Te Kooti (NZ Wars Song - AI Rendition)

Published in the Wairarapa Mercury, 6th April 1870, during the manhunt for the rebel warlord Te Kooti - notorious for having carried out several massacres of settlers and pro-Government Maori, Te Kooti evaded his pursuers until 1872.

Words:
Tell me, settlers, have you seen
Te Kooti pass this way?
Upon his track we long have been
Two twelve months and a day.
You know the time he stole the ship
From Sancho Panza's isle,
And since, he's given us the slip,
And done us all in style.

We promis'd Mr. Branigan,
We promis'd Mr. Fox,
That if we saw the man again,
We'd put him in the stocks;
But somehow we got in a fix,
When he gets on his legs,
And we are left, like gaping chicks,
Whilst he walks off with the eggs.

Today he's here; tomorrow there;
And now we hear by scouts
His followers are everywhere,
He somewhere heareabouts.
Pray tell us if we're on his track?
If you have seen his heels?
Pray tell us where he gets his whack,
His flints, and his meals.

A week ago I wrote despatch,
We had him in our net;
And soon we should have made a catch,
But for the rain and wet,
Which made our powder moist and damp,
Our carbines would not fire;
The weather gave our men the cramp,
And lots of mud and mire.

And he walk'd off, both safe and sound,
And did not say goodbye!
His raupo pah we empty found,
With quarters warm and dry.
Another time, but for the night,
And for my cold and cough,
We should have stopp'd Te Kooti's flight
At daylight he was off.

I then a long despatch contriv'd,
And put down numbers slain;
And as Te Kooti was alive,
We follow'd him again.
In fact, he seems to take the lead,
And will not be our own;
He will not give us time to feed;
For bread he gives s stone.

And so he serves us now and then,
He will not stand a fight,
But walks away, with all his men
And baggage in the night.
Now! Now! I think I safe may say,
Te Kooti's days are o'er;
That is, if he don't walk away,
As he has done before.

Good settlers? Give me now your aid,
Te Kooti shall be mine;
We must get him for money paid,
So now I'll write a line,
And say Te Kooti's in the trap
And never can escape;
Tomorrow's dinner for the chap
Will be a charge of grape.

Tomorrow, then, you may be sure
Te Kooti will be seen;
New Zealand's evils have their cure;
Pray send this to McLean;
And bid him make the gallows high,
And get the coffin made;
Though much I fear, if he should die,
'Twill spoil a warrior's trade!

As long as e'er the money lasts,
And warriors get their pay,
Tomorrow will be like the last;
Te Kooti wins the day!
'Tis better to give up the chase,
And let him rest in peace;
For if we run he'll win the race,
And carry off the fleece.