, and the fight was long and fierce, and many fell. But the Children of Apa were defeated and lost the chiefs Hape-nui, Poutapu, Tautara, Te Karaka and others. Then war became constant against Ngati-Apa and Ngati-Manawa, even unto the second fall of Oputara on account of the death of Tapoa, and to Te Haumingi, and to Matuatahi, and to Okarea and to Ariki-rau. And some were battlegrounds and some were forts which fell. Such were the works of old, and if the Whakapono (the Gospel) had not interfered who may say what might have been.

Here follows the descent from Tutonga—Tumanawapohatu, Tauaiti, Te Whakakaha Rangmhua, Raropua, Tamaitaranui, Tarei, To Ua-a terangi, Te Hurinui. And from Tamakere—Te Paana, Tamakere ir, Toro-paenga, To Hon, Rangiaukume, Kume, Te Hou II.