MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI GRATITUDE. In the years 1823 for ten years onward, a piece of writing paper or anything with which to mark it, except a piece of charcoal or the point of a blood-stained stick, was a rarity indeed. We must depend, therefore, upon the clear photographic film of the Maori brain, unstained by writing or reading. An intricate story, told to another and repeated in turn to others by each successive listener, would not vary in a single word. This is one such instance which was eventually written by a Pakeha-Maori linguist who was number seven in the chain of hearers. “Captain Welby with his little schooner bought a few tons of muka or whitu (flax dressed to a silky fineness, by the aid of pipi shells) at each port of call. At one place he found a young Maori woman being prepared for maoa (cooking) in the umu (clay oven) as utu (satisfaction) against the wrongs of her Taranaki tribe. In pity he bought the intended martyr by handing over a box of cartridges. Eventually the little ship reached Waitara, and he presented the young woman to her own people, who at once gave him their whole surplus supplies of pigs and muka. They urged him to remain a few weeks as their guest, so that they could show their gratitude by sumptuous hospitality and more presents. Fortunately his benefactress came to his whare at midnight and told him the real purpose was to fatten him. and his crew in preparation for a coming feast and festival. then as partakers of his manawa (vital parts) assume possession of his kaipuke (ship) and all that was his. He sailed within an hour, still a firm believer in the gratitude of the Maori.”