Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-03-31

clothing and other portable property OF
the deceased leaving them to be de.
stroyed by time, Sometimes when
chief dies all Of his property is burned.
A very peculiar practice Is tho disin-
terment OF the bones OF the dead for
rchurial N a final resting place. This
used to be one Of the most important
ceremonies among the natives. but II Is
now disappearing,
Some time before the ceremony a
notice Is sent around stating that on
a certain day there will Dc 'hahunea,
Of so-and-so's remains. when the rela-
tlyes AID friends are gathered together
the bones OF the defunct are dug up
and tied IN a bundle. IL decay has not
made them clean they arc soraped. An
elaborate performance follows. and
finally one OF the family takes she
bones and deposits them secretly IN
some place known only TO himself,
such as n cave or the top OF tree.
the object being that they may never
he found II is OF the utmost Import
ance that they should not fall into the
hands Of enemies who would desecrate
and ill-use them with jeers and curses.
The skull might be used aa a dish
for food or placed on a stake 10 be
daily revlled. The bones OF the body
might be employed FOR iish hooks OF
dining forks. The reason now Nssigped
for keeping up this strange custom is
fear lest the honeH fall Into the hands
OF Europeans, to be ground up Tor ma
nure.
There was case I knew OF where
a missionary attempted to beautify an
unattraotlve native graveyard BY
planting in Il some mimosa trees Bees.
likewise introduced by him, fed on the
flowers OF the trees, The natives COM
planned. They said that the bees We're
feeding on the flesh OF the dead, in
asmuch as the trees derived their nutri-
mont from the bodies Inferred ia the
ground, The clergyman paying no ut
tention, they cut down the mlmosas.
The missionary was phrcwd man,
and had found It best 10 combat the
aboriginal supertitlons by means OF
stratagem. He distributed among some
Of the natives a portion OF the honey
from his hives. After they had eaten
II and had expressed their approval of
II, he reminded them that It was the
flesh Of the dead, according to their
own theory. They laughed and ac-
knowlcdged their own folly saying that
they would not Interfere with the trees
any more.
mot less extraordinary I'm itt way
than the tabu ia tho 'mmru, This may
be described as a sort OF judicial rob
berry or sequestratlon Of mans goods
because Of some mlsdeed alleged or
something he has said or a misfortune
that has happened to him. Any serl-
ous accident in a persons family is
made an excuse for muru. II his child
dies a violent death, or his conoe cap
Sizes and somebody ie drowned, raid
is made on hts property, Sometimes
everything he possesses Is taken from
him. though nowadays o muru ls usu-
nly limited to his horses ana cattle.
The pIundering party may despoii the
unfortunate family OF all the catables
and other moyables. HparinE the tame
pigs and digging up the root crops.
This sort Of proceeding Is entirely law
full aud regular. Indeed, tho fomily
80 dcspoiled would feel injured II the
muru was not carried cut thoroughly.
However, this peculiar system IS limit
ed and controlled 10 a considerable OK
tent by the fact that man upon
whom muru Is inflicted Is entitled
to the privilege Of returning the com
pliment Thus n a robs d, the latter
may with proprlety take the damage
out Of a by a surprise party IN kind.
"The custom OF muru WAS OF great
assistance 70 the British government
few years ago In carrying tele-
graph line through between Auckland
and Taursnga Many efforts 70 oatnb-
fish communication by wire were rem
derod unavailing BY the opposition OF
tho natives. a man named Mckay
who knew the Maoris well, was en-
ployed as diplomatic agent 1900 stcr'
ling being promiHed TO him " he could
get over the dldiculty. He went 70 th'
onniemrl district, where the troubl'
was, 10 argue the matter with th'
land owners. All Of them positivel,
refused 10 permit the line 70 run
through their property. During th'
conference one chief used an expires
sion that was equivalent TO oursl
on one OF the government officials
Mckay saw his chance al once am
pretended 10 get into a great passion
He told the natives that they ha'
cursed the Official aforesaid and tina
IN payment for the curse It was HI
privilege to nuru them.
.rhe .uuru he would make was 4
take the land that was needed to carr
tho telegraph wires through. II the
wished 10 muru in return. there wa
the store or certain Enlishman q
the neighborhood They might 80 an
nuru that and Mr.. Mckay would hol
himself responsible for the sood
taken. After consultation the native
acknowledged inomselves caught an
/, started on TO muru the store. Mr.. M'
Kay had meanwhile Instructed ~
storckecpsr not to resist The native
seized goods TO tie value OF fie4. wit
: which they were Satisfied McISa
paid the flsl and pocketed the diffei
ence between that and 900 Tho llr
was carried through without furth'
serious opposition, Had Il not bee
I ;