MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1938, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES.

MAORI TRADERS. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.") As long ago as 1812 three white men lived among the Maoris as “curios.’ They were named “Pakeha Maori ’ (natural guests) and were regarded as strange pets. When the novelty wore off, they were looked upon as pononga (slaves) but treated more like modern servants, although required to work industriously. In 1815, two escaped convicts surrendered themselves to the Maoris, believing they could live in idleness among them. They were mistaken, and decided to return to the chain gang in Botany Bay. Six years later the missionaries rescued two convicts from the Maoris, who were about to kill them because they had refused to work like slaves. John Rutherford who had resided among the Maoris from 1816 to 1826 was glad to escape after all his companions had been killed. It must be remembered that these whites were all men who had been brutalised by long association with convicts under our cruelties. After 1824 a Pakeha became a valued possession. He traded firearms and blankets for flax. The young Wahine (women) twined the affections round the rough hearts of these exiles from home, and numbers of them left their ships to become the commercial agents of British traders among the Maoris. Maori houses were built for them, land was given them and a free selection of one or two wives from among the daughters of chiefs. Some Pakeha Maori traders, realising the good will of these simple people to those who are kind to them distributed canoe loads of useful imported articles as free gifts, well knowing that the response would be flax and pigs five times greater in value.