Emboldened by this, they afterwards made an expedition to the shore and cut up or stove in all their enemies' canoes lying on the beach.

This was on Christmas Eve.

On Boxing Day they landed and burnt the principal native village, which Kelly calls the "beautiful city of Otago of about six hundred fine houses"-- not the only bit of patent exaggeration in his story.

Then they sailed away.[1] [Footnote 1: _Transactions New Zealand Institute_, vol.xxviii.] What prompted the attack at Murdering Beach is uncertain--like so much that used to happen in No Man's Land.

It is said that Tucker had been to Otago some years previously and had stolen a baked head from the Maoris.