MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 October 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

PREHISTORIC KNOWLEDGE. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) Maoris of every tribe, due to warfare or distance, who had no common interest or communication, had many ideas and ancient lore differing not at all from others. Like ourselves, they believed in many old fables which have been dispelled by modern science. Only half a century ago the obviously absurd subject of controversy entitled “The conflict between Science and Religion” was a universal topic. On the other hand ancient Maori songs (Waiata), laments (Aue), and war songs (pakanga) referred to the world (ao) as floating in boundless space (takiwa rewa) a condition of which we were quite ignorant until revealed by Copernicus. Botanical research has recently revealed to us the presence of male and female ini many fruit bearing plants. The Maoris being more closely associated with berry bearing trees and dependent upon them for their daily food, had long since discovered that the matai, maire, and kahikatea were divided into two “marriageable classes.” The Maori legends of universal flood (waipuke ratou tahi) and volcanic fires (ahi puia) clearly indicate a reference to our ancient theology and geology. Their horror of the harmless tuatara and the wood lizard, indicate a survival of the geological monsters of other far-distant lands and legends. Memories of the dangerous whirlpools in the tropical regions are clearly given in Maori legend and song. A clear knowledge of certain astronomical facts, discovered by us since the improvement in our telescopes, proclaim a mysterious familiarity of the Maori with some ancient science of which we and they have lost all trace.