MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

KIA ORA KOE. (Recorded by J.H S.. of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age "Health unto thee and ever prosperous days. May life’s best treasures be with thee always." That is Hare Hongi s poetic definition of the Maori greeting. Emotion and cordial friendship were the outstanding features of these meetings. Men and women pressed their noses together. and in a long low whine amidst flowing tears they recited only mutually interesting occurrences since their last meeting. When the two were rela . lives or had been apart for a long time the upswing. talking and crying might continue for half an hour or more. If i the meeting was of casual aequMn- i lances. it was just nose to nose and i away in a silent greeting. A parting' was not attended by any outward dis-: May and was treated with an appar-| . ntly assumed indifference, This greeting called Hongs 'smell-1 ng» like the ancient Eastern custom of ating : alt was intended and actually did destroy the hostility between mnal or tribal enemies. The Hongi was peculiar to the Maori No other race uspd it. The ancient Greeks pressed their chins together, ■The Turks pressed foreheads. the j Meers kiss beards, the Arabs kiss the ’.’.-.•men's eyes The Maoris never kiss-1 •>i. Shaking hands is now taking the I place of the Hong:. Chiefs coming as visitors to a Pa j are welcomed with the waving of j mats and a sweet chorus in unison I ■.hie Welcome O stranger from be- ! vend th. sky Welcome O Welcome from on high Tito host meets the guests in the ■ Marae icoiirt yardi with a Hongi and; food i.s served m small mats of green i .I.s.X It i.” Ma"r: etiquette that hosts ( :md guests may mil eat mgethe: until! :(!<•■ cveral days' r« kitmnship.