of the days before the coming of the Pakeha. This was translated from the Maori by John Greenwood, Native Agent at Greymouth, an accomplished Maori scholar, who had accompanied Bishop Selwyn on many of his historical journeys, thus gaining a wonderful knowledge of the language and customs of the Maori people. “Waratah” states: “Tainui was a Maori chief of the highest aristocratic caste, a good natured fellow of medium height and weight, with a bright face, showing the high caste Maori. His cheeks and chin were scored with the orthodox curve markings. He had an abundance of hair on his head, and his half-closed eyes had a merry twinkle in them. Anyone looking at him calmly could not have associated him with any of the atrocities or orgies of a Maori warrior of the ‘bad old days.’ . . . . His was a noble and warlike ancestry dating back into the dark ages, for the name Tainui is associated with the first canoes to reach New Zealand.”
Here follows Tainui’s own story: “In old times long ago, the West Coast was thickly peopled from the Buller to Okarito by the powerful tribe of Ngatiwairangi. Now it came to pass that being inspired with a thirst for glory, certain war parties crossed the mountains and made descents on the settlements of the Ngai-Tahu, who dwelt about Port Cooper (Lyttelton) and the Canterbury Plains. When victorious they enjoyed the fruits of conquest
