MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1939, Page 11

MAORI MEMORIES

DEATH AND BURIAL. (Recorded by J.H.S. tor “Times-Age.”) -a Hauraki’s body lay at Wirinake to be seen for the last time by his young wife who sat silently weeping beside the river. She was plaiting a flax cord with which to strangle herself according to Maori custom. The soft muke (dressed flax)'was wet with tears. Just then the Marama (moon) shone on the i water, Hauraki’s sisters arose, broke the silence and lamented loudly thus: “ ’Tis well with three, Oh! Marama You return from death, but our dead return to earth no more. Ah that. I might eat those prophets who could not foretell his death and eat the Governor also. For his was the War." Men came and watched the women for several days that they should not kill themselves (Nonoti). Yet they actually' died of sorrow, not so the wife of Hauraki, until she bore his son. Before she died she named his son Maiki for that was the name of the flagstaff hill which caused the war. This was always to remind him of his father's death. Waka Nene, who had risen to great influence (Mana) and wished to destroy superstition among his intelligent family tribe, ordered that the name “Governor” in this historic chant must’ be replaced by “Tini Tohunga” (“The Many Priests”). So Hauraki’s body was taken to Ramaroa (the long torch) and placed in a sacred cave on the mountain. A large party went to the enemy’s country “in memory of the dead chief,” and took much plunder. The enemy, though stronger, did not interfere because the intruders carried Patu Mamai .(weapons of grief). It was ever Whaka aro, Rangitira (“Noble thought-”) to respect the grief of friends and relatives. '