Kimble Bent and the Strange Part He Played in the South Taranaki Wars

Not many people swap sides in a war but Kimble Bent did. He deserted from his regiment and joined up with the enemy. He didn't shoot his old mates but he lived with those that did.

Kimble Bent was interesting fellow. He went looking for adventure and found it.

Rewind

The story is set in the 1860s when Taranaki people had a war in their own backyard.  Were these things really happening way back then? You decide. Just answer true or false and check your answers at the end of this TreasureLink.

1. The first of the Taranaki wars begins over some land in Waitara.

2. Maori win the first battle. Their 80 warriors defend a pa they had built in just one night.

3. British bombard the pa with cannon fire for two days. Not one warrior is killed.

4. The British fire at an empty pa not knowing that the warriors have all left.

5. Maori warriors outnumber British troops in the wars of the 1860s.

Answers at the bottom of the page.

Lots of excuses

British military leaders thought their troops would win easily when war broke out but they were out thought and out fought. All sorts of excuses were made. Some British reporters said the Maori had more warriors and one even said the British were failing because "the Maori could scuttle like rabbits through the high fern".

Take a look at this interactive. It tells the real story. Fight with Te Atiawa and then fight with the British. Make sure you accompany each of the commanders.

Word watch

All the words and phrases below are in this week's story. Choose the best meaning and then check your answers again as you read the story.

1. tribulations (a) unhappiness or (b) punishments

2. fictionalised account (a) a story that is based on fact or (b) a story that is made up

3. pagan rites (a) non Christian, Jewish or Muslim religious ceremonies or (b) religious duties

4. misdemeanors (a) punishments or (b) offences

5. rituals (a) rules or (b) customs

6. skirmishes (a) battles or (b) arguments

7. took up residence (a) began a friendship with or (b) went to live with

8. stronghold (a) a good place to successfully defend or (b) a place to keep valuables

9. mana (a) strength or (b) authority and prestige

10. contemporaries (a) those of about the same age or (b) enemies

Answers at the bottom of the page

Think like a detective

It's hard to know exactly what Kimble Bent was like but read the first part of this week's story and decide which of the three stories mentioned is more likely to be closer to the truth. Just read to "Early days of a Deserter."

Kimble the adventurer

Most adventurers from the olden days seem to run away to sea. These days they might hop on a plane and begin their adventure earlier.

Read this part of the story and then work out what each line of Kimble's poem really means. The first line is done for you

The untented Kosmos my abode.  Kosmos refers to Cosmos - the universe, the stars. Abode means home so this line is saying "My home can be anywhere under the stars."

Try the next three lines and then see if a classmate agrees with your ideas.

Kimble the tall story teller?

We don't know for sure but Kimble might have stretched the truth a little. Find one piece of evidence in the part you have read so far.

A Wild and Dangerous Land

This story is set in South Taranaki where the dark, thick forests saw some of the fiercest fighting. You will read about a religion that at first gathered strength to protest about loss of land and later used that strength in battle.

The religion was Pai Marire and it was also known as Hauhau. The leader was the prophet Te Ua. He encouraged peaceful protest at first but his religion later became known as a warlike one.

Te Ua told his followers that when they faced bullets of the white soldiers, they would be turned aside in flight. All they had to do was raise their right hands to ward of the musket balls and at the same time repeat the words, "Hapa! Pai marire!" (Pass over me! Righteousness and peace!)

Read this part of the story to find out how Te Ua explained any deaths on the battlefield.

Good reasons to desert?

"A Discontented Soldier," tells you why Kimble Bent left his army. Read on, find a classmate and together decide if Kimble's reasons were fair enough. Put yourself in Kimble's shoes. Complete the learning tool (PDF file below) to help you decide.

Living with the enemy

What if you were a leader in the Hauhau camp when Kimble Bent arrived? Would you be happy to have him there? Read down to "A Bad Oman," and then write your own ending to this possible discussion by the Hauhau leaders.

Leader 1 This British soldier. Should we kill him or let him live?

Leader 2  He could be a spy. I say kill him before he brings more soldiers.

Leader 3 He has run from his army. He may be able to tell us things we need to know.

Leader 2  If he has run, he is nothing but a coward and if he is a coward he should die.

Leader 1  He is more useful alive. We have only old men to work. Let us make him work for us.

Leader 3 A white slave in our camp will give us mana.

Leader 2  I still say kill him but if he lives then he must work and work hard. He looks as puny as our old men. Let's see how he works today and kill him tomorrow if he is too weak.

Who's who?

The next part of the story talks about General Chute and the 57th regiment. It also mentions colonial troops and the kupapas of the great bush-fighter Kepa Te Rangihiwinui.

The 57th regiment was an Imperial Regiment. They were professional British soldiers. Colonial troops were made up of New Zealand volunteers. The kupapas were Maori troops who were willing to fight for the British. Kepa Te Rangihiwinui's warriors gathered around him because he was great warrior. His power grew as he continued to fight.

Read "A bad Omen," and "Single - file through the night" and find out what happened when General Chute attacked the Otapawa pa.

Decide whether you agree or disagee with the following statements and then compare your ideas with a classmate's.

1. Kimble Bent probably was in the pa for the battle.
2. Every time the Hauhau lost men in battle, Kimble's life would have been in more danger.
3. If Kimble had been caught he would have probably been killed.
4. The Hauhau were more worried about the kupapas than the Imperial or colonial troops.

Why fight for the enemy?

It might seem strange that Maori would fight for the British when it was Maori who were losing their land. Jot down some possible reasons why it happened and then read this week's "Ask an expert" to compare your ideas.

Horses for tea?

Read "News of further battles" and then read what historian James Belich has to say below about General Chute's march along the Whakaahurangi track.

Chute's expedition around Mt Egmont which was not opposed by the Maori got lost and ran out of supplies. An officer became so exhausted he was left in a blanket at the foot of a large tree and Captain Leach gave him his last wet biscuit to keep him alive.

Chute's force had to eat his pack horses and was saved from starvation by the arrival of a supply party from North Taranaki. Thus Chute narrowly escaped being one of the few Generals to lose an army with out the presence of an enemy to excuse him.

Perhaps this story helps explain why at least three white men including Kimble Bent decided it was better living with the Maori.

Survivor evidence?

Kimble Bent must have been quite cunning to stay alive as long as he did. He is given to another chief and very soon he is married to "a very pretty girl."

Read about the "Pet Pakeha" and the next part of the story called "An Undecorated Pakeha". Find three pieces of evidence that tell us Kimble Bent really was quite clever.

Answers at the bottom of the page

The dashing Von Tempsky

Gustavus Ferdinand Von Tempsky was another adventurer but perhaps a little more daring and well known than Kimble Bent. He didn't live as long as Kimble though as the story shows.

Von Tempsky was Prussian born - a mercenary soldier, farmer and goldminer. His skill and daring as a soldier in the land wars earned him a legendary reputation among the settlers. Maori called him Manu-Rau.

Read "Titokowaru and the Beak of the Bird," and find out what Kimble Bent had to do with his death.

No one really knows what happened to Von Tempsky's famous curved sword. Where do you think it went to? Talk it over with a classmate and then take a look at this short story. It gives you some clues.

Ancient battlefield rites

The New Zealand encyclopedia says that Maori burned Von Tempsky's body on a funeral pyre and if this happened it could be argued that this was a sign of respect.

On the other hand, while this story doesn't tell us exactly what happened to his body we can get a fairly good idea and the funeral pyre may have been more of an oven. If Von Tempsky was eaten, and some of the fallen soldier's bodies were eaten, could this also be seen as a sign of respect?

Read this part of the story first and then make up your own mind.

From hero to zero

The next pa Kimble Bent lived in and worked on is said to be the strongest ever made. The story tells us it took only three days to build but The New Zealand Wars by James Belich tells us Titokowaru spent eleven weeks turning Tauranga-ika into an engineering masterpiece.

By 2 February, 1869 Titokowaru was stronger than ever. He had five times the number of warriors than at the beginning of the war. He had many victories behind him but on

 3 February, 1869 he abandoned his pa and his mighty band of warriors began to break up.

Titokowaru's group were soon on the run with "white scouts hunting us like wild beasts."

Kimble Bent tells us why Titokowaru went from hero to zero. Read through to "Another Prophetic Dream."

Why did they leave?

From April, 1869 there was no more fighting on the west coast but did Titokowaru really leave his pa for the reasons Kimble Bent spoke of?  Decide with a classmate which of the things below is the most likely reason and then see what historian James Belich thinks at the end of this TreasureLink.

The reason for Titokowaru and his warriors leaving Tauranga-ika was most likely:

(a) Titokowaru was worried about an attack by colonial forces.
(b) The pa had run out of food.
(c) The pa had run out of ammunition.
(d) The reason Kimble Bent spoke of in the story.

Answers at the bottom of the page

Here lies the body of Kimble Bent

An epitaph is sometimes inscribed on a person's gravestone and gives the reader some idea of what that person was like in his or her lifetime. Write what you think is a suitable epitaph for Kimble Bent's gravestone.

Fast forward to 2005

Waitangi weekend  in Patea was a long way from the troubles of the 1860s. The Taranaki Daily News said that 3000 people joined in celebrations at the Paepae in the Park enjoying good food, good music and Patea's famous hospitality.

In New Plymouth, Mayor Tennent called Waitangi Day a special day. "It's the day we stop and recognize the founding document of this country"

Kapa haka group Nga Raukura warmed up the crowd and afterwards their kaiako (teacher) said Waitangi Day was all about bringing people together. "We love to celebrate Waitangi Day and come together as one- it's not just for Maori."

New Plymouth resident Mikara Westley enjoyed the mix of people too. "We are here to celebrate the togetherness of New Zealanders, the people of Aotearoa. We each have a contribution with our own cultures to enrich the future of New Zealand."

Last week's TreasureLink tested your Treaty knowledge with a true false quiz. Try this activity in groups of three or four. It will help show your teacher just how much you know about the founding document of New Zealand.

First, copy the learning tool (PDF below) to a large sheet of newsprint.

Decide as a group where you will put each of these key Treaty points. Print them in the column of your choice.

1. When the Treaty was signed.
2. Who the agreement was between.
3. What the settlers were promised.
4. What things would be protected for Maori.
5. What promises were made about Maori land.
6. What promises were made about Maori forests and fisheries.
7. Examples of how the Treaty was broken.
8. Two very different ways Maori tried to settle Treaty issues in the 1800s.
9. What the Waitara dispute was all about that led to the first conflict in the Land Wars.
10. How Maori were punished for taking part in the Land Wars.

Share the points in class. For example if you know or think you know the answer to number two, tell the class.

Hand your sheets to your teacher when this share time is over.

Answers

Rewind

1. True. It was over the Pekapeka block. There's a story here and a TreasureLink here.

2. True. The warriors built Te Kohia, known as the L-pā.

3. True. Two 24-pounder howitzers fired 200 rounds through the pa from close range.

4. True. They crept away over two nights. Good trick!

5. False. The British began the war with about 800 troops. Te Atiawa had less than 300 warriors, probably closer to 200. By June 1860 the British had 2,000 troops and by 1861 they had 3,500. They topped up their army with soldiers from Australia.

Click to go back to the questions.

Word Watch

1a, 2b, 3a, 4b, 5b, 6a, 7b, 8a, 9b, 10a

Click to go back to the questions.

Survivor evidence

The three clues that tell the reader Kimble Bent was really quite clever are that he cured the chief's son of a major ailment. He also describes his wife in an eloquent way. In other words he expresses himself clearly. Thirdly he learns to tattoo and is clever enough avoid breaking tapu by having himself tattooed.

Click to go back to the questions.

Why did they leave?

Historian James Belich thinks (d) is the most likely answer. Titokowaru wasn't too worried about the colonial soldiers. He had beaten them before. The pa had a great deal of plundered food from farms in the area. It had livestock and a big store of potatoes. Titokowaru and his warriors had captured plenty of ammunition and if he couldn't defend his pa why would he build it.

So Kimble Bent may have been unpopular among the Pakeha but he has helped answer one mystery from the land wars.

Click to go back to the questions.