MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI PETS (PUHI). (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) The brief syllables of the Maori tongue ending invariably with one of the five vowel sounds —ah, eh, ee, oh, 00, as we use them, made it easy for their pet bird, the tui, or the children to pronounce. For some subtle reason, yet always with success, the young tui was taught within the peculiar continuous sound of a rapid or a waterfall. The kakariki (small green parrot) was also an apt pupil, but had to be taught in the dark or beside the glowing embers on the floor of the whare moe (bedroom). Certain words and phrases were more easily learned by one or other of these two birds. Keen competitive entertainments between these birds or those owned by rival tribes created wide interest. Birds taught to greet visitors or strangers with apparent sincerity. “Haeremai aku manuhiri Pakeha” (welcome to our white guests) and others, usually the parrots, that learned witticisms often regarded by us as indecent, were highly prized. The karoro (sea gull) and torea, the smaller one, were domesticated, but never known to have learned a word. Of the cluck tribe, the putangitangi (paradise duck) was the only one to accept domestic conditions. They allowed the children to carry them in their arms or dross them in fantastic doll’s clothes with hats and shoes. Their name meant “a tribal cry,” and was used in a concerted call to the drake. I In one brood the chicks generally numbered ten to one drake. Lizards (ngarara) were regarded with superstitious horror, with one exception, the tuatara, which was looked upon as a marvel of nature during its 100 days’ fast in winter.