THE TOHUNGA'S WARNING

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3181, 12 November 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE TOHUNGA'S WARNING

[all rights resf.rvkd.] The incident .which forms the groundwork of this poem happened on the East Coast early in the year 1867, Hauhaoism —a strange mixture of Jewish theology and the ancient, superstitions of the Maori race—having nt that time spread over the " King Country" like wildfire. King Tawhiao himself, being the head of the church, was supposed to be in direct

communication with God, by whom he was endowed with the most miraculous power. Tβ Ataiti, one of several priests or prophets whose supernatural powers were almost equal to those possessed by Tiiwhiao, professed to have among other wonderful gifts, that of foresight and to be able to tell who would be killed in battle. Upon the eve of au engagement it was customary for these priests to muster those niO3t likely to take part in it, and having subjected them to certain mysterious rites, including confession and baptism by immersion, to select those whom they considered pure enough to fight the battles of God, whose chosen people they claimed to be. The warriors thus selected wero believed to be invulnerable, and, under certain circumstances, invisible also. When, as it invariably happened, some of these misguided people were killed or wounded, the crafty priest would exclaim: "Ah! they concealed some of their sins from me —they deceived me; and God has punished them for their deceit." Tuhi. the hero of the story, was a war chief who had little faith in the alleged powers of the priests, and on this occasion insisted upon joining the war party though his services had been rejected. Having tried in vain to alter his determination, the priest finally prophesied that if he persisted in going he would be slain by the first shot fired by their European foes —a prophecy which, by a most remarkable coincidence, was literally fulfilled, the result being that the manaol Te Ataiti became greater than ever. THE TOHUNGA-'S •WARNING. The first glowing rays of the sun were just gilding. The red rafca blossoms that crown the rough range, When, in tones reverential, the Hauhaus were chanting Rude prayers and hymns awe-inspiring ami strange. Never yet, thro' the aisles of the proudest cathedral, By the genius exalted of Angelo planned, Has pealed the deep strains of a inusiu more thrilling, More richly harmonious, more majestically grand, Than rang on that morn through the untrodden ranges, And in rich volumes floated away through the air ; You may scoff at the Hauhaus, but they were in earnest, And tho' rudo wa* their worship, sincere was their prayer And firm their belief that their God would assist them, Their God—the stern Jewish Jehovah of oldVVitb Him on their side, what fob could resist them ? How they prayed tj be guided eafe into His fold. How strange were the visions, by dreamers recounted To the seers, the dream-readers, the prophets and priests ; A mystical medley of dreamland illusions, Of devils, of angels, of men and strange beasts. There epeaks one who's dreamt that a bright angel mounted On a wondrous white war-borse with nostrils aflame, His long golden locks streaming over wings folded, Borne aloft in his right hand as onwards he came A great shining sword, ever flaming and flashing, In pursuit of the legions of darkness and crime, Who fly on before him, with shrieks, terror-stricken, For they daro not resist one so great, so sublime. How madly the demrms career on before him ! O'er mountain and valley like whirlwinds they flee, Until, 'midst the loud notes of trumpets triumphant, They're engulphed in the waves of a great stormy sea. " Good is your droam, and wondrous your words are; The angel you saw was the mighty Messiah u Who, clad in his glory, comes strong and resistless, To deliver his people with sword and with tire. Pure let your lives be, and constant your prayers, The Lord, in his jwn time, will strengthen your hands And then shall ye Rweep ovary foe from our island, And recover once more your great ancestors' lands. Such, O the tribes, is the great dream's real meaning, iiisten ! 0 listen ! the tribes unto me, Sin not! but pray always—the Messiah is coming To sweep the vile Pakeba into the sea ! " So spake the dream reader, a solemn chant ending, His speech which had held all enthralled in it* spell, Then, ringing aloud thro' the silence oppressive. Came the deep, solemn tones of the runanga(l)bell.

From the ground then arose these rude children of Nature, Each head bending down, a? with reverent troad, They follow the high priest, the great Ataiti, While the way to the tall sacred niu (2) he led. • Cleaving skywards, its tall tapering pinnacle dwarfing The loftiest limbs of the great forest trees,

Its flazs, bearing strange and mysterious devices, Slowly spread their broad folds in the soft summer breeze. Round and round the great staff, now chanting, now praying, In slow, solemn circles the slem Hauhaus wheel; Jlow earnest their prayers, how pathetic " their hymns are, To the mighty Jehovah to whom they appeal! Now down the side of a ravine, steep and rugged, To a clear mountain stream dashing swiftly along, Still led by the High Priest descend the grim warriors— Their faith in his magical powers, great and strong.

Then they line the steep banks of the bright sparkling waters, Presenting a spectacle stranze to behold ; At a sign from the priest plunging into the river, Whose waters, like those of famed Jordan they're told, Wash away every sin, every stain of the faithful— Thus cleansed they now kneel to the priest and confess, Unto some absolution is granted—and pardon, All these he beseeches Jehovah to bless. To strengthen their artcs in the dark day of battle, To deliver their enemies into their hands ; He then ranges befrre him the purified warriors, Thus dividing hia men into separate bands. Those, standing before him, he says are the chosen, The champions elect of Jehovah the Lord, Who, unseen and unheard, safe through battle will lead them, Unscathed by the bayonet, the bullet or sword.

, But now, from the ranks unregen'rate beI Infill liim, Step 3 forth a stern warrior—gigantic ins frame; Who craves of the priest permission to join them--To share with tho chosen their danger and fume. " Nay, my son, thou art sinful, Jehovah rejects thee — Unfit iis thou art to fight in his cause ; First by patience and faith must thou win his forgiveness, For oft, ir. thy pride, hast chou transgressed His laws." A sceptical smile, proud, haughty, and scornful, Curled Ihe lips of bold Tulii, as thus he replied : " I come of a race that ne'er feared man or devil ! As they lived, T have lived, I will die as they died." "Peace! sinful man lest Te Atua (3) de- . stroy thee, If, unheediug my warning, thou darest to fight, The first shot from the guns of our white foes shall slay thee, And thy spirit descend to the regions of night." " It :s well, O, my father, but your words will not stay me, In the van of the battle by right is my place. And even tho ; death as you say may await me I shall die without fear, as have died all my race." Thus the day before battle's spent chanting and praying, Till sleep hushes all in the dark arms of Night; But with the first ray, of the bright star of morning, " The Twelve " (4) have already set forth for the fight. With them—not of them—like an outcast, stern Tuhi Strides proudly away far in frout of them all He goes to meet death, with mien haughty and fearless, For the high priest hath said that this day he will fall. As they near the long lines of the enemy's outposts, They extend far and wide to the right— to the left— As silent as shadows, creeping stealthily onward, Their way thro, the dark, sombre forest is cleft. Still far in advance, tiger-like, dauntless Tuhi, With soft, noiseless footsteps, slowly creeps on the foe; But hark ! echoing far, thro' the hills rings a rifle, By that bullet unerring, the war chief's laid low. Beneath the deep shade of a beautiful miro (5), For ever at rest lies that wild Maori heart, To the black, gloomy shadows o£ night—to Te Reinga (G). Did his tierce war-like spirit as the priest said depart! Or winging its way, thro' the mist wreaths of morningAscend to the bright glowing regions of light? Who shall say? All wa know is the Tohunga's warning, Confirmed their belief in his magical might. TI'AKANGI. NOTES. 1. Runanga—Assembly. 2. Niu—Sacrel flagstaff, round which the, Haubaus marched while chanting their hymns and prayers. 3. Te Atua—The Lord. 4. The Twblvb (Te knit ma run)— So called after the twelve apostles. 5. Miro (podocarptis flmigi/iia) —A handsome tree, with dark green foliage. 6.—Te Rhinga—Place of departed spirits ; eternal darkness.