File:New Zealand settlers and soldiers; or The war in Taranaki- being incidents in the life of a settler (1861) (14774698615).jpg

Identifier: newzealandsettle00gilb (find matches)
Title: New Zealand settlers and soldiers; or The war in Taranaki: being incidents in the life of a settler
Year: 1861 (1860s)
Authors: Gilbert, Thomas, Baptist minister
Subjects: Maori (New Zealand people) New Zealand -- History 1840-1876
Publisher: London : A.W. Bennett
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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stockade, and 106 SETTLEES AND SOLDIEKS ; learned then, for the first time, why the forceswere sent out—viz., to rescue the settlers fromwhat was deemed a frightfully perilous posi-tion, in the midst of savage and treacherousnatives. I was on the watch for their return. Assoon as Mr. Brown saw me he called out, Get the carts ready for town directly, andtell all to prepare as quickly as possible.This was soon done, not well knowing at thetime why we were to leave in such haste, andnot inclined to lose time by inquiring; trustingimplicitly in Mr. Brown, well knowing thathe must have good reasons for the directionsgiven. Ere we left, Mr. Browns son, Frank,rode to the cross-roads, and got the Maoriplacard—the translation of which I have given.This was a document too curious to be lost.We were not long before we were on theroad to town. Passing my house down thebush road, with our white calico scarfs overthe shoulder, we soon met with severalfriendly natives, which, it being dusk, and
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OR, THE WAR IN TARANAKI. 107 not knowing their uniform, I mistook forsouthern natives, and felt for one moment adoubt of our safety. On tliat bush road isa large puriri stump, from which a slab wascut, polished and exhibited at the Great Ex-hibition of 1851. We had not journeyed onfar past this stump before we saw before usa column of armed men (volunteers), standingin silence, ready to escort us through what,if any hostile natives had been skulking about,would have been a dangerous piece of road,there being close bush that would well serveas a cover. Imagine the joy at recognising friends andneighbours, all safe and well, heartily shakingus by the hand, and, instead of reproachingus for the work of danger we had unwittinglygiven them, only thinking of our safety.Gratitude prompts a full acknowledgment oftheir heroic conduct, and no one of the com-pany rescued felt it a slight benefit which theyhad conferred. At the Inn, we came out into the main 108 SETTLEES AND SOLDIERS; road. jMore

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