MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

'THE MAORI VIEW OF SUNRISE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The original Maori, poetic view of Nature's work is preserved only so far as ink and paper can convey it to this generation. Even then, only the words of one man —Elsdon Best—are available for that purpose. By living among them, as one of them for some years he acquired their very nature and spirit. His translation of their daily view of the sunrise is a typical revelation: — "Hine Maunga, the Maid of the Mountain, looms against the Eastern Sky. Hine Kapau. the Cloud Maid in black, guards the portals of the home of Tane. Hine Titania, the glorious Dawn Maid, appears as she flies from her ruddy sire. Hine Kapua is flushed with dull gold, which slowly fades, leaving her sombre as before. Her robes arc now crimson with touches of black, the contrast strikingly beautiful. To the East, one of the Cloud Children in black and crimson rests upon the pale blue breast of Rang! (the Sky Parent). Away to the South is a host of Cloud Children (Tama Kapua). In the North Western sky in shimmering white are the young friends of the Dawn Maid. Toward the West Hine Keha shines down on Papa, the Earth Mother. Brave Tane shows forth in all his glory, while across the rippling waters of Hine Moana (the Ocean Maid) the shadows of Whanau Kapua (Cloud Children) are sweeping." 'Twas thus the men of old compared the loving and faithful wife to the cry of the Ocean Maid —-“Wahine tangi haehae, e ngaru Moana, e kore c mataki.” (The ocean wave and the mourning women know no rest).