Surrender of the Natives, The

DESCRIPTION: "The Waikato now is ours, The natives we have beaten... And now each vile offender We... humbly ask That they'll come and surrender." Maori warriors submit -- and so do children and women and old men, expecting food and support
AUTHOR: Words: Charles R. Thatcher (1831-1878)
EARLIEST DATE: 1864 (Thatcher's Songs of the War, according to Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ)
KEYWORDS: battle soldier humorous
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Apr 1864 - During the Maori Wars, a large group of Maori surrender -- and have to be cared for
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ, pp. 39-41, "The Surrender of the Natives" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hoskins-GoldfieldBalladeer-LifeAndTimes-Charles-R-Thatcher, pp. 79-80, "Surrender of the Natives" (2 excerpts)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Courting in the Kitchen" [Laws Q16] (tune)
NOTES [116 words]: For brief background on Charles Thatcher's career, see the notes to "Where's Your License?" For an extensive collection of his songs, see Anderson-StoryOfAustralianFolksong. This particular song comes out of the Maori Wars, and apparently refers to a trick the Maori pulled. A large group offered to surrender -- but when the Europeans came to gather in those who had given up, they found only women and children. The men had stayed away to continue the fight, leaving it to the other side to care for their dependents. Which, incidentally, shows that this was a relatively civilized war; if (say) the French had tried that trick against Henry V, he'd have killed everyone who gave in to him. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: BaRo039

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