Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-10-23
A Maori birthday Feast.

The following sketch of life among the
Maoris of New Zealand (who it is we'll
known are cognate people with the Ha.
waiians) we copy from the OtogO Witness.
A stroll between daylight and moonlight
through the pleasant Maori grounds-some-
times walking grass, sometimes on
rough, narrow road, sometimes pushing
close under the bush to avoid the soft
places, but always going on--soon brought
us within sight of the little hollow close by
the shore, where the cottages that form the
kaik are scattered.
"Tha-ah, said the wise, trim, old Maori,
our guide, shat house way-ah you see the
lamp is way-ah you are going.
Here we passed quiet horse with two
little boys perched on his bare back; these
young men we're at once exhorted by ma.
dame, the Maori: "Why you boys not say
chez up Neddy, chez wo p"
Our little party was the first to arrive,
fact which the Maori dogs met with a
chorus of angry defiance. Passing what
seemed to be the skeleton of house, we
came to large wood fire, fringed round
with Maori men and boys. After short
delay we were taken into the lighted house,
strong wooden cottage, like one long
room, which was swept and garnished
round about with many small boughs of
the sweet-scented torato, while the rafters
were hung with little lunches of fair, small
twigs of divers kinds, like housewives
punches of sweet herbs. A long table, and
narrow, and covered with fair white
cloth, ran the length of the room at each
end goose, in the centre joint of mutton;
all down the middle between the dishes
were arranged plates of cake and biscuits |;
bottles gaily decorated to hold the candles,
few flowers, understands, bottles of chow
chow but, Maori-hke, no salt. BY every
knife and fork stood cup and saucer, for
our Maoris are sober folk, though gay.
At one end two or three of the chief Maori
men were we'll dressed in the Pakeha gar
ments, while Mrs. Hampstead formerly
Kenawa }, the only daughter of the Nome.
rues, and Amelia, wife of Pukuku, the Ma orr
minister, and some others were seated !;
while old Mrs. Momeru went wandering
round the room with her grandchild on her
back. About halfway up the table, and
facing tie door, stood a tall, active Maori,
in the cleanest Of check shirt sleeves, ready
to help on that side of the table. On our
side, Little Tommy" the younger
son Of the Momeru, was unfailingly attent.
i've and busy waiter on his brother guests.
The tall man, Harry Heaven knows what
his Maori name was), acted rs interpreter,
struggling manfulIy with the English Lam
guagc, and when somebody made Joke
he answered quickly: "You must excuse
met is not my language. After short
prayer and grace-in Maori-the feast be-
gan. Would mixed party Of Pakehas
ever behave with the perfect politenes and
hospitality of the Maori? If ever the
Maoris increase and bold q fragment Of
their own, they will be noted as one of the
most polished people on this side of the
world.
But after the feast the deluge of speeches,
which " Harry wrestled into the best Eng
lish he could command, They amounted
- this: "Welcome to the Pakeha; we
wish You to understand that this feast is
got up by Messer Momeru better known
among the profane Pakehas as Jack Davis)
in memorandum Of the birthday of young
Messer Momeru (aged six or ssven). lam
very glad that Messer Momsru done that,
because it very good. The birthday tell
you what mans life will be (what bis age
isl. Like our Lord, this Good Friday,
too joyful Friday, like the birthday of
our Lord }. more welcome.
Assssr Aomsru. the father, was called