Abel Tasman
December, 1642.
I, Te Kahurangi Rangitamaua, chief of the Ngāti Tūmata-kō-kiri people, the descendants of Tūmata the sharp-edged, have this story to tell. Listen now, and remember:
Our people are truly blessed. Our hard work, our mahi kai has given us more than any other iwi. This was the reason, I suppose, that the Kaitiaki chose to test our resolve. In the middle of our harvest two huge waka, covered in sails and towers, loomed up upon us from the sea, and on these vessels were strange fair skinned men. Not knowing their intentions, we made our challenge and they accepted. With our strength and the wisdom of the Kaitiaki we emerged from this with our mana greatly increased. But let me recount to you, how we chased off these trouble makers!
On the night of their arrival, we held a hui with the elders and practically all who had come to hear about these strangers.
Every opinion and thought was spoken, each of the rangatira, tohunga, and other elders who gathered spoke, calling out for and against every other. That’s how things are decided here; how can I make the right choice and lead our people without knowing the minds of each and every one of us?
Te Hau was the first to say what many were thinking: “These strange folk have learnt of our prosperity, for what other purpose would they come but to take? We heard their response to our challenge, and their loud thundering instruments — what are these but terrible omens? It is not just pūtea that led these people direct for our harvest, at this time.”
Next it was the young, keen Ruaeo who came to his feet and continued: “This is the season for harvest, and also for war! — Our bountiful land, our hard work, our mahi kai, has given us more than the other iwi — If we welcome these newcomers as guests, then they will tell all the tangata they meet, of how blessed we are — Ngāti Tama and the other iwi will soon envy us!”
There was more talk, of the mystical folk, the Patupaiarehe, for like them, these men were fair skinned, with strange music, and they had captured the wind.
“Our waka can also capture the wind!”
“Their vessels are magical and command the wind to blow them where they desire!”
“Their vessels are just bigger and they have good skill with sails”
“The strangers have white skin, just like the Patupaiarehe!”
“They cannot be pakepakeha, they did not have red hair!”
“I saw one with red hair!”
“How can you know that, it was too dark!”
“Enough!” I stood and called the hui to silence. “Patupaiarehe or not, we will know how to handle these these newcomers; we will ask our Kaitiaki!”
So I called on our ancestor Tūmata, who founded our iwi, to guide us, and to bless all our waka with the power and spirit of his own vessel Mataatua. I asked Tama-i-hara-nui, he who discovered our land, if these newcomers were here under his blessing.
I then turned to Tangaroa-Matātahi, eldest among our Tohunga, and most wise and powerful in spiritual matters: “Will you perform a Karakia?”
So Tangaroa-Matātahi called for protection and wisdom to guide us, and the answer that came was clear: Let us make a challenge worthy of a great rival; that these strangers would know that they have come to meet a great people, fierce in friendship, fierce in battle: if either they seek, either they shall find.
As the sun rose, we were prepared. All our mighty waka were made ready to be put to sea, and our warriors, so great in number and strength, were vying with enthusiasm for the best positions, to be the first to encounter these newcomers. My waka was made ready with sails, and our wise Tangaroa-Matātahi took up position alongside.
— -
Around noon, sailing south-east on a fair topsail breeze, we sighted a large land, uplifted high, about 15 miles off the bow. Only three weeks out from Van Diemen’s Land nought was expected yet but these large seas, and it came as a welcome surprise — I wondered if it were some great southern land, and if having rounded it, one might have passage to the southern Americas.
We made direct, resolving to land, but a gusty summer nor’wester sprang up and brought us in toward the rocky, jungle-covered coast, and seeing neither cove nor haven, we quickly put out to sea from the land, lest we founder on the lee shore.
Close-hauled and beating to windward, our jacht Heemskerck and her consort the fluyt Zeehaen tacked slowly north along the coast of this fair and beautiful land, searched for a suitable mooring. Fresh water was sought, as welcome would be opportunities for replenishing fruits.
Yet the shore was craggy and rough with tall mountains falling down to the sea. After many miles, and nearing sundown on the fourth day, being then the 16th of December of the year 1642, the land fell away to a long sand reef which we rounded to the east.
The following day, at the rising of the sun, we sighted smoke from many fires and our hopes were raised — clearly people inhabited this land, that there might be opportunities to trade tools, fabrics, or somewhat of our brandy for fresh water, and meat, and vegetables. Having rounded the sand reef in good dry weather, at the 5th glass of the dogwatch, our company came down upon a snug and wide anchorage.
The next morning with the Officers of the Zee-haen who came aboard, we jointly resolved to put forward in the sloop and make said land, and we sent forth our skipper and pilot mate, together with a merchant and one of the under-mates, and awaited their return with lowered bow anchors. With the setting of the sun, many lights were seen on the shore and no less than four vessels were sighted, and upon our sloop returning, having failed to land, two of these vessels took towards our company.
Drawing close these people began calling out in gruff voices, but we could not in the least understand any of it. We called out in return by way of greeting and they, coming no closer than a stone-piece’s shot, proceeded to blow on some kind of instrument sounding much like a Moor’s trumpet.
Those on the Zeehaen had an under-mate, who could play somewhat of the trumpet, blow back in response. This seemed to make these people, whom we could not see clearly in the falling light, rave terribly, calling out loudly and blowing further on their horns. This continued until darkness fell, upon which the two vessels withdrew.
I then ordered the guns on the upper deck blown off as warning, and prepared again, so as to prevent any mischances and be ready for anything these Southlanders may wish to try. I also commanded pikes, muskets, and sabres to be placed on deck, and made our people keep a watch of all quarters.
— -
Just after sunrise next morning, as the fog lifted, many vessels were sighted making direct for us, some very large, bound two-by-two, and carrying a large number of men. We, being exceeding cautious but also eager to get a look at these people, and seeing them approach near, can say this of the South-landers: They are rough, strong, tawny of colour, wearing their head-hair tied up round at the top of their heads, much like the Japanese, and set with large white feathers of some mighty bird. Many had fearsome tattoos covering their faces and much of their bodies, and they wore cloaks tied at the throat. Their weapons were long staffs without point.
We called out to them, waving and showing white cloth, and some knives and other wares of which they might find intriguing, but having come within a cast of us they once again withdrew. I summoned the officers of the Zee-haen, and just as we resolved to run nearer the shore to seek friendship with these people, they again approached with 7 canoes, one of which veered behind the Zee-haen and another to our Ship. Again we made friendly gestures and calls, and, thinking that we might welcome some of these Southlanders aboard, the skipper of the Zee-haen sent his quartermaster and five others to instruct the under-mates of that ship, that they should not let too many there aboard, and I also sent our gunner with them to see to their ordnances.
When the Zee-haen’s small boat was halfway between our two ships, the Southlanders all at once made a rush for them, riding up fast with incredible skill and striking and dashing them over violently, the quartermaster fell into the sea, and these murderers set to our sailors with their staffs, beating three to death and mortally wounding another.
Seeing the quartermaster and two sailors swimming toward us, our courageous skipper rode out with the sloop well manned and armed, all the while those on the Zee-haen shooting with muskets and cannon.
Having committed this monstrous terrible deed, these savage people hauled one of our dead into a canoe, and, as quickly as they had come, they rode away, before we could have a chance to strike at them with our guns. Our skipper, having rescued those swimming, fetched our small boat that was left drifting, finding one dead and one mortally wounded therein.
With dismay we raised anchor, seeing no hope to make any friendship with this people, nor would water or supplies be obtained, and having nothing to do but risk our sailors, we quickly set out the fore and main sails and steered off, only to be pursued again by more canoes, counting no less than 22, carrying a mighty number of men which, with astounding skill, quickly gained us.
Among these murderers stood their chief, encouraging the others, and also there was sighted a grey man, who having no fear, approached in his canoe so close alongside the Heemskerck, and shouted in a deep powerful voice and raising his hands, as if calling down some thunder to strike at us from the heavens.
I ordered the rear guns loaded with grape shot, and we waited quiet this time, until the foremost were near enough, and proceeded to let fly at these savage people, hitting some, so that they turned back and retreated.
We resolved at once to sail east and abandon this Murderous place; and the name we have given it is Murderer’s Bay.
— -
Thanks for reading my story, it really means a lot. It is based on the first known encounter between Europeans and New Zealanders.
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