In tracing the commencement of the great change which
came over the Maori race, which for many years extinguished
their insane desire of war and delight in bloodshed, it is
evident it did not begin with the old. The great warrior,
Hongi, refrained, indeed, from injuring the Messengers of
the Gospel ; he even defended them when in danger, but he
paid no attention to their words ; he died a Heathen ; so
hardened and accustomed was he to bloodshed, that even to
the last he could think of nothing else; no reasoning or
entreaty seemed to affect his seared mind.
Hongi, the great Ngapuhi Chief, died exhorting his
children, with his last breath, to carry on the war ; pointing
with exultation to his guns and powder, he enquired who
dare fight with them, so well provided for. But the Lord
overruled his death for good. Although the Missionaries
then feared for the future, when their great protector was
removed, they were then led to trust solely in Christ and
His providential care. From that time the Gospel advanced
among the Ngapuhi.
Waharoa, the great Matamata Chief, though far advanced
in years, refused to pay any attention to the exhortation of
the Missionaries, and when they tried to persuade that



12 THE CHUECH.
restless old savage to make peace, he told them when he
returned from the war with Rotorua, they should see a pile
of heads as high as his hand, holding it up several feet from
the ground, and said, "the Kumara and the flesh, the
Kumara and the flesh, how sweetly will they go down
together." On his return the posts of his fence were
garnished with the heads of his enemies.
