This was the pre-
arranged signal for attack to the crowds assembled on the bank. At
the outset, the chief warned his followers not to injure the Hula and
Kerepunu boys; but such precaution did not prevent two of the former
being killed. The other four boys escaped by swimming the river. The
mission party were so cooped up in the boat, and spears flew so
thickly and fast, as to render resistance futile and escape
impossible. Taria resisted for a time, but a fourth spear put an end
to his resistance. The others were dispatched with little trouble. A
single spear slew both mother and babe in the case of both women. The
only bodies recovered were those of the Kerepunu teacher's wife and
her babe; the natives of Hula and Kerepunu severally interred the two
bodies. The rest of the bodies became a prey to the alligators. For
the two Hula boys who were slain speedy compensation was made by the
Kalo people. The whale-boat, too, was recovered by the Hula natives.
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