MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1939, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

THE DYING RACE. (Recorded by J.H.S. tor “Times-Age.”) The kumera pits in and around the hilltop forts are in most cases proved to be from 500 to 1000 years old by the growth of huge kauri and totara trees within them. Some of these slow-grow-ing forest giants were 100 feet high with a girth of 18 feet. Dug in the stiff clay ground around the hills, the original shape and symmetry of the pits are intact. In most cases this is the result of nature having lined their shaded sides with moss and creeping fern.

The densely packed houses with walls and roof of sun dried raupo, toitoi, or nikau fronds, on the windy hill/sides, were dangerously liable to take fire, especially' with the central fireplace, and the need for ahi ka roa (continuous fire) because of the tedious method of producing it by friction. Their enemies took full advantage of this weakness when making an attack. Using the kopere, a sling with a long wooden handle, they threw red hot stones across the walls, 70 at a time, the sacred number (hoko whitu). The only fire engines were a hundred women passing karaha (calabash) filled with water to men on the roofs. The attackers practised mining and escalade, making the defence more strenuous. Before the peaceful influences of the missionaries, the rapid decrease in Maori numbers was due to war and disease through a forced neglect of cultivation. Then came an even more deadly influence, drunkenness and firearms. With these they no longer dwelt on the hill tops, but built their huts on the margin of swamps or rivers where pulmonary disease took a greater toll of-life than club and spear. Their principal market was for handdressed flax (muka). Half a ton was the price of a musket, which should have been paid for food. ’