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INJURIOUS SUPERSTITIONS.

Taupiri, November 20th, 1856. O ye Tribes, and ye divisions of Tribes, and the men who rightly think in the midst of the tribes. Do you be strong, and put aĺl evil down- in the tribesv The following are the evils which cause evil in the tribes, Witchcraft.—Do not sanction this nor allow it to be said it is right, witchcraft is a falsehood, Acts, 15 c. 6-12, because this evil is growing in the tribes, and a person being accused falsely, was murdered, and thus our relations are killed, because we believe a lie, and think witchcraft is true. Truth be thou strong to oppose evil and and thou great thought work thou the the things which make for peace, that the tribes may live in good. #Pui away all Maori gods, from amongst tribes, and cease to believe them, That the Almighty may not be angry, Duet., 32c. 15-42., Exod., 20c. 1-6. Let the works of the Native gods be spoken of; that is, the deeds and ceremonies of the Native Priests, who when they use their incantations over a sick person require goods to be given to them, which if not done they their incantations cannot succeed, astSeylhave no offering for their gods ; money beinggiven they perform their ceremonies, and these not succeeding, they

have recourse to a false accusation, which is some person caused the death. /This is also another false practice of these 'men (the Priests;) they use ihe influence of the New Testament m conjunction with their own incantations to gain the attention and sanction of the peopTe who may have turned to Christianity, and also to try to enlist the assistance of a Christian teacher to have family prayers with the sick person morning and evening which if a Christian teacher does, the people who may bear of it, are lei to believe that the acts of these Priests are sanctioned by the ministry, and as such they sanction it, not knowing that there is future evil in such doings. who shall lead Tor uphold) you, Ist Kings *Bc. 17-40. 2nd Rings, ic. 5. This is also another mode of proceeding with the Maori Priests, (when any thing has been lost) they say such a person has stolen it, for which information they ask payment; they alsopronounee the sickness of any invalid to be caused by disregarding the rites of tapu, or that they have been bewitched, now it is a (belief in the) Native gods which leads the people to think that witchcraft is true. And these gods meddle, and hence our friends are murdered; do not let this thing exist in the (minds) of the people, lest it lead many astray. Cause to depart from amongst you the person who may adhere to the Native gods. Dreaais, and starting of the limbs, or second sight, are the principal support of the Maori gods. We will explain these things.' Dreams, are of themselves nothing, H is caused by the heart searching within the ho !y when (the body) is asleep. Starting, (is caused) by the body being fatigued by work, hence the bones start which '-ill be caused also by long walking. Second Sight (is) a turning of the brain, hence (men) say we have seen such a thing. This is also another wrong evil clinging to the heart of man. ihinp lest the evil spirit tempt and mislead you. This is our desire, that you may increase in knowledge, and all caution, that you may see and know that which is not right, (or goes 'in an opposite direction lo truth, and justice) that ye may be able to withstand the wiles of the Devil when he rises lo war. Eph. 6c. 11-17. Next is the Waliu incantations and ceremonies,.

Great is the deceit of tbe Wahu Priests who repeat their incantations over sick persons, which having been seen by the New Zealanders, they followed after these deceits and incantations, but their incantations are New Zealand, hut the language fs that of Wahu so that tbese new incantations may mislead tbe people. Let us remember the deceit and evil in years gone by. j£ In the year 1855, there came (a man of the name of) Kariri, whose new name adheres to him of Wahu. The money which he received for his many diseases was 30i. Os. Od. In the year J854 the works of tbe Askatoa were spoken of, great was the amount of money which he received for his work. He pointed out, and told the people of their diseases, he also could tell any person whom he knew to be a witch, although the person so charged knew himself to be free from such charge, but nevertheless durst not contradict him for fear of the gods he ha i at his command. The heart in its Native stale believes all things. There is also other persons like the above. Uruam >, and Tawharu, had gods at their command, and the ceremonies of Uruamo were dancing and singing. That ofTawharu was dreaming. Friend the people of that place, and this place, this is our word, tbe word of the teachers of Waikato and Taupiri, thai ye be cautious, and do not turn to this false work, because in former times, we all believed that the Maori iucanlalnns and ceremonies were true, but now in these days, we fully condemn these things; eradicate these things; should we hear that there is any person in the tribes who upholds the Maori incantations great will be our anger towards him. Be it known to you ; these false things are only intended to gain money. This also is another evil which is in the midst of us. Do not ask payment for a bride, if she is allowed to marry, the parents must not go and ask payment (of her husband). Is it right do you think to purchase a human being as you do wheat, or as potatoes or flour, or even as a pig, great is your wrong, if you thus sell your daughter; cease from this for ever. Do not allow cursing; our Maori cursing is nothing, if any man ask payment for having been cursed, do not give it, bin rather do not use evil words, or words of murder, as the scriptures say that curses are evil words.

Jto not lay wagers. Nor gel drunk. O ye young: people forsake these evil filings, and let our actions be guarded by the precepts of the Gospel, that we may live in peace. The following men are "the persons from whom these words ceme. Takerei Te Raa Tipene Tu batik a Iloera Taonui Himiona Manga wara Tamati Paeturi Inoka Ehuranga Epipa Wenakeno Hirini TePekerangi Ha mi Rome Rome Hami. Te Papu Teira Te Rono Taaiora Ngahiri Warena Te Ahukaramu Ho pi Rabaka Ileta Tarahiti And many otners.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18561231.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 12, 31 December 1856, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,148

INJURIOUS SUPERSTITIONS. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 12, 31 December 1856, Page 3

INJURIOUS SUPERSTITIONS. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 12, 31 December 1856, Page 3

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