“KA MATE! KA MATE!”

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 230, 29 March 1928, Page 1

“KA MATE! KA MATE!”

ORIGIN OF WAR CRY. A Maori Legend. All Blacks in Action. The All Blacks will soon be in action again, engaged in probably the heaviest trials of skill and strength they have had yet to face. No doubt the well-known war-cry, “ Ka mate! Ka mate ” will find its way to South Africa, and w'ill help to pale the blood of the Dutchmen as it has already d-.ne for other worthy foes.

One calls it a war-cry since it is so generally known as such, but when originally uttered by the composer, this cry, or chant, or song was in no sense a war-cry. It might even be considered as an old-time Maori’s notion of a personal Te Deum, though they seem to have been much more concerned with putting themselves on side with their “ atua,” before a combat than with returning thanks after the successful conclusion to a scrap. Eating one's dead enemy might, of course, be considered as one form of personal rejoicing, likely to rebound to the glory of one’s gods. Here follows a brief description of the origin of the famous lines.

Halfway between National Park railway station and Lake Taupo, the road takes a sharp turn to the right at Otukou schoolhouse and opens up a fine sweep of blue water lying along the base of the Waipapa hills, which lead up to the main ridge between Kakaramea ar.d Pihanga mountains. “ Ah,” says the tourist, sitting up expectantly in the service

car, “ here is Lake Taupo.” But it is Lake Rotoaira, as the pakeha maps spell it, or Roto-’a-ira, as it should be, meaning Ira’s lake. Ira was one of the many legendary gentlemen who have at one time or another, made their homes in this inland area. No one now seems to know who or what he was; but his lake remains, generally empty of sound or movement except for the faint cries of waterfowl and the flashing white crests cast up by the wind storms that from time to time roar down the steep gullies of the surrounding hills. The lake belongs entirely to Maori owners; no pakeha may legally cast a fly on its waters. As the road leaves the tussock upland and winds down toward the swampy plain that stretches round the lake, one’s eye has more time for detail, and is immediately attracted to a green swelling mound, looking like a p< r.insula, that juts out into the north-western comer of the lake. It was certainly accessible in days gone by and is still spoken of as a peninsula, yet the name is Motu-o-Puhi, I’uhi’s island. To-day it is truly an island. The neck ot raupo swamp that joins it to the mainland, is quite impassable without a canoe and looking down upon it from the slopes above one sees water gleaming all round it. No native wishes to go near it anyhow, nor would he willingly suffer a pakeha to do so. Maori dead have been laid there for generations; “ Tapu ” lies thick on every leaf and stone. A large village once stood on the western end of the island, protected by palisades and trenches across the neck. One of the bulletins written by Mr. Elsdon Best and published by the Government, shows a picture of the place, made by one G. F. Angas, who w>as in the district in 1844, and who was luckily a verygood artist. He has preserved a striking record of the old village. Not a stick remains now; probably totara slabs still mark the graves, but all is over-grown and desolate.

When Taylor, the missionary, was through here, soon after Angas, he saw a “ Moari ” sixty feet high with six ropes attached, and surmounted by a carved and be-feathered effigy. The shores of lakes or rivers were favourable sites for these poles; the swingers would let go in mid-air and hurtle into deep water with great glee.

To this inland village, years ago, there came a West Coast chief on business bent. Rumour says it was Te Rauparalia, well-known in history as the leader of the Maori migration from Kawhia down to Kapiti and Waikanae. Preparations for that flitting must have kept him pretty busy and anxious and he was, no doubt, attempting to secure allies among the Taupo people, who would keep his Waikato enemies too busy to molest him. He may have been simply on a visit but his record shows that he seldom spent much time on purely social affairs. Anyhow, after a short stay at Roto-a-ira he went to Taupo. In one of the villages, unless the story slanders him, he temporarily forgot the cares of state and struck up an affair with a local lady. Despite her approval, his advances were not at all acceptable to her legal protectors, and he had to make a hasty departure. Arrived back at Motu-o-puhi, with pursuers hot-foot on his trail, he had to throw himself on the mercy of the resident chief, and was hidden in a potato pit. There he crouched and waited not at all sure of the upshot. Finally, the storm blew over and in due course lie emerged safe ''l'd sound. It was then that he conp.posey his song of triumph and The opening contrasts his stajse o mind whit* in tbc 1 >i‘- is it lIPJ or death’.' Then—behold mighty man. a mac xljffng eDejfl to male- Che I Mr ’’i- prot^H|| a \ tla pcr.-onal. jjgChie: i enjoy grijifTlfenso. T!..- " ith a further ref.-nm, e to ami son,..- exp m Ualft satisfaction. Jfho spirit of the old i.ovt r ovm : ! ~ can fields as i scar : j clash of conflict: ’ strong, my sons ! wBBggmBBBBtt