Page:Adventures of Kimble Bent.djvu/221

Rh Waikato, Mahuta Potatau te Wherowhero, M.L.C.—was a warrior of exceeding renown three-quarters of a century ago, and a cannibal of cannibals.

Te Wherowhero Kai-tangata—"man-devourer"—he was called. Many a time he raided Taranaki with his war-parties of Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto and Tainui. At Pukerangiora, about 1830, he slew hundreds of Ngati-Awa tribespeople, and with his warriors cooked and ate them. Nearly thirty years later he was set up as king over the confederated Maori tribes in the centre of the island.

When the Maori kingdom was first established, the then governor of the colony visited old Potatau, and discussed the Maori aspirations for independence. The governor, according to the Maori story, endeavoured to show the king the folly of opposing the sway of the white man; if it did come to warfare—which was not then contemplated by either side—the British soldiers would soon make a clean sweep of the ill-armed and ill-provisioned Maori.

"You are wrong," said Potatau; "it will take you many a year to sweep away the Maoris—you will never do it."

"But," said the governor, "suppose we fight you, and drive you into the forest, far away from your cultivations, what will you do for food?"

"Why," replied the old king, "I have plenty of food even in the bush—the berries of the tawa and karaka trees, the heart of the mamaku tree-fern,