MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

THE NEW LAND. (Recorded by of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) Emigration to New Zealand in the early days was greatly hindered by the grossly exaggerated reports of cannibal feasts. Originally kai toto (tasting blood) was a purely sacramental act, akin to that of drinking wine. The Maori implicitly believed that if he tasted the blood of a brave enemy he would thus acquire his cardinal virtues. Under stress of starvation, as when they were driven far out to sea, they | would offer blood to the weaker ones who were failing, dying for want of food. Early reports of the practice were grossly exaggerated. In the old Maori umu (earth ovens) the bones of the moa, other birds, rats and shell fish are found, but seldom indeed a human bone. Another cause was the ru (earthquake), which in relative intensity is obviously diminishing. It is confined to the central areas 140 miles north and south of Cook Strait, and caused little concern to the Maori, whose raupo huts were shock-proof. A third objection was the 120 days on the sailing ship, with the relatively "high” cost of £25 for passage money, whilst a trip to America cost only £B. Despite these drawbacks, the reports of sunshine, evergreen forests, the birds, and, best of all, the genuine reports of kindness, honour and hospitality of the real old unspoiled Maori, overcame all obstacles. The relatively clear atmosphere, the cloudless skies, with the Southern Cross and Orion’s Belt, were soothing influences to the new arrivals.