MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1938, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES.

MARION AND CROZET. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Among men and nations, retaliation rather than forgiveness is the ruling passion. Maori religion emphasised this principle to a greater degree than in any other land. One of the main reasons, if not the only cause of this, was the cardinal idea of utu (reprisal for wrongs) instilled by every priest into the Maoris from youth to the grave. In 1772 Marion du Fresne landed at the Bay of Islands, and was received by the Chief Taranui with the most genuine hospitality and friendship. Each party sought to outdo the other in generosity.

For thirty days Marion and his men were in semi-tropic dreamland, under conditions of confidence and intimacy never previously known by them. It was then noticed than one favourite girl left the ship whilst in obvious sorrow and unexplained distress. The Maoris had ceased their daily visits and generous gifts. Marion and sixteen of his men went ashore to enjoy a day’s fishing. No apprehension was felt when they did not return that night. At dawn a boats crew of twelve went ashore for food and water. Four hours later, one of the crew swam to the ship in a state of terror and exhaustion. Hidden in the bush he had seen his companions killed and dissected. The “Mascarin’s” longboat went in search of Marion, whose boat was seen surrounded by gesticulating Maoris. Crozet's party of 60 were felling trees for spars two miles away. They ran to the boats and found the Maoris shouting that Marion was killed and eaten for utu. Crozet pluckily drew a line across the sand saying that anyone passing it would be shot. Then came the hour of vengeance. Volley after volley was fired from the ship with great slaughter. So much for the French story. The Maori version came inadvertently much later, and will follow.