The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-23
MAORI MYTHS.
Queer and Interesting Traditions OF Ne
Zealand Natives.


field for investigation presents itself
than is found among the native races of
New Zealand. No other of the savage
races, it is believed have so interesting
a mythology nor so many old traditions
as have these man-eaters of that far
away land 1t is said of them, too, that
they, more than any others of mankind,
have preserved their mythology and
their traditions handed down for count
less generations to the present time,
and which still exert powerful influ-
ence on their national life and customs.
When it is remembered that they are
n race of savages in the broadest sense
of the word, these facts only lend addi-
tional interest to the study of them as
people. Among their traditions, or
rather a part of their mythology, is
found the interesting story accounting
for the origin of man-eating, and, of
course, explaining to their satisfaction
at least why it is still a national GUS
tom. The story, substan tally, is as
follows:
Many, many, hundreds of years ago
there lived a chief named Rau-Riki,
meaning gather the small ones, who
was the Cain of their race; that is, he
was the first to commit the awful crime
of murder. His victim was a fellow
chief named Hotua, which being inter
preted means eager desire for God.
Rau-Riki was envious of Hotua on
account of his being handsome, manly
sort of fellow, and therefore a great
favorite among the women of the tribe;
10 craf rid e nd for
midable rival, he killed him. When
! the news of his violent death reached
his relatives they were, of course, very
angry; and 50 soon as they had recov-
cred from the shock of the first murder
that had ever been committed among
them they resolved upon revenge and
satisfaction for so heinous a crime. Ac-
cordingly they repeated their incanta-
tions to their gods, Mata and Rongo,
and then, dipping their fingers in the
blood of Hotua, held their hands toward
heaven, imploring the aid of their de-
tiles. Then they pointed with their
| fingers to the thousands below AfteI'
| this they took some of the clotted blood
| of Hotua in their left hands, and with
them pointed to the sky, and then again
| pointed below with each movement re-
peating their incantations and naming
each god of the heavens and all those
below; also the names of all the heroes
above and below They repeated the
incarnation of Life" and of the "Origin
of All Kings" This done they were
ready to carry out their purposes of re-
venge. They now marched in body
| . - o.,
and killed him and ate his body. After
ward they repeated the grand incanta-
| tions of the Ika-nui-a-tahua (the slain
offering) and Te-unni-tiSia (the burnt
Offering adorned with feathers). These
last two were repeated in the sacred
place. Retiring thence they presented
the heart of the slain to the high priest,
and not until he had eaten it could the
army partake Of ordinary food.
Il From this it will be seen that the awful
crime of eating human flesh had its or
igin in what they believe to be mans
first murder. Going further, however
into this first recorded act of cannibal.
ism, the tradition tells us that after
Rau-Ril1i was slain his blood was drunk
by the high priest while it was still
warm. His enemies then took his head
and had it cured in the following man
ner: First the brains were taken out
and piece of wood placed in each nos
tril, the skin of the neck sewn round q
hoop so that it might not shrink; this
lips were sewn together so that The
teeth should not appear, and it was ther
carefully covered up with grass and
placed on the top of an umu, or camI
oven, and cured His bones were made
into needles TO sew the garments ther
used by the people, some into hooks tC
8 catch fish and some into barbs for bird
& and eel spears The hands were drieC
7 with the fingers bent in toward tht
4 palms and the wrists were tied to pol,
. which was stuck into the ground, an'
D baskets containing the remains of tn
1 meal were hung upon these fingers.
a At this time the god of the rainbov
was personifed by figure carved il
wood and duly adorned in the most fit
ting manner To this deity the wildes
incantations were chanted and the effig,
was held up by the high priest an,
shaken about to the delight of the peo
pie assembled.
The practice of curing the heads o
o their enemies as well as that Of eatinl
b them, is still kept up, and as their be
lief teaches, is thus warranted and mad
binding by the myth we have just re
lated.
K In war the heart of the first one slaiI
In battle is taken out and presente
i. as an Offering to the gods, accompanie
. by prayers for the success of their cause
When party is about TO set out on
war expedition they catch and kill
bird called a ma-tata Swamp wren)
- carefully saving all the blood, and wit
incantations and ceremonies offer tn
body TO the gods and then deposit it i
a sacred place. The blood alone of tn
bird is used in the ceremonies when tn
D offering is made. This being done, tn
=, army returns home dancing and sing
ing and chanting incantations to tn
god of war. Having brought then
selves to a satisfactory condition
,,yfkl,sn 49,