TAPSEL AND HIS CREW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 206, 20 January 1913, Page 6

TAPSEL AND HIS CREW.

ABOUT 100 YEARS' AGO. Auckland, January 15. The Maoris have a word "peropero," which bears a likeness to the Spanish word "perro." and this l.as given rise to some controversy of late. Mr. W. H. Ford, of Xgaruawahia, who has made a close study of Maori traditions, says: "A man named Philip Hans Tapsel died in New Zealand in the year 1870. For a period of 50 years before his death, I am informed. Tapsel lived in New Zealand. At one point in his career Tapsel was engaged in piracy, and roamed the ocean highways in search of booty. He then joined an English man-of-war. On leaving the service Tapsel got a vessel and came to Xew Zealand with a mixed crew, including Spaniards. His ship was wrecked, and her remains are in the Bay of Plenty. The Spaniards of his vessel found their way among the Ma»ris. Captil in Edward McAllender, who came whaling here about 100 years ago, had among his crew .Spaniards. These men exchanged terms of vocabulary with the natives, and found the words bearing a resemblance to the vernacular. The foregoing [ information I gleaned from a greatgrandson of Captain McAllender. In conversation with" this gentleman I was akle t6 sort nut several 'Maori' words in which the Latin derivation was unmistakably evidemt." *