"I think you would have done well to point out to those who thus argue that my despatch nowhere hints that the Maoris are foreigners, a doctrine which I had never heard of before I perused the Attorney-General's opinion; and that the legitimate inference from my despatch is the direct contrary to that which is drawn from it.... I do not clearly understand how you justify this notice as a matter of law. I understand you to disclaim the application of martial law; and viewing Titokowaru merely as a notorious, but untried and unconvicted rebel and murderer, I am not aware of any Colonial enactment which would make it lawful for any chance person to shoot him down." _Printed and bound by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury._ FOOTNOTES 1 Those flags, displayed on the war-poles in the Hauhau villages in 1865-70, carried many a strange device. The ground was white calico, on which red patterns and lettering were sewn or painted. Favourite designs were a red half-moon, like the crescent of Islam, a five-pointed star representing _Tawera_, "the bright and morning star," and what was called a _Kororia_, in shape like the half of a _méré-pounamu_, or greenstone club, cut longitudinally. These colours had been made in the Waikato during the war, and had been sent round after the manner of the Highlanders' fiery cross to the various tribes in the Island. 2 There is an interesting Maori proverb concerning this rapid rapid Tangahoé stream and the Tangahoé tribe who lived on its banks. This is the proverb, or _pepeha_: "_Tangahoé tangata, e haere; Tangahoé ia, e kore e haere._" This, being interpreted, is: "Men of Tangahoé depart; But the current of Tangahoé remains." A _pepeha_ which recalls Tennyson's "Brook": "Men may come and men may go, But I go on for ever." 3 We have survivals of this widespread ancient custom amongst ourselves, in the practice of placing coins, etc., under the foot of a mast of a new ship, and under the foundation-stone of a church or other important building. The cult is found amongst many savage nations in its primitive form. Here is an instance narrated by Mr. T. C. Hodson in an article in _Folk-Lore_ (Vol. XX., No. 2, 1909) on "Head-hunting amongst the Hill-tribes of Assam": "The head-man of a large and powerful village (on the frontier of the State of Manipur) was engaged in building himself a new house, and to strengthen it had seized this man (a Naga) and forcibly cut off a lock of his hair, which had been buried underneath the main post of the house. In olden days the head would have been put there, but by a refinement of some native theologian a lock of hair was held as good as the whole head."