MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

EARLY RECORDS. (Recorded by J.H.S. tor “Times-Age.”) John Rutherford and five other sailors were captured by the Maoris about 1820. Three of them found themselves in the Umu (oven), and were not again heard of. Rutherford's face bore the distinctive Moko (tattoo) marks of a Maori chief which were the means by which he survived. His body bore many patterns of tattoo quite foreign to the Maori. He and the other two sailors were sent far inland, and when sleeping at a village the Maoris presented them with a pig which they killed in Pakeha fashion. The little boys eagerly drank the warm flowing blood —“the choicest morsel of all.” These three were treated as friends, and even their whale-ship pot was made Tapu for their sole use. Rutherford records many details of their life among the Maoris with apparent sincerity and truth; but when he says—“a young girl was killed and roasted in a hole in honour of their chief’s return,” students of Maori life will seriously doubt the record. Many writers state, and old Chiefs confirm their word, “that no female was ever eaten, or permitted to eat human flesh.” In those early years the Maoris enjoyed the imported foods of water melons, potatoes, kumara, taro, all grown in their gardens, and pigs. The pigs were first drowned in the river in order to conserve every drop of the toto whero (red blood) which was rightly considered to be the most vital and valuable of all foods.

The only difference between the clothing of men and women was the feathers in the hair. All wore waist mats, with the addition of a shoulder mat in winter.