MAORI MYSTERY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 10, 30 September 1942, Page 2

MAORI MYSTERY

j M. H. Wingate Mystery veils the origin of 'the Maori race. iJel'ore the urgration lo New Zealand in the fourteenth century, the Maori is ''viown to have inhabited Polynesia. There Ins records slop. [n history book language "TJie very early history of the Maori is not known.'' To delve further back one has the choiee of two theories—cither that the Maori is a blood relation of the oilier Polynesian races, or that lie sprang from a different people, and had an earlier home than Polynesia. IJ' the first hislorv is aceepl"d, :\ series of unsolved mysteries go with it. The si a aire and physiognomy of the Maoris set them apart from the other races of Polynesia. Their excellence of seamanship and. canoebuilding, and their wealth of legendry mark them as a cultured and yet independent nu*e. Their social life, mu.sie and dancing a'so bear the stamp of individuality, and reveal no traits. Those who favour the second theory also face a problem of no mean proportions. The white man has found no key to admit him to the locked corridors of early Maori history. There is one clue. That is Tc Korotangi, the priceless curio which has: vanished mysteriously in recent years. To Korotangi. Polynesian for "'The Claying Dove,"' is a beaut if ully-carv-

Ed, exquisitely-shaped J>irti resembling a pigeon. It is fashioned in very hard, heavy, dark-green, metallic stone, weighs four pounds ten ounces, and it is ten and a quarter inches long. As sacred to the Maoris as the Ark of the Covenant was to the Israelites, New Zealand's native race feared, respected and idolised To Ivorolangi while it was with them. Now that it is lest, they mourn for it, and view lis disappearance with suspicion. The significance of Te Korotangi as a link with the past, was heightened when an .exact replica of it was discovered carved on one of the Egyptian Pyramids. No other design in the world resembles the Crying Dove, yet the Pyramid tracing is perfect in every detail. Have the Maoris passed through Egypt? This coincidence certainly suggests that whatever race of people carved the bird, lived in or passed through Egypt in the early days of the pyramids. Did the Maoris once wander the Sahara Desert and pause to trace their emblem here?

Or did they pass through Soutl America? Egypt and. Soutli Amerie: seem far removeil. but Te KOIO- - iiiiKs them, flic appearanct of To Korotangi is Asiasli?, but research has revealed tliat the particular metal from which it is sculptured is to be found only in Soutli America. It is said that Te Koro» tangi is not the work of the Maori of recent centuries, but the handiwork of a people far more cultured in sculptural art. Te Korotangi is, no doubt, as old. as the pyramids. Supposing that it had been designed by a Maori genius of a bygone •igCj docs it mean that the Alaoris were originally an American race? The late Mr F. W. Christian, librarian, of Paimerston North, one of New Zealand's foremost linguists,] J devoted a great deal of study to Maori questions. He: once discussed with the writer definite similarities between the languages of early South America and the Maori, and firmly believed, that the Maoris sprang from the same origin as the Azetcs or the Ineas. Te Korotangi enhanced his theorj', but he died before he could prove it correct.

Unforlunalcly, the Maoris had 11c ealigraphy or, if they did, tlicii writings were lost in antiquity hefore they readied New Zealand, Research may yet reveal that they die! have a form of ealigraphy—as suggested by the engraving on the pyramids—and Te Korotangi might again he the clue to admit investigators. Concrete evidence that Te Korotangi was a masthead to adorn the prow of a vessel is contained in the spike upon which the bird is perched. Who can s;iy whether it was taken Lo the Pacific by some oceangoing Chinese junk such as Marco Polo wrote ol in 1298? Who can say [that it was not looted and landed by a pirate vessel, or washed upon the blue Pacific shores from a wandering Portuguese caravel? No one can say any of these things with convicLion until Te Korotangi is found and the attention of the world is focussed upon it; as undoubtedly will be the case. At present, the Crying Dove remains cither as proof of the Maoris' association with a race other than their own,

To Korotangi was in the possession of Major Wilson, a deputation of about live hundred natives approached him with the request that lie should throw it into the Waikato River, as it was tapu to anyone of Maori blood, and would, undoubtedly bring tragedy to Mrs Wilson. Major Wilson refused to accedc to this request, and ho placed his trea.sure in .safe-keeping. It is known that about this lime, three plaster easLs were made at the request of Sir Waller Butler. Sir Walter kept one, and it is believed that another went, to the Christchure'n Museum and the third went overseas. The only photograph ever taken, is said to be lost or des.tro3*ed. Oil the death of Major Wilson, Te Korotangi passed, into the hands of his trustees and executors, who were his two eldest sons (the late Judge Wilson and Mr J. S. Wilson, late of the Bank of N.Z., Wellington). Jointly, these trustees placed Te j Korotangi in the vault of the Bank lof New Zealand. To-day, the next generation of Wilsons, of whom Mrs Borlase, of Palmerston North, is one, is endeavouring to trace the bird. They have, been advised that it no longer reposes in the vault of flic Bank of New Zealand. Their conjecture is once one of the trustees of the estate, who fled overseas, took tiltbird Avilh him and exchanged it for cash. Several European dealers have been approached, but the treasure has long since fallen into other hands. If its value is realised by the present owner, it has never been

evidenced. Until Te Korotangi re-appcars in some corner of the earth, the fascinating story attached to it mus' remain incomplete. The lineage of the Maori will also lie incomplete, for Te Korotangi is being acknowledged generally as the only clue. It is. possible that Te Korotangi has been bought lor a song by a [ purchaser who does not know its I

value. Perhaps, to-day, the rare* gem [lies neglected in a dusty attic, or lias become a child's plaything. Many years ago the Wilsons were offered several thousands for tlip bird, one offer being made by the State. However, thej' did not sell. In view of the speculations which now surround Te Korotangi, its value may reasonably be expected to surpass most flights of fancv. Te Korotangi may yet be discovered and, if it is, some learned archaeologist will undoubtedly shatter the existing beliefs regarding early

Maori history. Holding the secrets of a nation. Te Korotangi sleeps. Polynesia, South, America, Asia, Egypt, New Zealand! Has the Maori traversed, these lands? Is the pre-sent-day native of New Zealand the descendant of a race so old that it witnessed the erection of pyramids? When archaeologists piece together the threads of this mystery or when Te Korotangi is found, these questions may be answered.

or as an indication of an unchronieled chapter in Maori history. Maori tradition says 'dial Te Korotangi had been carried by the ancient Maori voyagers for hundreds of years. !t is said lo have been taken to New Zealand in the canoe "Tainui" from Tahiti in the fourteenth century. This; story has been passed down to the Maori of to-dav through a burning, romantir mist of legend and superstition. Ilowevor, Lradition does not tell of how the I Maoris gained possession of th;' I rea.su re. Te Korotangi Mas lost at Kawkia North Island, New Zealand, many generations ago, and for years dirges and laments were composed to be sung by the Maori people and their grief at the loss; of the rare and beautiful bird. J lie- Hon. Neville Walker owned the proper!}' on •which Te "Korotangi was found, and the bird passed from him to Major Joh«»- Wilson, of Cambridge, New Zealand.' Major Wilson was married to Te Aorere, paramount ehieftainess of the Ngati Rutin ui tribe. When the Maoris discovered that