Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... 1820 that they arrived off Te Kawakawa Bay. As the Nga-Puhi fleet approached, there was much consternation amongst the people of the place, for they had already become acquainted with the nature of the Nga-Puhi expeditions in 1818, when both Te Morenga and Hongi had passed along the coast devasting the country and killing or taking prisoner every one they came across. The people hastily provisioned their pas, Okau-whare-toa, immediately above the mouth of the Awa-tere River, on the east side--a pa of no great size, situated on a broad spur that comes down from the wooded mountains above, and also their other stronghold, Te Whetu-matarau, a much stronger fortress, on the west side of the river, and the summit of which is about 700 feet above the sea. This place is very strong by nature, being surrounded by inaccessible cliffs, excepting in one, or perhaps, two places. It is about 10 acres in extent on top( and nearly flat. Here the people had cultivations of kumara, &c., whilst a spring of water rises quite close to the top. Very little work in the way of scarping and pallisading would make the place impregnable, and such Pomare found it. Nga-Puhi first turned their attention to Okau-whare-toa pa, which fell to their arms, and a great slaughter followed, whilst numerous prisoners were taken. Amongst the latter was Rangi-i-paea, a woman of very high rank, who afterwards became the wife of Pomare, and went back to the north with him. She already was married to Toko-mauri, and their descendant was the well-known chief, Henare Potae as 'will be seen below: --1. Ngangu-o-te-rangi. 2. R., Hine-mati-oro Te Mate-rone = Te Potae-aute I Henare-Potae = Te Pora-kahu-kino I Wiremu-Potae = TeRina-awheawhe I Te Urnnga Nga-Puhi then attempted to take Te...
