TAUPO - NUI - A - TIA

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 September 1952, Page 1

TAUPO - NUI - A - TIA

TALES OF THE TAUPO COUNTRY

(By

R. H.

W.)

Amongst the warlike Maori people of ancient days the man who showed exceptional daring and skill irt warfare was naturally admired ahd respected. Indeed, so highly was great coixrage regarded! that an act of heroism performed by a warrior in the presence of his enemies would sometimes result in their abandonment of hostilities and the making of peace. In Maori story there are famous instances of a chief showing mercy toward >a , brave enemy who had fallen into i his power. Such ehivalrous actions were the spontaneous tributes of one rangatira to another, always supported and acclaimed by the people. One story tells of such an act of chivalry and reconcilfation by Tamamutu, one of the well-known chiefs of the Tuwharetoa people, who has been commemorated in these .latter days in the naming of Tamamutu Street in the town of Taupo.

Tamamutu once led a rai-.ng party from Taupo into the Rotorua country, and attacked a small village on the lake shore at Kawaha Point. At the time many of the people had left and were on (Mokoia Isiand. The attack was rnade early one morning, while it was still dark, and so complete was the surprise that no real resistance was offered and many of the villagers were slain. The chief of the place, Tunohopu, managed to escape, carrying two of his children and with the others following, and made his way to a cave on the shore. The raiders did not remain long, and after setting fire to the village made off to the south, pursued by a party from Mokoia Isiand who had hastened across the lake in their canoes in seeing the ominous smoke column. But though several of the Tuwharetoa people were killed the majority got away unharmed. And then it was that Tunohopu found that his infant son, Tai-operua, was missing. He had become a captive of Tamamutu and had been carried away skmg in a flax-basket on a man's baek.

Some time later Tunohopu heard that his lost child was alive and that he was well treated by his captor. To have led an avenging taua south against the Tuwharetoa people would have suited his inclinations well enough, but whether this would have restored his lost son to him was another matter. At last (he determined on another line of action. He set out alone for Taupo, and after a jsixty mile journey reached Tamamutu's village and with great care scouted up to it and was able to find out which house was the chiefs, being directed to a large carved building by a child whom he encountered outside the palisade. Unobserved, Tunohopu boldly walked into the village and entered the house. Tamamutu, tlhough struck with amazement at the audacity of his enemy in thus confronting him alone, greeted him with the polite ceremony of a great rangatira, whereupon Tunohopu told him that his longing for his lost son was such that he had come either to recover him or to die. Tamamutu told him at once that he should have his son, but that first the tribe must see him and learn all about it. He also said that Tunohopu must be attired as hefit-j ted his rank, and quickly gave him

a woven flax kilt, and a fine blacktasselled clo^k for his' shoulders. Tunohopu dressed and oiled his hair, fastening it with a bone comb, and placed in it the feathers of the huia bird, a badge of chieftainship. Then at Tamamutu's behest he stood at the doorway gazing out on the marae, taiaha in hand.

Then did Tamamutu cry in a loud voice," 'He taua e! He taua e!" ("A war-party! A war-party!"). And as the men seized weapons and rushed (to the gateways Tamamutu scrambled to the roof of his home and cried "He taua kua uru ki to pa! Tenei kai roto i te whare !" *'A war party has entered the village!' Here it is within the fiouse!" Great was the astonishment when the people saw their enemy standing boldly in the doorway, but within the threshold of the chief s house he was safe from attack. Tamamutu then related to them the story of Tunohopu's solitary journey, whieh was greeted by expressions of ad- i miration and wonder. Then, at I Tamamutu's order the little boy ! was brought and restored to his ! l'ather, who wept over him in the greeting of the hongi, chanting a song of joy and salutation. That night there was speech-making and peace was pledged between the I tribes. And when Tunohopu, after j spending many days as an honoured guest. finally set out for home with his son he was accompanied by a large party carrying loads of preserved birds, tui, kaka and pigeon, a3 presents for the people of K&v/aha.