To that
he had no answer, and besides I submitted to him a letter, which had been
sent up the coast, telling the men to march down. He called the letter a
forgery, but there was no question, in my judgment, that it was dictated
by him and circulated by his desire. The best proof of its genuineness
was that its plan was carried out, that the Maoris did collect in
response to it. Nobody could have managed the business but Rauparaha.
'What would have been the outcome of an attack on Wellington? Turmoil! I
certainly believe that it would have been attacked. Then, a large force
must have been sent to punish the raiders, or Wellington would have had
to be abandoned. In either event, the progress of New Zealand would have
been thrown back for years.'
Though restored to his tribe, Rauparaha never regained his power, and was
a desolate man. It was a characteristic of the Maoris, that when a chief
had a tumble he lost his influence. To that detail Sir George added
another, namely that Rauparaha was a very good speaker. Indeed, many of
the Maoris had the true gift of eloquence. Rauparaha left some Maori
manuscripts, about himself, to the Governor who had so unceremoniously
made him captive. It was a tribute to that Governor's genius for
attaching the regard of men, converting even enemies into friends.
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