MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1941, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

WEAPONS. (Recorded by of Palmerston North, for the "Times-Age.",i i . Hand-to-hand fighting enabled one man on either side to keep an accurate debit and credit record by means of a notched stick, and as each side reached a multiple of the sacred number seven (whitu), peace was deemed possible. Neutral tribesmen passed safely through both camps and proclaimed the wish of either side for peace (marie). A peacemaker (takawaenga) was generally an aged man. whose qualifications for the position was eloquence and friendship with both parties. The emblem of his office was obviously of ancient origin, the branch of a tree. .After long discussion peace ended in an all round feast. Before we brought guns which they appropriately named "Pu.” they had few weapons for distant fighting. The sling iPore) was like a whip with a four feet long handle, and the whip part made of dressed flax cord, two feet, This was used to throw stones, red hot or cold, up to 250 yards. Tho .hot stones caused fires. Light spears with barbed points made of enemies' bones were thrown with the pere from high elevated platforms. Spears of the heart of white pine, (kahikatea) hardened and made light by fire, were 14 feet long, thrown from the hip level with deadly precision; impaled its victim, protruding at both; sides. The hoeroa (Jong paddle) made of a ; whale's rib. four feet long, two inches! wide, was heavy and solid. Being! scarce, a cord was tied at one end. Its! curved shape made it difficult to ward ot! its stroke. Bows and arrows though’ not un- 1 known, were not used for fighting. Shields of closely woven thick mats! of dressed flax were worn to protect; the loins and body.