MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

A FINE SENSE OF HEARING. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) In his condition of tribal warfare before the universal opposition to the Pakeha intrusion and appropriation of his one and only heritage, the sacred land, the Maori welcome for his fellow stranger was qualified by extreme caution coupled with a fine sense of hearing, which enabled him to recognise a member of almost any tribe on his first words.

In 1881. my first visit to Rotorua, we were much impressed by this fine sense of hearing. We sought the services of Sophia the guide, and decided not to have Bella because of her deafness. Speaking English, we told the Maori Committee so. Rapidly in their own tongue they said to one another “They wont’ know, we will send Bella —Sophia gets all the work and the fees.” Pretending not to hear them, we turned away, and I gave the usual response “Epai ana-enoho ra" (It is good —Abide in peace). They sent Sophia to guide us, and we wondered why. Next day the head man of the committee said to me “No Rangitikei Koe” (You are from Rangitikei). “Yes, how do you know?” His reply was “Te tangi o to arero" (The cry of your tongue). By those four Maori words I had spoken, he realised that I was of the Ngatiapa tribe, Rangitikei. and had understood their proposed subterfuge, so they decided to send Sophia as we wished. This link of knowing their language caused them to give our party a royal time for the ensuing weeks.