WITCHCRAFT AMONG THE MAORIS.

Evening Star, Issue 4115, 5 May 1876, Page 4

WITCHCRAFT AMONG THE MAORIS.

There is an unhappy old Maori in Auckland named Taurau Kukupu, who firmly believes in witchcraft, and who ascribes the death of his two children to the magic arts of Otene Kikokiko. He says that on the 27th of January last the natives mustered at Kaihu to attend a sitting of the Native Land Court, at the Wairoa, Kaipara. After three days had been consumed in giving evidence respecting certain blocks of land, Taurau and his party appeared to be gaining the advantage. This gave offence to Otene and his friends, and subsequently, the Court having adjourned, Otene arose and “in the presence r- of all the people,” struck Taurau on the leg with his stick, which had previously been submitted to the power of enchantment. On the Ist of February the decision of the Court was given in favor of Tauvau’s party, and thereupon Taurau immediately sickened under the influence of the “enchanted stick.” From the great strength of his constistution he escaped death, but on the 13th February his two children were smitten—one, Ema, residing at Whangarei, and the other, Te Whao, residing at the Wairoa. “On the 23rd,” he says, “at I o’clock a.m., Ema, aged twenty-five years, died; and on the same day, I o’clock p.m., Te Whao, aged twenty-three years, died—both victims of the occult arts of OteneJ Taurau is in sore tribulation at this, and tells his doleful tale to the editor of the ‘ Waka Maori,’ who vainly tries to convince him that the children died from natural causes. Connected with this belief in witchcraft, the Auckland correspondent of a Southern paper gives some curious additional details with reference to the wizard who some time ago was killed at Tairua. The party detached to kill him met him and told him their errand. He agreed to the justice of the sentence, and they adjourned to a bush public-house, where they shouted for the wizard, and the wizard shouted for them. Then he chanted the deathsong of his tribe, and then they chanted theirs. After this romantic performance they took him to a boat, went a little way to sea, cut off his head, and threw his body and head overboard. So ended this accursed wizard, and when the Government caused t.n inquiry to be held, the murderers were in the court all the time. It seems likely that so long as the Maori race lasts the belief in witchcraft will never altogether die out.