'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎190] (209/622)

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history of the indian navy.
shipping, with as many men as could be accommodated, the
remainder proceeding, as before, by land. On the 18th of
January the ships sailed for Auckland with the troops, a
detachment of two hundred men of the 58th remaining behind
at the Bay of Islands.
A few days after the capture of his pah, Kawiti and Heki,
who had joined him there the evening before the assault, wrote
to the Governor asking for peace in the most submissive terms,
and thus was brought to a successful conclusion the northern
campaign, which had lasted since July, 1844. The troops and
seamen engaged in this decisive affair, received the thanks of
Her Majesty ; Colonel Despard, Colonel Wynyard, and Captain
Graham, R.N., senior naval officer, were awarded the C.B.;
and Captain Mariow. R.E., Captain Denny, 58th, and Lieutenant
Wilmot, R.A., received brevet promotion.*
* Mr. Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. (now Commander) Pengellej of tlie Indian Navy, who
served as midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. with the 4 Elphinstone's' Brigade, has kindly supplied
me with the following account, derived from memory, of the operations at
Kawiti's pah :—
"We numbered about twelve hundred in all. These marched to the front,
and in due course opened fire from batteries composed of boats' guns and 12-
pounder field pieces. It was quickly ascertained, however, that this description
of light ordnance produced little or no effect on the stout palisades made
of the tough trunks of the cowrie gum. The ' Elphinstone' therefore sent back a
detachment of her seamen to Kororarika, for a couple of her medium 27 cwt.
32-pounders, which were conveyed through the bush and over hill and dale in
native canoes welded round with strong iron bands, and dragged bodily eighteen
miles to the front by our seamen and marines, inspirited by the sound of fife and
drum. The guns were placed in position without loss of time, and a day ap
pointed on which to open a simultaneous fire. After blazing away with shot,
shell, and Congreve rockets for some hours, a breach was made, but it was not
until the following day (Sunday) that we advanced. Our native allies on that
morning informed us that a considerable body of rebels had gone out at the back
of the pah. We, therefore, went in at the front, and avoided bloodshed thereby,
agreeably with the earnest wishes of Q-overnor Grrey, who was present during our
operations, having Captain James Young with him.
" The bravery of the enemy was undeniable, and their conduct in the field chival
rous in the extreme, for instance, our pioneers were daily engaged cutting in
the dense jungle a passage, through which we intended, on unmasking, to open
lire. The native sentries, many of whom spoke English, used to call out ' You
may come so far—but, if one step beyond, we shall fire on you.' Then occasion
ally, as if for amusement, they would hang up a blanket about fifty yards from
their ' pah/ and with loud gesticulations would invite our native allies to come
and take it down. This, in turn, would be done by our own people, who were
headed by a renowned chief named Tomati Waka, only recently deceased.
Scarce a day passed without a brisk passage of arms taking place, resulting, after
a large expenditure of powder on both sides, in the deaths, perhaps, of one or
two, and a half-dozen or so wounded. Of course, much to their chagrin, none of
the European force were permitted to engage in this desultory and highly irre
gular kind of warfare. They merely looked on, passed their remarks, en
joyed the sport, and ' bided their time.' Another somewhat peculiar custom we
noticed, namely, of an evening, after fighting all day, sometimes in a regular and
sometimes in an irregular kind of way, as detailed above, a few of the enemy would
boldly enter into our native camp, and mingle freely with Tomati Waka's
men, telling them, perhaps, that on the following or such a day they intended
making a grand 4 sortie,' and chatting gaily, apparently in a friendly spirit, over
a dish of boiled potatoes, about the stirring events of the day. As for conceal-