Captain Grant's Children

Chapter 44 The current war (1)
It was almost eleven o'clock when everyone disembarked from the raft.The sky covered with dark clouds suddenly began to rain heavily. The raindrops were so heavy and dense that it was impossible for people to travel.Although everyone agrees with Glenarvan - rush to Auckland as soon as possible, but they have to stop to take shelter from the rain.It didn't take much for Wilson to find a rock cave on the shore, and there was a lot of dried seaweed in the cave, and there were some firewood scattered around the cave entrance.So, everyone quickly got in, and at the same time brought in the weapons and food they carried with them.Those dried seaweeds are just right for bedding.After lighting the fire, everyone began to bake clothes.It has been raining for hours and doesn't seem to be letting up.

John finally couldn't bear it anymore-how could he be so unlucky to catch up with such heavy rain?Maybe it's a coincidence?Alas, if it is close to Auckland now, it will be able to rush there quickly even in the rain.The problem is that it takes days to go to Auckland!Looks like we'll just have to wait for the rain to stop; let's hope the natives don't come to the cave then.

Hiding in the cave, everyone chatted about the current war in New Zealand without knowing it.

Yeah New Zealand is facing a very serious situation right now.

Since the Tasman arrived in Cook Strait on December 1642, 12, although New Zealanders often interacted with Europeans, European countries often wanted to monopolize the land.

During this period, some missionaries, especially those from the United Kingdom, tried every means to make New Zealand a British colony.They even tricked the chiefs into signing a letter to Queen Victoria asking for her protection.Of course, there must be some chiefs who will find out: "The big thing is not good. I am afraid that our land was taken away by foreign people. We have to be slaves."

It should be possible to say that this is a correct prophecy.On January 1840, 1.

The HMS Pioneer sails into the Bay of Islands, north of Ekanamawi.Captain Hobson came to the village of Colorado, gathered all the villagers in the Church of Jesus, and read the Queen's commission to him in front of them.

January 1th of the second year.The main chiefs in New Zealand were all summoned to the British diplomat's residence in the village of Peyer.

Captain Hobson said straight to the point that he wished them to submit to the queen; she would of course protect them, and had sent troops and warships to give them the protection of safety and liberty.But the land here must belong to the king.At first, the chiefs did not agree.But through Hobson's private bribery, they also acquiesced.

From 1840 to the day when the Duncan left the Firth of Clyde, Paganel knew all the history.

"Ma'am," he answered Lady Helen's question, "I have said more than once that the New Zealanders were brave and strong. They were not willing to let the British occupy them, so they rose up and rebelled. The Maori are just like the ancient Scots." , all belong to the tribal system, and the chief is the supreme leader! All tribesmen must obey him and respect him!"

"The Maori are big-boned by nature. They look a little like Maltese, and sometimes, a little bit like Baghdad Jews. Some of them are stubby, like mulattos. Maori are naturally aggressive. Personality, everyone is not afraid of death!"

"Among them there is a very famous chief named Xi Xi. Hey! He really beat Wei Senjie Toli in ancient France! He is such a brave man who led the people to fight bravely and never surrendered. So I say The war in New Zealand will never end. Even at present, there is still a famous tribe on the island called Kuma Kato, and their leader is William Sampson. They are still fighting!"

"Did the British win?" John asked.Paganel replied to his friend with special kindness:

"Of course! Since Hobson. Yes, he was Governor of the island; from about 1840 to 1862, all nine colonies were built."

Later, it gradually became 9 provinces: 4 of them are distributed in the North Island, namely Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay; and 5 are distributed in the South Island, namely: Nelson and Marlborough , Canterbury, Otago and Southland.According to statistics on June 1864, 6, the total population was 30.Commercial cities have also been built in various places. "However, after we arrive in Auckland, you will find and feel how good the geographical location of the city is. It can be said to be a major hub! There are currently 180346 people there. There is also New Primo Sri Lanka, Ahushili, Wellington, etc. have all prospered, and there are a lot of ship traffic!"

"Nelson on the South Island is known as New Zealand's garden city, which is even better than Montbury in France! There are also Picton on the Cook Strait, Otago Province where gold diggers gather, Dunedin, Inver Calgary, Christchurch are fantastic!"

"These cities are not the thatched huts that you imagined. There are car and boat docks, churches, banks, parks, museums; newspaper offices, hospitals, philosophy colleges; research associations, charitable organizations; gang organizations, There are clubs, grand theaters, and large exhibition halls... as prosperous as Paris and London!"

"I remember, 1865, yes, this year! All the industrial products in the world must be sent to this man-eating country for an exhibition! It may even open in just a few days!"

"What? To hold an exhibition while fighting a war?" Mrs. Helen asked a little puzzled.

"Ma'am, the British never care about fighting!" Paganel hurriedly explained, "How dare they openly build railways under the guns of the New Zealanders! Several railways in Auckland Province were built under such conditions. It was fixed; it was very common for train drivers to shoot people."

"Then how is the marathonin battle going?" John asked with particular concern.

"I can't say now!" Paganel shook his head vigorously. "We have been away from Europe for six months. When I was in Australia, I read from the Maryborough and Seymur newspapers." I read some news on the Internet. According to my conservative estimate, the battle on the North Island should be serious at this time!"

"When did this battle start?" asked Mary. "When did you 'start' again, my dear Miss Mary!" Paganel replied seriously, "as early as 1845, when the natives had already fought. This time again The fighting started at the end of 1863. However, the aborigines wanted to drive away the British a long time ago! Their national party spread propaganda everywhere and elected their own leader. I heard that the old Bata Tuo was going to be elected as the king , and thus changed his village to the capital of the New Kingdom. Hey, when it comes to this Bata Tuo, he is not capable; he is not as shrewd as the Prime Minister beside him!"

"Before New Zealand was occupied, Auckland lived in the Etihawa tribe; this prime minister was a descendant of this tribe. His name was William Sampson. Now, he has become a great man of this nation. He He organized the army very smoothly, and personally commanded the training. At the same time, he also united many tribes to protest against the sale of the land to Britain. It was him who really united the Maori people and really competed with the enemy."

"Why did the fight start?..." Glenarvan asked.Paganel replied:
"In 1860, an aborigine sold 600 acres of land to the British. But when it was time to measure, Chief Jinji came out and intervened, and immediately camped and garrisoned troops. A few days later, Colonel Gould of the United Kingdom commanded the army It’s coming. A war of national liberation has been fought like this.”

"There are many Maori people, right?" John asked again. "Not much? In the last 100 years, the Maori population has increased extremely fast!" The geographer's tone of voice was full of surprise, "In 1769, Cook estimated that there were about 40 of them. In 1845, the "Native People's Protectorate" published Survey results: 10 people. Yes, facing massacres, diseases and strong alcohol, the population of this ethnic group is almost shrinking sharply. At present, there are about 9 Maori in the country. Of these 9, 9 are full They are all fighters, enough to compete with European armies for several years."

"Did they win or lose?" Mrs. Helen asked seriously.

"Win! Ma'am. Even the British admire the bravery of the New Zealanders! They only focus on guerrilla warfare, and they react flexibly. They beat the majestic General Cameron dizzy and helpless!"

"In 1863, after years of arduous and unremitting efforts, the Maori finally occupied an important military town on the upper reaches of the Kukato River. The Maori have always had a firm belief-as long as they persist to the end, they will be able to defeat the 'White Card' .'White card' means white people."

"At this time, the British army was also red-eyed, especially after Captain Sprun was brutally killed, every soldier showed an expression of righteous indignation, wishing to drive out the Maori as soon as possible. So the two sides fought hard, There were even several fights that lasted more than 12 hours."

(End of this chapter)