MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1939, Page 11

MAORI MEMORIES

TWO STRANGE LAWS.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.")

The universal faith of the Maori in the sacred law of Tapu (forbidden, protected) had its parallel in our onetime universal belief of a literal hell fire, the dying ashes of which have not yet quite cooled, though one modern philosopher defines it as "a pleasantry.” The kumara (sweet potato) was brought from the tropics and replaced aruhe (fern root) as their staple summer food. It was so highly appreciated that the ariki (high priest) made the growing crop Tapu. This became absolutely effective by the legendary fact that the name "Kumara” in India was bestowed upon the four sons of the God Bramah. A further precaution was that the women planters were made Tapu. The law of Tapu was closely allied to that of Muru (a kind of legalised robbery), something akin to our own law by which the court assesses damages for carelessness or neglect. ’ If an accident occurred to a boy which might deprive the tribe of a future warrior, a Taua Muru (plunder party) would quickly assemble and remove most of the innocent father’s property. If given due notice of their visit he prepared a generous feast to mark his approval of the Muru. In every case there is a mock duel with wooden Matia (spears), in which serious injuries are carefully avoided. If the father succeeds in drawing first blood, then he gains absolution from his imaginary responsibility. A Maori could legally kill a man of another tribe, but if. by accident or design, he killed one of his own tribe, the law of Muru had no limit.