MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1938, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES.

PONONGA. (By J.H.S. for “The Times-Age.”) This word means slavery in every language but Maori, indicates contempt or disgrace. Strangely enough the equivalent of Pononga (a slave) also is “truthful” or “true.” The same word is applied to captive and to servant. This indicates a relatively higher regard for all three positions than that of slavery as used by civlised people. In the year 1380 one-tenth of the Maori people were living in subjection to their conquerors. Our Domesday Book shows that a majority of the British people were once in a similar position. Slaves in New Zealand were the men, women and children captured in war and their descendants for ever. Any attempt to escape was punished by death. There was no modified penalty. When captured, their lives and liberty were surrendered to their captors —as with civilised nations. Maori prisoners of war could be exchanged. They were frequently sold or handed to other nations or given in payment for injuries inflicted Slaves were not ill treated so long as they obeyed orders and did good service. Kindness was the rule and cruelty an exception. They slept in warm huts, ate the same food as their masters and shared in all amusements. Their bearing and language did not lack dignity. One dark spot in the picture was when a Chief died, his personal attendants were not made aware of the fact; but without warning or apprehension, they were killed by a blow on the back of the head, in order to attend him in Te Reinga, the Maori Earthly Paradise—the only mitigation being that there was no future punishment in Maori theology. The daughters of slaves were sometimes given to freemen as wives, but their children were still slaves.