MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 10

MAORI MEMORIES.

(By J.H.S. for “The Times-Age.”) WEAPONS (Patu). When both sides were tired of war or their Tarewa (debits) were about equal, an elder from a neutral tribe known for eloquence and fairness, was hailed as mediator. Bearing the emblem of peace, the branch of a tree, he discussed their differences at length. A feast was fully indulged, and peace declared —why not this system for Geneva?

Until fire arms came, the Maori had a fair range of weapons, but none for distant effect. The Pere, like a whip with a handle four feet long, the lash of flax two feet, was really a sling for throwing red hot stones on the thatched roofs. They were thrown from elevated platforms for 300 yards with wonderful precision. The Matia or Kokiri, a spear from four to twelve feet long, made of the heart of white pine, sharp at each end, and hardened by fire were thrown with terrific force from the hip level. The Hoeroa (long paddle) four feet long and two inches wide, made from a whale’s rib, was rare and valuable, so a line was attached for its recovery; being curved when used as a club, it was difficult to ward off. Bows and arrows (kopere) were not used for fighting though once popular in games of skill. The mere pounamu or greenstone club weighs six pounds and took several years to rub into shape. It was secured to the right wrist by a flax cord, for its value was beyond price. The left hand grasped the enemy by the hair and one blow from the mere caused instant death.

The Toki (adze) was a greenstone with a wooden handle and used in war, or in peace for cutting wood and shaping canoes. They had five kinds of wooden clubs highly carved, the best known being the Hani.