MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1939, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

AN ARMED PEACE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Up to the silent and secret completion of the immense quantities of cooking required for the newcomers, only now discovered to be friends, the two parties were kept apart by not less than 100 feet. The visitors sheltering within the great nikau palm shade prepared for them. The women of the local tribe were fully occupied behind the ramparts in preparing a meal for the 500 arrivals —the men in the fields in killing and dressing 50 fat pigs and collecting a few tons of taewa, taro and kumera for their guests’ first week. Every young and middle-aged woman came forward half stepping and hopping in a dignified dancing motion, timed to a low musical chant in perfect unison. Holding high in both hands, each carried a green flax bowl of steaming hot vegetables with fish or pork fresh from the Umu (earth oven). This was to stay the famished puku (stomachs) of the guests until they could have time to cook for themselves. Then silently the maids-of-honour disappeared, and almost as quickly the feast, as shown by the empty baskets tossed out from the shelter in tens and twenties at a time. Early next morning the local chief in his best Maori mats, feathers in his hair, tiki of greenstone on his breast, came to the chief guest and pressed noses (hongi), wailing and weeping tears for half an hour. After the- tangi, both tribes sat in irregular circles, when an orator from each in turn strode to the centre and had his say. Beneath the cloak of every man was hidden his toki (tomahawk), and cartridge case. Hidden from view, but handy, were their loaded Pu (guns), yet for the time being, there was peace. ' ■