The Adventures of Kimble Bent

by James Cowan

THE ADVENTURES OF

KIMBLE BENT

MAP OF TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND

(Showing engagements in the Maori War)

THE ADVENTURES

OF KIMBLE BENT

A STORY OF WILD LIFE IN THE
NEW ZEALAND BUSH

BY

JAMES COWAN

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

WHITCOMBE AND TOMBS, LIMITED

LONDON⁠MELBOURNE

CHRISTCHURCH, WELLINGTON AND DUNEDIN, N.Z.

1911

PRINTED AND BOUND BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.

PREFACE

This book is not a work of fiction. It is a plain narrative of real life in the New Zealand bush, a true story of adventure in a day not yet remote, when adventure in abundance was still to be had in the land of the Maori. Every name used is a real one, every character who appears in these pages had existence in those war days of forty years ago. Every incident described here is a faithful record of actual happenings; some of them may convince the reader that truth can be stranger than fiction.

Numerous instances are recorded of white deserters from civilisation who have allied themselves with savages, adopting barbarous practices, and forgetting even their mother-tongue. In the old convict days of New South Wales escapees from the fetters of a more than rigorous "system" now and again cast in their lot with the blacks. Renegades of every European nationality have been found living with and fighting for native tribes in Africa and America and the Islands of Polynesia. But none of them had a wilder story to tell than has the man whose narrative is here presented—Kimble Bent, the pakeha-Maori. Ever since 1865—when he first "took to the blanket"—he has lived with the New Zealand Maoris. For thirteen years he was completely estranged from his fellow-whites; he had deserted from a British regiment and a price was on his head. British troops and Colonial irregulars alike hunted him and his fanatical Hauhau companions. His hairbreadth escapes were many; he had to risk death not only from British bullet and bayonet, but from the savage brown men of the forest with whom he lived. When at last he came out of hiding, and dared once more to face those of his own colour, he had almost forgotten the English language, and could speak it but with difficulty and hesitation. He has been out of his bush exile many years, but is still living with his Maori friends, and is still known by the Maori name, "Tu-nui-a-moa," which his chief Titokowaru gave him in 1868. When he writes to me, he usually writes in Maori, and he is practically a Maori himself, for he has lived the greater part of his life as a Maori, and he has assimilated the peculiar modes of thought and some of the ancient beliefs of the natives, as well as their tongue and customs.

One of the most remarkable portions of Bent's narrative is his account of the revival of cannibalism by the Hauhaus in 1868. Vague stories have been heard concerning the eating of soldiers' bodies by the bushmen of Ngati-Ruanui and Nga-Rauru and of rites of human sacrifices performed in the woods of Taranaki, but this account of Bent's is the first detailed description from an eye-witness of the man-eating practices in Titokowaru's camps. Many of Tito's Hauhaus are still alive; but they are very reticent on the subject of "long-pig."

I first met Kimble Bent in 1903. In that year Mr. T. E. Donne, now the New Zealand Government Trade Commissioner in London, had induced the old man to come to Wellington for the purpose of being interviewed and photographed; and it is these interviews, very considerably expanded during a seven years' acquaintance with Bent, and carefully checked by independent Maori testimony, that are now embodied in this book.

In confirmation and extension of Bent's story, I have gathered data at first-hand both from Taranaki Maoris who fought under Titokowaru, and from soldiers and settlers who fought against him, and these particulars are incorporated with the old pakeha-Maori's narrative.

The 1868–9 portion of the book is, therefore, practically a history of the Titokowaru war in Taranaki; and it embraces a great deal of matter not hitherto recorded.

Many of the settler-soldiers who survive from those wild forest days now farm their peaceful lands within sight of the battle-fields of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and Pungarehu, and Moturoa, and Otapawa. With them the recollections of bush-marches and ambuscades and storming of Hauhau stockades are still fresh and vivid. But the younger generation know little of the dangers and troubles through which the pioneers passed. The available histories deal very meagrely and often very inaccurately with the story of the Ten-Years' Maori War, even from the white side, while the Maori view-point is absolutely unknown to all but a few colonists. Therefore it is fortunate, perhaps, that one has been enabled to gather before it is too late from the old Hauhau warriors themselves the tale of their ferociously patriotic past, and to place on record this true story of wild forest life from the lips of one of the last of that nearly extinct type of decivilised outlander, the pakeha-Maori.

For information and assistance in regard to various engagements in Titokowaru's war I am indebted to Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, C.M.G., Colonel T. Porter, C.B., and other old Colonial soldiers. Tutangé Waionui, of Patea, who was one of Titokowaru's most active scouts and warriors, has given me many details concerning the campaign from the Maori side; and the Rev. T. G. Hammond, Wesleyan Missionary to the Taranaki Maoris, has also furnished assistance on the same subject. To Mrs. Kettle, of Napier, daughter of Major von Tempsky, I owe my thanks for permission to reproduce three of the illustrations in this book, copies of water-colour sketches by her celebrated father, representing scenes in the Taranaki campaign of 1865–6. The picture of the fight at Moturoa in 1868 is from a black-and-white sketch by a soldier-artist who took part in the engagement; the original was in the possession of the late Dr. T. M. Hocken, of Dunedin, who allowed me to have it photographed for this book.

J. C.

Wellington, N.Z.,

Feb. 1, 1911.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THE DESERTER

On the banks of the Tangahoé—The runaway soldier—A Maori scout—Off to the rebel camp

pp. 1–6

CHAPTER II

KIMBLE BENT, SAILOR AND SOLDIER

Kimble Bent's early life—An Indian mother—Service in the American Navy—Departure for England—"Taking the Shilling"—British Army life—The flight to America—A sinking ship—Rescue, and landing in Glasgow—Back to the Army again—Soldiering in India—The 57th ordered to New Zealand—The Taranaki Campaign—A court-martial—At the triangles

pp. 7–21

CHAPTER III

THE CAMP OF THE HAUHAUS

In the Maori country—Arrival at a Hauhau pa—Maori village scenes—The ceremonies round the sacred flagstaff—"Riré, riré, hau!"—The man with the tomahawk—A white slave—The painted warriors of Keteonetea—The blazing oven

pp. 22–33

CHAPTER IV

IN THE OTAPAWA STOCKADE

The return from Keteonetea—The hill-fort at Otapawa—A korero with the Hauhaus—Bent's one-eyed wife—"The wooing o' 't "—Bent is christened "Ringiringi"

pp. 34–42

CHAPTER V

TE UA, PRIEST AND PROPHET

Te Ua and his gods—The Pai mariré faith—"Charming" the British bullets—Bent's interview with the prophet—His life tapu'd—Preparing for battle—Life in the forest pa

pp. 43–54

CHAPTER VI

THE STORMING OF OTAPAWA

British forces attack the stockade—The bayonet charge—Flight of the Hauhaus—Through the forest by torchlight—Doctoring the wounded—The tangi by the river

pp 55–65

CHAPTER VII

BUSH LIFE WITH THE HAUHAUS

Wild days in the forest—The Hauhau hunters—Maori woodcraft—Bird-snaring and bird-spearing—The fowlers at Te Ngaere—The slayer of Broughton—Another runaway soldier, and his fate—The tomahawking of Humphrey Murphy

pp. 66–77

CHAPTER VIII

THE HAUHAU COUNCIL-TOWN

Life in Taiporohenui—A great praying-house—The ritual of the Niu—Singular Hauhau chants—"Matua Pai mariré—Bent's new owner, and his now wife—The tattooers—Another white renegade

pp. 78–91

CHAPTER IX

A FOREST ADVENTURE

The two eel-fishers—Bivouac in the bush—A murderous attack—The Waikato's tomahawk—"Ringiringi's" escape

pp. 92–101

CHAPTER X

THE WAR-CHIEF AND HIS GODS

The war-chief Titokowaru—Ancient ceremonies and religion revived—Uenuku, the god of battle—Titokowaru's mana-tapu—Bent makes cartridges for the Hauhaus—A novel weapon

pp. 102–107

CHAPTER XI

"THE BEAK-OF-THE-BIRD"

The stockade at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu—In the Wharekura—Singular Hauhau war-rites—The "Twelve Apostles"—The enchanted taiaha—The heart of the pakeha: a human burnt offering—An ambuscade and a cannibal feast

pp. 108–118

CHAPTER XII

THE ATTACK ON TURUTURU-MOKAI REDOUBT

Hauwhenua's war-party—A night march—Attack on Turu-turu-Mokai Redoubt—A heroic defence—The heart of the captain—Touch-and-go—Relief at last

pp. 119–133

CHAPTER XIII

THE KILLING OF KANE

Bent and Kane brought before Titokowaru—Kane's flight—Captured by the Hauhaus—A traitor's end

pp. 134–138

CHAPTER XIV

ADVENTURES AT TE NGUTU-O-TE-MANU

In the midst of dangers—Bent stalked by Hauhaus—Old Jacob to the rescue—"Come on if you dare!"—The white man's new Maori name—Government forces attack and burn Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu—A new use for hand-grenades

pp. 139–144

CHAPTER XV

A BATTLE IN THE FOREST; AND THE DEATH OF VON TEMPSKY

The second fight at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu—Titokowaru's prophecy—Tutangé and his sacred war-mat—Bent's narrow escape—Government forces defeated—How von Tempsky fell—A terrible retreat—Colonial soldiers' gallant rearguard fight

pp. 145–179

CHAPTER XVI

THE CANNIBALS OF THE BUSH

After the battle—The slain heroes of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu—A terrible scene on the marae—What Bent saw from his prison-hut—The sword of "Manu-rau"—A funeral pyre—Priestly incantations—A soldier's body eaten—Why the Hauhaus became cannibals

pp. 180–194

CHAPTER XVII

SKIRMISHING AND FORT-BUILDING

Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu abandoned—On the march again—Skirmishing on the Patea—Pakeha in pickle—A new stockade—Bent the pa-builder

pp. 195–200

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FIGHT AT MOTUROA STOCKADE

Kātené's vigil—Attack on the stockade—Major Hunter's death—A Hauhau warrior's desperate feat—Over the palisades—Government forces repulsed—A rear-guard fight—An unanswered prayer—Scenes of terror—Tihirua's burnt-offering—A soldier's body eaten

pp. 201–225

CHAPTER XIX

THE TAURANGA-IKA STOCKADE

Another fighting-pa built—Scouting and skirmishing—The watcher on the tower—McDonnell and Titokowaru—How Trooper Lingard won the New Zealand Cross—Hairbreadth escapes—Pairama and the white man's leg

pp. 226–239

CHAPTER XX

A SCOUTING ADVENTURE

The passage of the Okehu—A night's vigil—Mackenzie the scout—"Maoris in the bush!"—The watchers in the fern—A race for life

pp. 240–254

CHAPTER XXI

THE FALL OF TAURANGA-IKA

Shot and shell—The fort abandoned—Flight of the Hanhaus—The chase—The fight at Karaka Flat—Mutilation of the dead—The ambuscade at the peach-grove—The sergeant's leg—Rewards for Hauhau heads

pp. 255–261

CHAPTER XXII

THE FOREST-FORAGERS

Fugitive Hauhaus—Hard times in the bush—The eaters of mamaku—Bent's adventure—Lost in the woods—Rupé to the rescue—The tapu'd eels

pp. 262–269

CHAPTER XXIII

A BATTLE IN THE FOG

The surprise of Otautu—An early morning attack—Kimble Bent's dream—"Kia tupato!"—A gallant defence—Bravo old Hakopa—Flight of the Hauhaus

pp. 270–276

CHAPTER XXIV

THE HEAD-HUNTERS

The skirmish at Whakamara—Hauhaus on the run—Government head-hunters—Major Kemp's white scout—Sharp work in the bush—Barbarism of the Whanganui—Kupapas—Smoke-drying the heads—A present for Whitmore—The heads on the tent floor—End of the war

pp. 277–292

CHAPTER XXV

THE LAND OF REFUGE

The flight from Rukumoana—Retreat to the Waitara—The Kawau pa—Life in the Ngatimaru country—Rupé and his white man—A Maori Donnybrook fair—A tale of a taniwha

pp. 293–305

CHAPTER XXVI

BUSH LIFE ON THE PATEA

The return to Rukumoana—The forest-village—Bird-snaring and bird-spearing—Bent the canoe-builder—His third wife

pp. 306–310

CHAPTER XXVII

HIROKI: THE STORY OF A FUGITIVE

Hiroki, the slayer of McLean—Strange faces at Rukumoana—A forest chase—A meeting and a warning—Hiroki's wild bush life and his end

pp. 311–320

CHAPTER XXVIII

OUT OF EXILE

Canoeing on the Patea—The voyage to Hukateré—The white man's world again—Bent the medicine-man—Makutu, or the Black Art—Bent's later days—The end

pp. 321–332

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Sketch Map of Taranaki	Frontispiece
	PAGE
Mount Egmont, Taranaki	15
A Taranaki Frontier Fort	17
Patara, a Hauhau Prophet	47
A British Column on the March	69
The Scout	85
The Ambuscade	113
Tutangé Waionui, a Hauhau Warrior	151
Major von Tempsky	159
Major von Tempsky	173
Major Kemp (Kepa te Rangihiwinui)	211
The Fight at Moturoa	218, 219
A Hauhau Scout	235
A Constabulary Officer in Bush-fighting Costume	279
Kimble Bent, the Pakeha-Maori	325