A BRIDEGROOM'S DEATH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 27, 21 June 1939, Page 2

A BRIDEGROOM'S DEATH

HOW A MAORI WEDDING ENDED

THE GUESTS SLAUGHTERED This article ends the story of Kahuriki a noted fighter of these parts seme 400 years ago. It has been tcld how his father was slain by Kahuki's uncle Tuainutu, and how Kahuki paid off that score when he attained to manhood by defeating Tuamutu's clan in several engagements round the shores of Ohiwa, and finally pursuing and killing him in a sea battle oii Cape Runaway. The scene now shifts back to Tarcatua. Kahuki had an account to settle in that district, for there lived Tamango who had killed Kahuki's twin sisters when they were accompanying their brother to visit relatives at Opouriao. Kahuki himself escaped, gathered a w r ar party of his relatives and defeated Tamango, an;l then left Taneatua and went to where he settled with Tuimutu. However, he had not forgot, ten Tamango, but to lull his suspicions he had "instructed his Taneatua kinsfolk to make peace, promise Tamango a bride from among them, and build a new house for the wedding feast at Waiwherowhero, Opouriao. THE "WEDDING" When Kahuki returned from Ohiwa he found that his orders had been tarried out. He inspected the house with his grandfather Ruapururu and had some alterations made to it until it wr.s suitable for the purpose he had in mind.The house was lined with reeds, the outside covering was of manuka and fern, and the roof covered with rushes and cabbage tree leaves, all nicely inflammable materials. Near it stood a new latrine. Preparations were now made for the feast, the choicest item on the menu being th.flesh of the native dog, of the lr-eed known as kuri ruarangi, and the people collected at Waiwherowhero. AVlien all preparations were made Tamango and his people were summoned from theif pa at Otere, which crowns a hill on the left bank of the Whakatane, just opposite Taneatua. As they approach ed their hosts pretended to be very busy making preparations for the feast. Some were told off to pretend to slay the dogs, and their howls were soon heard by the guests, who little knew that the commotion was caused only by the dogs' tails being pinched. Fires were kindled and water poured on some of them so that the resultant .steam might be taken for the arising from th.- ovens. When Tamango, and his folk arrived they were ushered into the new house. Tamango seated himself op posite the fireplace. When the guests were comfortably settled down, at a sign from Kahuki torches were applied to the outside of the house, commencing at the back, and then the side walls were fired. The dry fern and scrub burned merrily. "DO YOU REMEMBER" Tamango then stood in the porch of the house, his stone adze in his hand, and looking in at Tamango, said: ''Are you Taniango? ' "I am." said that worthy, "but what is that roaring sound?'' ''Our people are performing a haka in your honour" answered Kahuki, aend Tamango said: "You had better leave it until we have partaken of food." The flames now had a firm hold and Kahnki saw it was time to spring his trap. Referring to the death of his sisters he said: "I remarked to you once 'lf the fair one be slain spare the dark one. If the dark one be slain, spare the fair one.' But now, come outside." The back and side walls were now blazing fiercely, wreaths of smoke were pouring into the house and embers were dropping from the roof on to the trapped guests as Kahuki said this. The only escape was through the narrow door in front, but as the guests dashed out they were struck down by Kahuki. Thus fell Tamango and his party on the fair morn of the marriage feast. No person escaped, and the slaughter was great that legend states that the flames were extinguished by the flowing blood of Ta. mango's elan. Now was seen the purpose of the outhouse nearby, for the heads of the slain were cut off and exposed on it, so that the offspring of Tamango were degraded for all time and their name perished. From this affair originated a famous saying ''Taua-nui burns, O_tere declines" meaning that the fires of the Ngati Ruapururu fort -which

was situated on the hill above the Taneatua-Waimana road just before the gorge is reached —continued to burn, but those of Ngai-Tamango at O_tere were extinguished. O-tere was no longer a home of men, but was given over to the fern and the lizard. It was an ahi mate, an extinguished fire, a cold hearthstone. BACK TO OHIWA. Kahuki's revenue accomplished, he dwelt at Kapowhetu, Taneatua. for some months. Then a messenger arrived from Ohiwa to say that his kinsfolk there were again in deep waters and fighting the good fight of primitive man, this time against a tribe living at Waiotahe. These people were called Upoko-rehe from a singular circumstance. A certain ancestor of their died, and his head was cut off and preserved after the manner of the Maori, but the job was badly done as the skin was not tied under the neck to keep it taut and smooth, hence it wrinkled badly when it dried. So his descendants assumed the tribal name of Te Upokorehe—the Wrinkled Head. It was against these people that Kahuki led thirty men from Taneatua, his small force probably consisting only of the young bucks and hot heads of the district. At Whitiwhiti, Ohiwa, he collected another 40 men and with his seventy he marched to the Hokianga pa where the Wrinkled Head lived. Before any fighting occurred lie discovered signs of treachery in his for some of his people were related to the enemy and were warning him of his plans. Hence, he declined to take any further part in the affair. and returned to Whitiwhiti and passes out of his tory. After he left the Upoko-rehe were driven from their pa and in subsequent engagements were almost annihilated and scattered to the four winds. HIS DEATH Kahuki's end is obscure. Some traditions say he was slain at Motu.o_Tu island at the mouth, of the Waio-tahe, and others that he was killed at Waiwherowhero. However it matters not where he was slain; he is dead now. He lived by the sword —or rather the taiaha—and ho died by it. A noted warrior, he held Te Whakatane together in his time and made them a power in the land. In the generations after his death their power crumbled and they in turn were receiving their final defeat at the hands of the Whakatohea tribe. Doubtless during these defeats they wished for some warrior leader equal to their ancestor Kahuki.