MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI GUIDES (ARAHI). (Recorded by J.H.S. for the “Times-Age.'’) In the early days of the pakeha, when their relations with the Maori race were of friendliness and confidence, they travelled together on horseback through bush tracks over mountain ranges and river valleys now almost unknown. One such scene was Manga Kowhiri Whirl (Valley of Twirling Waters), a strange river rising from the mountain range of Tiriraupenga at an elevation of 2400 feet. Between winding cliff's 100 feet below, it is lost to sight in tunnels up to a mile long. Down to an elevation of 1000 feet a party crossed a curious bridge of natural construction which the guides said was named Te Arawhata o te Atua (The Bridge of a God). Coming to a dead end beside the river at dusk, the Maori guides jumped off and pitched the tent, to await the daylight for crossing. Left with nothing but a few pounds of flour for food, and hungry, the intelligent Maoris solved the: problem in an ingenious way undreamed by any pekahas. First a fire of glowing embers, then a pannikan of flour and water rolled in the palms to a plastic dough a foot long. Twisting this round a stick in spiral form it was stuck in the ground near the fire and toasted brown and crisp. Sleeping soundly, the party awoke at dawn still hungry, but no flour. Here again, the Maoris came to the rescue urging all to fill up with about a quart of water. After a soaking when swimming the dangerous river. we reached the Pa at noon, and as the Maoris remarked. “Ate like cows."