MAKUTU IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 22, 31 October 1859, Page 1

MAKUTU IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

It is with sincere regret that we have to record an occurrence at the Bay of Islands, which proves that, among the natives of that district, the roots of old Maori superstition remain and are still capable of producing sad fruits. On the 2nd of August, WikiriwhiTe Ohu, a nephew of the well-known chief Kawiti, died atTe Kawa Kawa, after a short illness. The disease which caused his death is well known to medical men among the Pakehas, one of whom, we understand, visited the deceased during his sickness and ascertained its nature. Wikiriwhi's relatives, however—and among them Marsh Brown Kawiti, a Native Assessor—conceived the belief that he was the victim of makutu, and had been bewitched by a man who had acquired the evil reputation of a " tangaia makutu." Marsh himself was also suffering from illness, Which to the same evil influence.

We are informed that before Wikiriwhi's death it had been proposed by his relatives that, in the event of his sickness terminating fatally, Hone Te Whakaariki, the supposed wizard, should be put to death. Accordingly, on Wikiriwhi's decease, a large meeting was held at Waiomio, Marsh's settlement, at which it was decided that his death had been caused by witchcraft; that Marsh, who was cousin to the deceased, was under the same influence; and that the lives both of the supposed wizard and of his son, who was said to have been in some way concerned, were justly forfeited. Two Native Assessors who were present, Hoterene Tawatawa and Te Warihi Kokowai, very properly protested against the decision of the meeting, and proposed that the matter should be referr ed to the European magistrate, or that Hone re Q u, "red to leave the district. This good advice was rejected. Marsh,also anAssessor, acquiesced in the sentence of the meeting, which was accordingly carried into effect. A party of men proceeded to the residence of Hone before daylight on the morning of the 10th of August. One of their number entered the house and, while in the act of saluting his victim, shot him with a pistol. The son made his escape from the house, but was followed and killed. We have heard that some of our Maori friends seek to justify this taking of human life, and think Hone merited his fate We believe him to have been a bad man and that he deserved punishment. There appears no tt) doubt that he encouraged the belief; which had obtained among the natives respecting his power to cause sickness and death.: through the agency of the Aim Maori. But this is not the question. The tribes at the Bay of Islands had professed to adopt English law. Now this law requires that no man shall be punished i for an offence uniil he bus had a fair trial, and it is clearly proved thai lie realiv committed the' offence . charged against him. Hot only is this required by English law but -t must be manifest to any one \vho will

consider the subject that to put a man to death for a crime which has not been proved against him is unjust and cruel, it is not enough that a number of persons believe a man to be guilty, his guilt must be proved before punishment can be justly inflicted. Now we cannot learn that any attempt was made to prove the crime for which Hone was put to death. With respect to his son, the case is still worse. We are told that the reason for taking his life was lest the power supposed to be possessed by the father should descend to him and be similarly used. Thus an innocent youth is put to death, not for a supposed crime, but to prevent his committing a crime at some future, time. Is this just? Is it not murder? We hope there are few of our xMaori friends who will be found to justify this act of barbarity. The only excuse which can possibly be offered for what has been done is, that it is in accordance with Maori customs of bygone days, before the light of Christianity had been brought to this island. But the tribes in the North professed to have renounced these 'customs. For 40 years they have had Christian teachers among them who have laboured lo root out Maori superstitions; and tlie people have in profession embraced Christianity. Can any justification of the act to which we refer be found in the New Testament which Christians profess to take as their guide? Would any of the missionaries liave approved of it had their advice been sought? Marsh and Wikirwhi were both baptized Christians, and should have known that they were under the protection of Him who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and that under such proiec ion evil spirits could not harm them. Whatever may have been the power of evil spirits before the coming of the Son of God or in places where the Gospel has not been proclaimed,. Christians believe that where Christianity has been received there at least men cease to be subject to such powers of darkness.

We are aware that a belief in makutu has a strong hold on the native mind, but j should not those who entertain this belief examine carefully the grounds upon which it rests and, if these are found insufficient, or ifit is inconsistent with a belief in Christianity, discard it. Has not its retention been productive of much evil and mischief. We are satisfied that it has been the cause of very many deaths among the Maoris. A Maori feeling himself unwell takes the notion that he has been bewitched and is very likely to die. Many have died from this cause alone. In such cases death has been the result of fear not of the makutu. Those bad men who encourage the belief, by pretending to have the power of bewitching, deserve to be punished; but to admit that they really have such a power and to punish them for the alleged exercise of it is unjust and unwise. It will be far better to teach the people that the makutu is a wicked imposture, and can affect those only who believe in it. \ The English once had laws to punish supposed wizards and witches, but the people are now too enlightened to fear witchcraft, and those laws, being no longer required, are now almost forgotten. St might be well that there should be a law among the Maories to punish persons who pretend to such powers of working ill to their neighbours. We think the question should be considered by the Maori people with the view to the adoption of some belter plan of getting rid of ' makutu' arid the ' tangata makutu" than that which has been followed at the Bay of Islands and which is repugnant alike to Christianity and English law. Let the Assessors and men of intelligence meet and discuss the subject. ir be resolved that in future no one shall be put to death on suspicion of makutu; but let some punishment for pretended wizards be considered. But) henceforth, let no man be punished until

he is found guilty of the crime laid to his charge: let the punishment be that only which the law prescribes for the offence, and let it be inflicted by those only who are appointed for the purpose. The tree of Maori superstition has been cut down, but the roots must also be extirpated lest they shoot forth again and cause confusion.