MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1938, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age”) STORIES During wet weather and long nights they sat on the clay floor of the wharepuni (community sleeping house) warmed by the glowing embers of the central fire, entertaining the company with stories, which to them abounded in romance and allegory, but to our ears were dull because in translation they are robbed of all that mental imagery of the Maori tongue. In spirit they sound to us like the stories told by little children. The translation of that historic legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai, thanks to Alfred Domett, is one rare outstanding instance of poetic beauty.

The absence of Maori allegoric meaning and significance in our translations of their stories, robs them of their whole import. Even the names of the characters and places carried a meaning now lost to us. The story of Waikuku (sea foam) and Tutea moamo, the meanirig of which is now vague, may serve to illustrate this. “These brothers were orphans. Waikuka the younger, married Hine te Kakara (sweet scented girl). When Tutea saw her beauty, he decided to kill Waihuka. When fishing they went far out to sea by canoe —after catching the Waimarie (lucky number) Tutea pretented the anchor was stuck —Waihuka dived to release it, when Tutea paddled ashore —Waihuka prayed to the birds and the fish to carry him, but they passed him by. The Tohara (whale) hearing his cries, carried him ashore. Meantime Tutea told Hine her husband was drowned, and asked her to draw back the slide of the door. Weeping, she chanted “Let me lament for thy young brother —Lo, the year is long and this long year is thine.” While chanting she dug beneath the wall and escaped before the traitor broke the door. Hine brought Waihuka home and when Tutea returned next night, a blow on the temple sent him quickly to sleep.