MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1941, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

RANK AND FILE. From ihe prefiix Ngati (offspring) to. ! the p.ame of each tribe, which is the' ' equivalent of the Irish O. and. the: , Scottish Mac. ii is obvious that each., ! tribe was at first one family. • Tribes were divided into six. classes: ' —Arika. Chief or Priest: Taua. succes- i 1 sor. Rangitira. nobleman. Tutua. midi die class. Ware, inferior, Taurekareka, ■ ! slave.

i These classes were not well defined ; and rarely distinguished except as a ■ compliment or an epithet. The term • Ariki should rather bo Pope as it inj dicated both temporal and spiritual ; power. Any change in the first five . was inclined to be downward, rarely upward. Chiefs possessed a dignity of manner and a noble self respect which made dishonour worse than death. Slaves were easily known, not by dress, but as noisy and talkative. Chiefs wore the sons of eldest sons, direct descendants of ancient loaders from Hawa iki (Little Java). Frequently Chiefs had three names, first a net name given by the mother, next by the Tohtmga (priest) and lastly the familv name given at the fathers j death. If there were no male issue ; chieftainship went to the female branch. Great men in war or oratory might attain more influence than chiefs, but such acquired Mana (power) was rarely conferred upon his descendants. 1 Many chiefs believed themselves to be i inspired. Their persons were sacred, ■ but there was no pageantry. ' Shortly before being buried in a land ! slide at Taupo To Heuheu said to a i missionary, "Think not that I am a ! man or that my origin is the earth. _ I 1 am from the heavens and there I will return."