IDEAS OP A FUTUBE STATE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 209, 30 August 1873, Page 2

IDEAS OP A FUTUBE STATE.

They fully believed in the existence of another world — a spirit world. The place of departed spirits they believed to exißt on the Three Kings, a group of islands off the North Cape. The spirits of the dead took their final leap from the North Cape into the sea, and emerged into an Elysium on those islands. Their thoughts about the spirits' journey were somewhat earthy. They supposed it would have rivers to cross and mountains to climb, and provided it with supplies for the passage. I have seen a miniature canoe and paddle, and kete of kumeras standing by a corpse— the idea being that the spirit of the canoe would carry the human spirit over the rivers, and the spirit of the food support it; and slaves were killed and wives strangled to attend the chief and husband in the spirit world. . The following lament refers to this custom: — " Weep, weep, ye tides of Hokianga for my Kura. These were thy walks, and these thy favorite haunts, oh! Rura. But Kura' is not here: — She is traversing the path that leads to the land of spirits. Lovely in life was the form of thy visage, Oh ! Eura. We see thy beauty no more. Thy attendants now are the guardians of the dead. Alas! my Kura!

Some of the laments are very touching full of feeling, and illustrative of their belief:— ******** Behold the lightning's glare 1 It seems to cut asunder Tuwhara's rugged mountains. From thy hand the weapon dropped; And ihy bright spirit disappeared Beyond the heights of llaukawa. The sun grows dim and hastes away, As a woman from the scene of battle. The tides of the ocean weep as they ebb and flow, And the mountains of the .South melt away; For the spirit of the Chieftain Is taking its flight to Rona. Open ye the gates of the heavens ! Enter the first heaven, then enter the second heaven. And when thou shalt travel the land of spirits, And they shall say to thee " What meaneth thw?" Fay the wings of this our world Have been torn from it in the death of the brave one— The leader of our oattles. Atutahi and the stars of the morning Look down from the sky, — The earth reels to and fro, For the great prop of the tribes lies low. Ah ! my friend, the dews of ilokianga Will penetrate thy body. The waters of the rivers will ebb put, And the land be desolate.