MAORIS AT HOME

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1932, Page 8

MAORIS AT HOME

PARTY IN ENGLAND IN 1884. A LONDON STAMPEDE. LONDON, October 20. Following upon the article in the “Manchester Guardian” on the. Maori baby at Windsor, a correspondent sent to that journal seme interesting iiiiormation about a, party of. Maoris all.cli visited England in 1864. • The information is derived from “Curiosities of Natural History,” by Francis {'. Buckland, AI.A., Fourth tones, page of, in the popular edition, published by Richard Beutly and Son, 1878,

In a paper entitled “The New Zealand Warrior. Chiefs,” the writer (Air ijacklandi describes in some, detail how, having been to see the public performances of songs and war dances Uy six native chief* at the Alhambra, Leicester square, he entertained them lo lunch at his house at Albany street. “Being anxious to. see somewhat of tlio world,’ lie says, “they were about to make their travels. through England and the . Continent. They oped by means of their performances .0 be enabled to work their way, and, f successful, to take back some golden trophies to their wives and children in New Zealand.”

That was in July, 1864. Air Buckland gives an entertaining account of tlie party, where most of the conversation had .to be. carried on by,.signs.on both sides. His tattooed jurats evidently grasped the main idea, however, for the. New Zealand■rs “consumed leurteen- pounds of roast beef in no time.” In gratitude for their kindly, reception, cne of the chiefs, offered to tattoo his hosts face, which honour Mr Buekhmd declined, though lie confesses to being “greatly inclined to let him operate on my arm, just for the fun of the thing,”

HORRIFIED GUESTS. The party was drastically broken up and tlie friendship almost immediatey shattered by Buckland’s innocently apening a box containing glow-worms and . placing one on the floor, Thu horrified guests fled in all directions, dashing out- through the open window “like a pack of hounds breaking cover,’ filling the air With bloodjuidling yells and cries.

“When outside the window they spread themselves, to my horror, all over the neighbours gardens, taking che low feues like deer; two of them saw a parlour window open, on to the garden some few houses above mine, and ran to it for refuge,’ continued dr Buckland. “In the window, quietly:.sitting at her afternoon work, was a dear, peaceable old lady. The flying Maoris heeded her not, but rushed straight for the window. The poor old lady, looking lip suddenly, saw a couple of gigantic savages with their faces tattooed, screaming and yelling as they charged down on her; the good aiu thing was frightened out of her -.senses at this unwonted in hurst |of New Zealand savages into her garden 'n Albany street and was nearly frightened out of her life.” VISIT TO THE ZOO.

The Englishman who was with them had great difficulty in collecting them together again, bus} be finally did so and they unwillingly retuned to the house, though they still regarded Mr Buck land' with the utmost suspicion. Further investigation revealed the fact that in the Maori religion all reptiles and lizards, whether danger-, ous or not, are Ngarara, an expression implying the incarnation of the deity, powerful for evil, and consequently the resemblance of the worm t 0 the lizard had filled the Maoris with fear. The difficulty was overcome however, and after another, glass of wine and a pipe of peace together they all adjourned to the Zoological Gardens. where the New Zealanders were amazed at what saw. The zebra intrigued them, immensely, and they declared, with delight that lie had tattooed his face.