MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

OTHER USES OF MOKO. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Those strange “signatures” on the Treaty of Waitangi are distinctive portions of the moko on the cheek of the “signatory.” There can be no forgery, because every such line is strictly tapu. and subject to summary death of the offender. During his life each man’s “mark” is on his cheek to verify his identity. Several of the land purchase deeds of the early missionaries were verified by other chiefs as “witnesses,” who copied the moko mark from the eight foreheads of the sellers. The Church Missionary Society have a rough wooden bust of Hongi, cut in hard maire wood by his own hand, having a perfect copy of his own tattooed face. This was deemed to be an inviolable testimony of his faith in Christian principles, and fidelity to its true followers. Before being accepted to the rank of the warriors, every youth must prove his manhood by undergoing the painful operation of the moko without a quiver, for a year at brief intervals. This ordeal is traced to the American Indians, where the father scarifies his son’s body with the tooth of a tiger and rubs in a painful antidote. If endured with fortitude the lad may show the proof mark of his manhood. Other objects of the tattoo were to prevent the wrinkles of old age and protect the skin against the effects of frost and of sunburn. In British Guiana the chiefs tattoo their naked bodies with charcoal and wood stains to represent our army officers.