The Book of the Bush | Page 5

his first Mass on January 13th, 1838, and
the news of his arrival was soon noised abroad and discussed. The
Methodist missionaries considered the action of the bishop as an
unwarrantable intrusion on their domain, and, being Protestants, they
resolved to protest. This they did through the medium of thirty native
warriors, who appeared before Poynton's house early in the morning of
January 22nd, when the bishop was preparing to say Mass. The chief

made a speech. He said the bishop and his priests were enemies to the
Maoris. They were not traders, for they had brought no guns, no axes.
They had been sent by a foreign chief (the Pope) to deprive the Maoris
of their land, and make them change their old customs. Therefore he
and his warriors had come to break the crucifix, and the ornaments of
the altar, and to take the bishop and his priests to the river.
The bishop replied that, although he was not a trader, he had come as a
friend, and did not wish to deprive them of their country or anything
belonging to them. He asked them to wait a while, and if they could
find him doing the least injury to anyone they could take him to the
river. The warriors agreed to wait, and went away.
Next day the bishop went further up the river to Wherinaki, where
Laming, a pakeha Maori, resided. Laming was an Irish-Protestant who
had great influence with his tribe, which was numerous and warlike. He
was admired by the natives for his strength and courage. He was six
feet three inches in height, as nimble and spry as a cat, and as
long-winded as a coyote. His father-in-law was a famous warrior
named Lizard Skin. His religion was that of the Church of England, and
he persuaded his tribe to profess it. He told them that the Protestant
God was stronger than the Catholic God worshipped by his fellow
countryman, Poynton. In after years, when his converts made cartridges
of their Bibles and rejected Christianity, he was forced to confess that
their religion was of this world only. They prayed that they might be
brave in battle, and that their enemies might be filled with fear.
Laming's Christian zeal did not induce him to forget the duties of
hospitality. He received the bishop as a friend, and the Europeans round
Tatura and other places came regularly to Mass. During the first six
years of the mission, twenty thousand Maoris either had been baptised
or were being prepared for baptism.
Previous to the year 1828 some flax had been brought to Sydney from
New Zealand, and manufactured into every species of cordage except
cables, and it was found to be stronger than Baltic hemp. On account of
the ferocious character of the Maoris, the Sydney Government sent
several vessels to open communication with the tribes before

permitting private individuals to embark in the trade. The ferocity
attributed to the natives was not so much a part of their personal
character as the result of their habits and beliefs. They were remarkable
for great energy of mind and body, foresight, and self-denial. Their
average height was about five feet six inches, but men from six feet to
six feet six inches were not uncommon. Their point of honour was
revenge, and a man who remained quiet while the manes of his friend
or relation were unappeased by the blood of the enemy, would be
dishonoured among his tribe.
The Maoris were in reality loath to fight, and war was never begun
until after long talk. Their object was to exterminate or enslave their
enemies, and they ate the slain.
Before commencing hostilities, the warriors endeavoured to put fear
into the hearts of their opponents by enumerating the names of the
fathers, uncles, or brothers of those in the hostile tribe whom they had
slain and eaten in former battles. When a fight was progressing the
women looked on from the rear. They were naked to the waist, and
wore skirts of matting made from flax. As soon as a head was cut off
they ran forward, and brought it away, leaving the body on the ground.
If many were slain it was sometimes difficult to discover to what body
each head had belonged, whether it was that of a friend or a foe, and it
was lawful to bake the bodies of enemies only.
Notwithstanding their peculiar customs, one who knew the Maoris well
described them as the most patient, equable, forgiving people in the
world, but full of superstitious ideas, which foreigners could not
understand.
They believed that everything found on their coast was sent to them by
the sea god, Taniwa, and they therefore endeavoured to take possession
of the blessings conferred on them by