A MAORI CHARNEL HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 90, 15 April 1872, Page 2

A MAORI CHARNEL HOUSE.

A correspondent supplies the following to the Haivh.es Bay Herald : — Some few years ago I had occasion to journey along the coast in a whaleboat with a crew of natives. When passing a bay, in the background of which was a high range of hills, which, on that day, though it was the height of summer, were overhung by thick fog, the natives remarked that the fact of their being so covered was a tohu or sign that kehuas (spirits of chiefs sepulchred there io-^lays goue by) were then moving about. From the conversation that ensued, I learned that there existed in the vicinity of tbe fog a largp cave used from ancient times as a burial place, and which still contained the remains of chiefs brought from long distances. It was a custom to bury temporarily any chief in the neighborhood of his pah, but afterwards to exhume the remains, carefully scrape the bone?, aud with much ceremony to remove them to

those secret burial places, where they conid rest free from iu&ult on the part of invading tribes. My companions informed For remainder of news see fourth page.

me that this cave contained thousands of bodies, but that its situation was now unknown, the old tohunga (priest) bavin? died without divulging the secret to n successor, I then and there determined to test the truth of the story, not a little influenced, I admit, by the quantity of greenstone ornaments said to be buried there. I could not pointedly enquire further into the matter for fear of creating suspicion. Without saying a word to anyone, however, I made many fruitless, toil some searches. Under the pretence of pigeon-shooting, I would start out in the early morniDg, toiling through long fern ten feet high, tearing through bush and scrub, banging over precipices at the risk of smashing myself to atoms, but all to no purpose, failing to find anything like the entrance to a cave, and returning to be laughed at for only getting two pigeons. I at last enlisted ray old friend H in the service, and together, equally eager, we started out pigeon-shooting. It was a broiling hot. day, and what with the dust of the fern, and want of water in the ranges, we did not particularly enjoy our sport. After an exhausting scramble through the forest undergrowth, we sat down to laugh at our foolishness in searching for what might have its existence only in tradition. The sun was sinking, and we meditated a return, when accidentally my hand came in contact with something smooth at my side. On examination it proved to be a human skull. Much to the ashonisbment of H , with a whistle I sprang up to ** attention," H also gave forth a peculiar whistle, and inquired what had bitten me. I could only reply by saying, "By Jove, here's the cave," at the same time pointing: to the skull just cropping up out of the earth. H , who failed to see the cave, stared and thought me demented. I soon unearthed the find. It was, of course, impossible to account for the existence of the skull in such an out-of-the-way place. We had no hesitation, therefore, in concluding on ordinary grounds, that the cave was near, and that the remains found had been dropped by some frightened bearers, or that Borne intruder bad been striken down by the kehuas (ghosts) as be was taking them away. We recommenced our search with renewed vigor. I scon got to the top of a high point overhanging a precipice, and fancied I could perceive a recess of the cliff some sixty feet below me. With considerable risk I scrambled down, and, sure enough, there was the entrance of the long-sought cave. I could not doubt the fact, for at the entrance were heaps of human remains mixed with the debris of a portion of the roof fallen in. I at once called H , who, instead of showing bis delight at the discovery, began to look very solemn; probably we both did at the sight before us. Conspiciuous among the heap was the largest specimen of the human head I ever saw, preserved perfectly after the Maori custom. There was also the body of a child preserved in the same mauner. I did not know till then that Maoris ever preserved whole bodies. After picking up a few greenstone ornaments at the entrance, we mustered up courage to enter. Soon becoming accustomed to the light, we saw, certainly not thousands, but numerous remains in every form and shape. Human heads piled on ledges, others fallen on the ground. There were also numbers of bodies tied up in flax mats, in almost every instance with a tiki, or ornament of some kind, deposited with it. We helped ourselves to a few of these thingp, feeling assured their sepulchred owners would not miss them. The only sign of modern interment was r a box, painted red, across which was laid an old flint musket. Upon opening the box, which was almost rotten, we found it contained the cleaned bones of some old warrior, and among them a very large tiki (greenstone god). All other remains were evidently of ancient date. Night now began to fall, and not caring to pass it among the dead men, we determined to retire, intending to complete our search at some future time. We buried our greenstones at the foot of a tree, and unless the spirit owners have retaken them, they are there still. H is thousands of miles away, and I have never had an opportunity of revisiting the place, being too fearful of discovery, as my life would be at stake for violating such a wahi tapu (sacred place). H informed me next morning after our visit that preserved heads had been rolling over his bed all night, and that at meals he fancied himself picking dead men's bones. I am now the only owner of the secret of the situation of: this cave, nor dare I divulge it to others.

To Develop Talent. — Place a roan in a position that will fearfully tax him and try him. A- position that will often bring the blush tb his cheek, and the sweat to his brow, a position that will over-master him at times. Place him in a position like this ; but every. 'time he trips go to his rescue ;

go not with words of blame or censure, but go with manful words of encouragement ; look him boldly in the eye, and speak them with soul and emphasis. This is the way to make a man of a boy and a giant of a man. If a mau has pluck and talent, no matter whether he ever filled a given position or not, put him in it if worthy, and he will soon not only fill it, but out-grow jt. But put one in such a position with a faint heart — this is the way to kill him. Put him in grandly, with most unmistakeable confidence. Drop no caveats, but boldly point the way, and then stand by with a will and countenance of a true friend. Thus try twenty men, such as have been named, an:J nineteen will succeed. Was it True ? — A man named Andrew Hayes, says the Bendigo Independent, while drunk and in the custody of Senior constable Cook ou Monday night, made a statement to the effect that he has murdered a man, familiarly known as "Yorkey," in New Zealand, in 1863. The constable took a note of the disclosure, and on Tuesday, at the City Police Court, when he was told of bis remarks when in custody, he said that some years ago in Dublin he fell from a scaffold and when he got drunk he said things which had no foundation. A raau named " Yorkey " was murdered in the year 1863 at Millers-flat, between Gabriel's Gully and the Dunstan, in New Zealand. The murder at the time of its discovery created considerable excitement, and a couple of persons were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the affair, but nothing was proved auainst them, and the diabolical deed has been enshrouded in mystery ever since. Hayes is a stalwart man, of 50 years of age, aod a laborer, his ri°ht eye is injured, and it is said he cannot see with it. As there was nothing in the remarks of Hayes to justify his detention, he was simply fined for being drunk.