MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1938, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age”) MOE TANE (Marriage) Maori marriage was a purely civil act, there was no ceremony and no word for it but “taken” or “sleeping.” Women had but little choice in the selection of her first Tane (male). A man marrying a woman of another tribe without permission was often the cause of a tribal war. Chiefs married slave women, but it was Whakarihariha (disgraceful) for a chief's daughter to marry a slave. Even today, twelve white men marry Maori women, for each white woman who marries a Maori man.

If a Maori made “eyes” at a girl and her parents objected, he would' take her away by force, then there would be a “stripping” party to carry away every stick of her personal be-, longings. Peace would follow, unless she disliked him, in which case slie might even commit suicide. Ancient Britons had a similar custom.

Though in ordinary conversation between men and women, all things natural were innocent, unmarried lads and lasses in the presence of others observed a discreet delicacy of expression. Whole sentences of affection are conveyed in the bright eyes of a girl and her lad will respond with a slight touch of the hand unseen by others.

Should a husband prove unfaithful the wife may respond in like manner. If a woman is the first to err, a public thrashing, or in some cases death would follow. A man was considered to have divorced his wife and set her free, If he kicked her unclothed out of the door with his bare foot.

Chiefs were permitted to have several wives, whose only rivalry was to be the mother of the first born and thus become the head wife; the others were little better than her servants.

Chiefs were refused baptism because of polygamy, but the Missionaries, when challenged, could find no text in Scripture to prove that even a layman should have only one wife.