Only at a strong hill-_pa_ looking down upon the Waitara river, did his enemies venture to make a stand.

They easily repulsed his first assaults, but hundreds of women and children were among the refugees, and as was the wont of the Maoris, no proper stock of provisions had been laid in.
On the thirteenth day, therefore, the defenders, weakened and half starved, had to make a frantic attempt to break through the Waikatos.
Part managed to get away; most were either killed at once, or hunted down and taken.

Many women threw themselves with their children over the cliff into the Waitara.

Next day the captives were brought before Te Whero Whero.

Those with the best tattooed faces were carefully beheaded that their heads might be sold unmarred to the White traders.
The skulls of the less valuable were cleft with tomahawk or _mere_.
Te Whero Whero himself slew many scores with a favourite greenstone weapon.