MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

THE SACRED LAW OF UTU. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) During the years 1839 till his death Ruaparaha took part in many fierce battles, successful in almost all until his victims reached the same stage of modern armament, a lesson now being followed internationally throughout the world, the same motive prompting them—the acquisition of territory for their increasing population. Ruaparaha. governed by superstition, felt that every wrong against the members of his tribe, whether in his own day or past generations, must be subject to the sacred law of Utu, undet which nothing could be a greater disgrace than failure to make reprisals. This was the only explanation of his unparalleled ferocity toward others and his consideration and kindness tomembers of his own tribe. When making a raid by sea in which there was likely danger from storms or attack, he invariably carried several slaves who could be sacrificed to the gods m order to save his own people. The loss of their tribal lands was the only thing for which there was no existing equal. Land was their token of immortal life. To part with it under any circumstances was to deliberately sacrifice the present and all future generations of men, women and children. In the Wairau massacre not only did a British gun kill a beloved daughter, but Ruaparaha had just discovered the fraud by which Captain Blenkinsopp had robbed the Maori generations of their life and immortality. The “deed of transfer” was knowingly misinter preted to Rauparaha, and the big gun “presented” to him had been abandoned as useless. Even then, after Utu (satisfaction) was taken they refrained from exercising their sacred duty of feasting upon the bodies.