MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

DEATH. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) Maoris in the late ’seventies who were then apparently very old, when questioned as to their fear of death were apt to indulge in ironic laughter. One old cynic, Kaiaiia, said in reply to such a question: “Your Missionaries ask us to believe two leading features of your religion each of which gives the lie to the other. First, that your God is Peace, Love, and Mercy personified, lyid second, that he produces and maintains an everlasting fire in which those who cannot believe both stories stiffer eternal torture. The best place in the world is beneath its surface, Te Reinga, where our spirit, cleared of all evil by death, goes to join our own beloved ones. What a contrast to your fate!” In a scornful tone he asked: “Where is this fire (ahi) and the charcoal (waro) of the countless millions of bodies?” The approach of the death of a Chief was watched by hundreds of his family and tribe who in the intervals of their absence or rest, left a listener (kai whagarongo) to record his last wish so that it may be implicitly obeyed. At the death of a Chief, his favourite slave (pononga tiaki) would be despatched in secret by an unseen blow of a stone axe on the back of the head, in order to serve him in the under world. All the Chief’s weapons were laid beside him in the grave and were for ever tapu. Mourning women scored their arms, breasts, and faces with sharp shells, and bled freely. His wives in absolute certainty of rejoining him in Te Reinga generally strangled themselves by means of a flax fibre cord and a twitch stick to tighten it.