MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

papa WHAWHAI. i.Reconiwi by J.H.S.. of Palmerston North, for the "Times-Age.”) In England people thought the Maoris fought each other from the same motive as gentlemen hunted foxes, for pleasure. It was really on the principle of honour in which Englishmen fought duels, because :n both, instances they weighed insults rather than honour.

Soon after the arrival of the voyagers from Hawa iki. the Kawhiti Maoris came to Maketu and burned the- Arawa canoe which, having braved all the dangers of the long voyage. had become a sacred shrine. Their motive is not known; but it was the cause of tribal wars for several generations.

Captain Cook found the whole i population living in forts. The name ' “Pa.” which means ”A fortified vil-1 lage.” applied to every Maori township indicates the extent of their fighting habit. The main causes of war were violation of land claims, marriage rights, or I fishing areas. An insult to a Britisher, is fought with lists; but evil deeds or insults were fought against by th<'■ Maori tribes.

Both sides were goaded to a fighting spirit and al! signs, of fear vanished under the excitement of the Ngarahu (war dance). The massed army arranged itself in squatting lines, ten. twenty or forty deep. Suddenly at a shout from the leader every man sprang to his feet, pain (club) quivering in his right hand, elevating his right, leg and right side, then the left. They jumped two feet, brandishing their weapons and cleaving the air. yelling in chorus ending with a long deep sigh. The naked women daubed with red ochre danced wildly facing the ranks.