ETIQUETTE IN WAR.

Shannon News, 26 February 1929, Page 3

ETIQUETTE IN WAR.

CKIVA-LiRY OF OLD MAORIS

"The etiquette of war shows a very complex side of the Maori character," stated Mv T. W. Downes, of Wanganui, in the course of a paper on Maori etiquette presented to the anthropology section of the Science Congress at Auckland on Saturday. "Again and again we come across deeds of bravery and courtesy that.would assuredly have earned., decorations had there been such things in those clays, and on the other hand ambuscade and treacherous deceit seem to have been part of the accepted code. "I am informed by my Wanganui friends that in the old days it was the correct thing to send word of the time of an intended attack, as, for instance, when Kaihau shouted to his enemies, 'When the moon is full expect me,' " continued Mr Downes. "Usually information Avas sent to a besieged pa when the general assault by storm would take place, so that the garrison would be ready. When the battle of Moutoa was fought on the Wanganui River in. 1564- the friendly na tives drew up and allowed the Hauhaus to land from their canoes at the northern end of the island and form up before an attack was made. The Hauhaus on their part gave notice of the time of landing. ; "During a blockade it was no uncommon thing for a member of the attacking part-v to visit the besieged pa on friendly terms. If the besieged 'party was" in very sore straits as to food" or water it was a recognised form of war etiquette to allow a certain amount of water to enter the pa with the messengers, but of course water in any quantity or in calabashes was pro hibited. Food was sometimes permitted in much the same way. When the Makatote pa, hear Ruatukc, was besieged the people inside were in such straits tht't they were ex .-hanging children to keep the fighting men alive. In the midst of their trouble a man called for Pehi Turoa, the leader of the besieging party, and, letting down his son. a lad named Apanui, by a rope, he cried out, 'Have a name for mercy, and spare my son.' Pehi took the lad, and tving on 12 sticks of dried kumara, cried'in return, 'Pull up the rope. Here is new courage for you.' >. :"1 cannot find that such acts as these were common, and it seems probable that they only occurred between liapus that were connected by family ties; or possibly, as the above incident suggests, to add to the lustre of the victor's crown. In the case of a single combat, which was quite common between chiefs of opposing companies, etiquette demanded that the challenger give the choice of weapons to his adversary. ''