ETIQUETTE IN WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3901, 31 January 1929, Page 4

ETIQUETTE IN WAR.

CHIVALRY OF OLD MAORIS. NOTICE OF ATTACKS GIVEN. FOOD SENT TO ENEMIES. “The etiquette of war shows a very .complex side of the Maori character,” stated Mr-. T. W. Downes, of Wanganui, in the course of a paper on Maori etiquette presented to the anthropology section of the 'Science Congress at Auckland on (Saturday. “Again and again we come across deeds of bravery and courtesy that Would assuredly have earned decorations had there been such things in those days, and on the other hand ambuscade and treacherous deceit seem to have been part of the accepted code. “I am informed by my Wanganui friends that in the old days it was the correct thing to send word of the time of an intended attack, as, for instance, when Kaihau shouted to his enemies, ‘When the moon is full expect me,’ ” continued Mr. Downes. “Usually information was sent to a besieged pa when the general assault by storm would take place so that the garrison would be ready. When the battle of Moutoa was fought on the Wanganui River in 1864 the friendly natives drew up and allowed the Hauhaus to land from their canoes at the northern end of the island and form up before an attack was made. The Hauhaus on their part gave notice of the time of landing. “During a blockade it was no uncommon thing for a member of the attacking party to visit the besieged pa on friendly terms. If the besieged party was in very sore straits as to food or water it was a recognised form of ; war etiquette to allow a certain amount of water to enter the pa with the messengers, but of course water in any quantity or in Calabashes was prohibited. Food was sometimes permitted in much the same way. When the Makato'te pa, near Reatuke, was besieged the people inside were in such straits that they were exchanging children to keep the fighting men ,alive. In the midst .of their trouble a ,man called for Pehi Turo'a, the leader of the besieging party, and, letting down his son, a lad named Apanui, by a rope, be cried out, ‘Have a name for mercy, and spare my .son.’ Pehi took the lad, and tying on 12 sticks, of dried kurnara, cried in return, Tull up the rope. Here is new courage for you.’ “I cannot find that such acts as these were common, and it seems probable that they only occurred between h'apus that were connected by family ties; or possibly, as the above incident suggests, to add to the lustre of the victor’s crown. In the case of a single combat, which was quite com'mon between chiefs of opposing companies, etiquette demanded that the challenger give the choice of weapons to his adversary.’.’