MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES.

FRENCH LANDING (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age. ) Wild rumours spread through France that their olden time rival Britain had discovered an “Isle of Gold” in the southern seas. This is said to have been suggested by the literal translation of our poetic descriptions of “Golden Sunshine and Golden Sands.” This led to a hurried visit from De Surville, who anchored at Doubtless Bay in December, 1769. His party landed at Mangonui (big shark) and were delighted, as were the natives, with their mutual confidence. The visitors were generously supplied with fresh food and water. For several days all enjoyed the novelties of conversation by signs, and the rivalry in generosity in which these innocent people easily surpassed the civilized traders.

A party of invalids from the ship went ashore to recuperate, but their return was delayed by a storm lasting several days. They were made welcome by a Maori whose name they gave as “Naginoui,” obviously not correctly. The host knew nothing of payment, and enjoyed the greater pleasure loading their boat with presents.

When the storm was over, a ship’s boat was missing. De Surville thought, quite wrongly, that the Maoris had stolen it. He invited “Naginoui” to be his guest, accused him of the theft, and put him in irons, burned the village where the sick sailors had been so generously treated, and carried the Chief away as a prisoner. The Maori pined for his children and missed the health-giving effects of aruhs (fern root). In less than three months he died of a broken heart at sea. Men’s evil deeds are punished, so De Surville was drowned in the surf 11 days after the Chief died. This utu (retribution) occurred when landing at Callas in Peru. Can we wonder that we converted the Maoris from generous hosts into bitter enemies?