testing the accuracy of Rutherford's story. Unfortunately there are many
points on which the narrative is not only inaccurate but misleading.
Craik concludes that Poverty Bay, where Cook first landed in New
Zealand, is the scene of the capture of the "Agnes." Rutherford,
however, gives the name as "Tokomardo." This corresponds with a bay some
miles further north, and about forty miles from the East Cape. The
Maoris call it Tokomaru, which Rutherford evidently intended. His
description of the place might represent Tokomaru almost as well as
Poverty Bay. The strangest part of the affair, however, is that the
Maoris on that coast have no knowledge whatever of the "Agnes," the
vessel which, according to Rutherford, was captured in the bay he
describes. Eighty years ago the arrival of a vessel at New Zealand was
an advent of the utmost importance. The news spread throughout the land
with surprising rapidity, and whole tribes flocked to the port to see
the "Pakehas" and trade for their iron implements and guns. The Maoris
of the district know of three white men, whom they called Riki, Punga,
and Tapore, who lived amongst them for some time in the early days,
before colonization began; but they have no knowledge of Rutherford. The
chiefs to whom Rutherford frequently refers did not belong to that
district. The chief who takes the principal part in the story, "Aimy,"
cannot be traced. The name is spelt wrongly, and it is difficult to
supply a Maori name that the spelling in the book might represent. This
is surprising, as the Maoris are very careful in regard to their
genealogical records.[A] While Rutherford was in New Zealand some
terrible slaughters took place in the Poverty Bay district, but he does
not refer to these, although they must have been one of the principal
subjects of conversation amongst the Maoris for months, perhaps years.

Near the end of the narrative, Rutherford gives an account of a great
battle, in which the chief Hongi was a prominent figure. His description