A FEAST OF BIRDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2848, 14 October 1890, Page 4

A FEAST OF BIRDS.

" The eminent scientist, IDr Blubber has just given to the world his long-lodking-for work," The Birds of New Zealand,' " announced the London correspondent of a daily paper some days ago. "It is magnificently illustrated in colours and only a limited number have been printed. The work appeared in three vols., beautifully-bound, the price being ten guineas. Excepting a few copies reserved by ths author, the entire publication has already been sold. Her Majesty the Queen has been presented with a copy." At last, thought I, "The Birds of New Zealand," in face of many obstacles, has seen tho light. I meant tho book, for the birds about which it was written had seen the light, many of them, perhaps, long before I met Dr Blubber when he was preparing the material for his work, and our acquaintance was made about the time when one of the obstacles or reverses of which I have spoke occurred.

It was in the month.'of May, some eight of nine years ago—l really forget, the year; but it was about the time when, after some 20 years of isolation, the Kingite Maoris had agreed to break down the the barrier of resefve and mix freely with the Europeans across the border.

To fittingly celebrate the occasion and to formally throw open the King country—that vast tract of beautiful land which extends from the slopes of stately Pirongia and the majestic heights of Maungatautari right through the island to the feet

of Egmont itself—to mark with fitting'cerrmony this great event, King Tawhiao convened what he called his " Great May Meeting,' to be held on the banks of the YVaipa in the royal township of "Whatiwhatihoe. Across the river ancl under the shadow of the great mountain nestled Alexandra, ultima thule of civilisation. Here during the war the British forces had formed their most advanced outposts and built the last redoubt of a line extending from Auckland to the Pinui River. There was—and is now for aught I know—a solitary hotel in the settlement presided over by one Tona Finch—Goldfinch we used to call him, from a desire on his part to always get the cash in advance. Here gathered, at the lirat intimation of the opening of the King Country, the usual herd of vultures who in various ways swoop down on the Maori, endow him with what they call "advantages of civilisation," and by way of compensation nibble up his heritage to the last acre. The land of the King country was supposed to bo of the best, the hills, were rich in gold ; the very finest timber was alleged to exist in the dense forest; coal abounded and the deep forest glades were reputed to be alive with the rarest and most beautiful birds.

"So at Tom Finch's hostelry there lodged land-sharks, goldhunters, speculators, newspaper correspondents, ornithologists; jobbers, lawyers, as varied and representative a lot of the " pioneers of civilisation " as ever gathered under one roof. The accommodation being limited, the lion had to lie down with the lamb and as I was one of latter, the adage was fulfilled in my ease by having to sleep on a gigantic shake-down between an attorney and a Mortnon missionary. We were all there waiting the permission to advance; and it was while so doing that I first made the acquaintance of the author of the " Birds of New Zealand."

"lam going into the bush tomorrow," ho said to me one night; " I'm going to get a few specimens of birds for my collection. As yon Know, I am compiling my second work on the ' Birds of New Zealand,' and as many of our best specimens are dying out, I am naturally anxious to get what I can for my museum as soon as possibly. The Irnsh around Pirnngia. I am told, contains a good representative collection ; and so I'll pilch mv camp there for v. week or IWll." " Alone I. asked. I "radically," he replied, " unless you favour me with your company, if you feci interested iu work like I was delighted with the opportunity. The next morning our camp equipage was packed on a couple of horses ; our guides get ont in front to lead the way ; and bcFore nightfall we pitched our tent in the heart of the forest beside a little brook-let, surrounded by Nature in all her beauty and freshness. The thousand little songsters extended us their warmest greeting; and the mosquitoes gavo us a welcome which, in any other country, must surely bo reserved for royalty.

As the plumage of the biuls had to oe rc-produced on costly plates, and the birds preserved for presentation to (lie colonial and British museums, our first. dnlv was to erect a temporary aviary out ol the material at hand, and this completed, wo went to work in earnest. For days we laboured incessantly, setting snares and trapping our game. Every day added different specimens to our collection ; and the utmost care had (o I": taken that our little prisoners did not destroy each other. The doctor was gratified beyond his fondest anticipations. For over a fortnight wo loil'd together in that wild solitude, di;!i I'lii;?; our weary limbs along through the dense undergrowth, \\ r t:L or drv our work proceeded, At the en.l uf the' second week, when we gazed at our collection, o:r.' ecstasy knew no bound o . All the most beautiful birds for which the island colony was remarkable were represented in our collection. The only thing to be done was to get them to a place of security ; and this was an undertaking which required great care. \Vo ultimately decided to leave our .Maori boy in charge while we went into Alexandra to order cages. Our clothes were, badly lorn, our limb-; scratched and lacerated ~ u;L. cvia-laut exposure to the wet

bush liti'l brought on colds which, in others less strongly constituted, might have terminated in a galloping' consumption.

ft was about this time that King Tawhiao announced his great- birdfeast, to which all the leading Europeans of the colony were invited. Special invitations were sent to the Governor, the Ministry, the Mayors of boroughs, and all athcr functionaries. A special invition was also extended lo T.'r Blubber and myself. We were informed that the Kings cooks had been out on a shooting and trapping expedition in the ' ranges for some days, and that the I bird-feast would bo the grandest ever given in the records of New Zealand royalty. Tho bird-feast, as it was called, was a purely royal institution. Some hundreds of birds of various kinds, mostly pigeons, were plucked and cleaned and then treated to the steaming process know as " Kapa Maori." When done in this fashion, birds, whether carrion or spring chicken, are a dish fit "to lay before a king." The flesh fall from the frame in rich, juicy shreds, and the small bones made a succulent and dainty morsel. On arriving at our hotel we found the invitations awaiting us. As we wished to ingratiate ourselves into the good graces of Tawhiao, we accepted the invitation to the feast without hesitation. The following morning, dressed in our best, we set out in state on two borrowed horses and, with a number of other " distinguished Europeans" made a kind of triumphal entry into the royal township of Whatiwhatihoe. Our way was directed to the Senate-house known as the " Rununga," where we were formally received by his Majesty, who, in compliment to the guests, wore trousers for the occasion. The royal standard (which I subsequently ascertained was the Queen's petticoat) floated in breeze above ) and when I was presented to his Majesty, and made my profoundest bow, I felt that the proudest moment of my life was at hand.

Dinner with Royalty ! My happiness knew no limits. Come death itself, what cared I for the terrors of the next world ! I had attained the acme of happiness in this The bell rang, the korero ceased, and out filed the guests to the birdfeast on the lawn without. I escorted on mv arin the Princess Mere Whatatutu, while the doctor had the extreme honour of bringing along the the fair and graceful Pohaere, neatly attired in a mackintosh and a boxer-hat.

As the Maoris bidden to the feast outnumbered the Europeans by about twenty to one, our operations at the festive board were confined to asquint at the j-avouryheap through the legs of our entertainers. Though we had come prepared with whetted appetites we didn't complain. At last the scramble ended, and the Doctor was called upon to propose the health of the king, who by this time had discarded his trousers for a kind of primitive kilt.

" We have assembled hereto-day," said the little Doctor, inflated as much with his own importance as with the magnitude of the occasion; " we are met here to-day, gentlemen, to do honour to our friend Tawhiao, and to celebrate a great political epoch, tho opening of the Iving country. (Cheers.) His Majesty has provided us with a most excellent feast, which I for one have greatly enjoyed ; and for which I, 011 your behalf, beg to return liitn our most sincere thanks. (Loud cheers.) The dish of which we have this day partaken proves that in the birds of New Zealand, we have not only exquisite beauty but also rare quality and flavour. (Great cheering.) Gentlemen, I givo you ' The King.' " (Loud, and prolonged cheering.) His Majesty was then drunk (quite drunk), and the company, perfectly pleased with itself, proceeded to break up.

" I .say Tui, wliero did you get nil those delicious birds that you cooked for the feast. T asked tin; doctor of an aged Maori ay we wended our way through ilu; royal demesne. " Kapai—Maori plenty of birds."' said the ancient. Any amount in the bush. Maori man get'em plenty of nice fat pigeons, plenty tui, plenty kiwi, plenty weka." "Do you know the place ?" asked the doctor, growing quite agitated with the prospect of another haul.

" Yes, yes"—our ancient knew the very spot. He could bring us there in less than no time. We offered to pay handsomely if he would take us to the place tomorrow. Yes, he was agreeable. He would show the pakeha rangatiras where there was a perfect mine of wealth of the rarest specimens. The following morning Tui kept this appointment. At daybreak we started with all our available snaring paraphernalia and provisions for two days, into the bush we dived ; and on through the semi-darkness we went. Should we never conn; to tho place? At last we halted. The country seemed familiar. The doctor was on pins and needles, eager for work. 11 is eyes twinkled with visions of the bagful which we were to carry away to swell his museum collections and illustrate his book. ! fappy, happy doctor !

Down an open ravine we. dive the horses scarcely able to keep their feet, and on we press over the opposite ridge through the dense undergrowth. At last we strike a beaten track and press quickly forward.

" Why, we're on the old beat!" I ventured to remark as, turning in the saddle, I am confronted with the white faco of the doctor, full of misgivings.

■' I think so," lie replied, with a sickening attempt at a smile. The next minute the guide brought us right in front, of our own aviary, which we had elected with such

pains and tilled with the proceeds of our fortnight's industry. The Maori hoy we had left in charge had deserted ; the wattle-door had been burst open; and not a single feather was to be seer, anywhere. Our fortnight's work had gone for nothing !

" Tliere!" said our guide, pointing liis big black linger at the ruin in front of us ; " Plenty of birds ; any amount." He had the audacity to extend his hand for the reward.

1 tried to smile, but the attempt was a failure ; the doctor coughed and turned axvay ; while the native tilled in the interval with a little musical levity which, under the circumstances, was rank sacrilege.

There was no doubting the fact— it was palpable. The King's cooks in search of material for their feast had stumbled across our collection and had annexed it bodily. But what was more and what was worse, we of all people had helped to eat it and had actually returned thanks for being allowed to do so. " Wasn't it sickoninT J. F. Edgau.