MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1939, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES

MIND OVER MATTER. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The most recent instance in which the Makutu (curse) was made personally clear to several Pakeha people occurred at the Maori village two miles from Hawera in 1907. Charles Bayly, a Maori linguist, went with me to visit the Pa in order to complete a transfer of land.| The signature of the vendor, a well known Maori, was attested by me as a J.P.. the translation having been made-by Mr Bayly as Native Interpreter. The vendor, a healthy young athlete of 20 years, then told us why he had sold the land at less than half its value. In clear unmoved voice he gave his reason for having hastily summoned us to the Pa. "On Saturday I played in a keenly contested football match at Okaiawa, one of my opponents was a rival for. the affection of a certain young woman. I had the misfortune to kick his ankle and put him cut of play, for which he, being descended from a Tohunga (priest), Makutu’d (cursed) me to die on Tuesday. Today is Monday.’’ Bayly and I ridiculed the idea. He died at the specified hour of sunset next day. Dr Sloan, of Hawera. made a particularly careful post mortem, and could not account for the death of one so healthy. He was not oven aware of the Makutu, yet his report referred to the death as "a perfect mystery." This indicates the credulity of the Maori bred in superstition, and the little we know of the control of mind over matter, an unconscious influence in our own health.