A MAORI FUNERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3663, 21 November 1890, Page 2

A MAORI FUNERAL.

. TlOLfttflEbPiWa.V ,'; The funeral oflthe' late; Hdria'nd, which took place yesterday afternoon, wns attended by a large number of ' Natives and Europeans of the district. 1 The iwo.hundred orinore of the forraor who followed the hearse, doubtless '■ did so.out of .pure respect for the ! deceased, who was widely known ! throughout the district. The latter,' however, whose numbers were not quite so large, wended- their way to the cemetery more out of curiosity than anything else, Some had actually thought that the Mongolian ceremony would be performod and refreshments' handed round, whilst others imagined that something extraordinary, but of a mysterious character, would transpire. Needless to say, such mourners aB these were doomed to disappointment The vast concourse of dark humanity, the head of eaoh individual of which bore a peculiar wreath of mourning, moral slowly onward towards the gates of the Masterton Cemetery, not a sigh being heard nor a word uttered. On each face was observed mi intense solemnity, characteristic of the most modern civilisation, Arrived at the gates of the burial ground, a halt was made,, the coffin was slowly removed from the hearse, and six warriors bold stood forth and conyeyed it to tho grave. 'Chen could be heard, as it were in the "diatanco, a mourning sound, a silent weeping, and the emotional feelings of many Europeans assembled : were aroused, and many a tear was shed. The voice of an. individual from the centre of the crowd could then be heard, and a European 'with crimson locks and sanctimony written upon his countenance, lifted up his voice in praver, This was no less a personage than a Mormon eldor, through whose ministrations the deceased lady had : died "iu sure and certain hope.' 1 *A ' most affecting'scene followed. The coffin was lowered gently to tho '. grave, and as it reached the earth a bitter wail arose from the lips of the ( bereaved. The grave having been ] |almost_ filled with wreaths,' the officiating elder again strotched forth . bis thin white hands and invoked the divine blessing upon the assemblage, ' and_ with a command to the evil spirits to " dopart," brought to a ' close one of the most impressjye ceremonies ever witnessed in the ( Masterton cemotery, 1