MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1941, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

NATURAL FOODS. (Recorded by J.H.S.. of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.") I The small finger shaped Kumara I several inches long brought from . Hawaiki in the first canoes was con- . verted to a rounder shape and larger i size, but less tasty flavour, by ’the in--1 (reduction of bees which cross-fertil-i ised the small varieties. They were i cultivated with extreme care and proi tected against frost. They were eaten cooked or raw after being soaked in sea water and dried in the sun. They were planted in hillocks of clean soil in straight lines, each one with the seed end pointing towards the rising sun. sea water and dried in the sun. Planted in hillocks of clean soil in straight lines, each one with the seed end pointing towards the rising sun. The planters in ten parallel rows chanted in unison to propitiate the god of cultivation. No sick person or recent mother was permitted to plant. A wooden grotesque figure daubed with Kokowai (red ochre) was placed in each planted field, thus making it sacred. A man. woman or pig trespassing there was killed. Next in importance is the taro, a bulbous root weighing about one pound. Like the kumara it is susceptible to frost and is now replaced by the ordinary potato. The Hue (gourd) is of double use, the pulp as food, and the dried shell as a bottle neck jug was the only natural vessel for holding water. The pith of the Mamaku (fern tree), Hinau and Karaka berries, with the sweet petals of the Kie Kie, were staple foods. The Kie Kie. though one of the most delicious fruits and easily grown in damp soil, is quite neglected. It is a hardy creeper and needs no care or protection. The Karaka is of rapid growth, a 1 beautiful tree with abundant yellow] berries. The outer fruit was freely; eaten by the Maoris. The nut whenl raw is poisonous. but soaked in a I stream and cooked as bread was much; used. The tender tap roots of the Cabbage | tree <Ti or Whanake) were also eaten. 1