Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03

distanO it was my privilege to fore
gather with the New Zealand abor-
isine at home-to become in effect a
pakeha (white) MAORI
The tribe OF which 1 became a temporary
member was located on a small tributary
of the Waitangi not far from Lake Pu-
kaki. At that time no SPECTATORS hotel
married the beauty of its mountain slopes
or the grandeur of the primeval forests, and
the tourist was unknown.
/ soon discovered that the Maori has but
a very faint conception OF meum ct teum,
for the morning following my arrival L
found piece Of blanket fringe tied round
the stock of my gun and was informed
that il (the gum was tapu. Subsequent
inquiries led to the information that tapu
meant sacred and the fringe sgni1ed that
my weapon was tapu to the chief.
II cost me a vast amount Of labor and
an inferior musket to prove his mistake.
And fortunate was it for me that another
gun was forthcoming, else my chief-one
of the old school-might not only have
taken my superior piece. but my life with
it: aye. and on the quiet made a meal of
me as a tutua-a nobody who would never
be missed. 1 have ample evidence that he
was quite capable of this for not only did
he wear suspended from his neck hand
some carved flute-upon which have often
Iedfd MIN MAKE HloSt iuOuTuIul
made from the bone of defunct enemy,
but / have even better reason. of which
more anon. He was splendidly tattooed
and was ITrayed in a pair of trousers which
had seen better days. / used TO wonder
whether the trousers and the musical In
strumeUt bore any relation one to the other.
The camp consisted of pa (the native
fort necessary 10 eye1 VILLAGE and num-
Der of lodges made rom the native flax
ami PUSHES, measuring about fifteen by ten
feet and four feet or five feet high. The
NNr.t4 4 los hon
one small Opening; and III these lodges
were often to be found much elaborate
carving. But as for me, / slung my ham,
mock in the open under Gods heaven, IN
less tile weather absolutely decreed other
wise.
K *
had not been among them long before /
was witness to TIE curious and revolving
custom. which obtained among the women.
OF cutting and gashng themselves as q,
token of grief at the taking off of reias
tive 1 understand that this rite has ceased
to exist save in rare Instances, when few
perfunctory Scratches may be accorded the
memory of a particular departed; but In
this case l can conscientiously aver it was
a most serious business. the mother of the
deceased being a mass of blood small pool
soaking into the ground at her feet. The
whole ceremony was accompanied with
much weeping and lamentation, though the
Maori can shed copiCus tears on much less
provocation than this, being a most mourn
full and bloodthirsty person.
The next important event of my sojourn
among them was that of forming part of
the audience at a war dance. The occa-
sion was the visit OF friendly tribe coming
with the avowed object of forming an Of
fenslve and defensive alliance, though the
frien Illness appeared at best but AN armed
neutrality, the Sanguinary natore of the
Maori seemingly being Incapable of abSo-
lutte freedom from suspicion.
The visiting tribe approached our village
IN an oblong formation, each mans apparel
being confined to muskets and cartridge
boxes. When they reached about $40 yards
OF the enCampment three of 1.-THE heetest
of our young men prepared TO rush out and
to represent darts: at the same time a
great fire opened upon them from the pa.
the bullets whistling in dangerous proxim-
ity over their heads Through II all the
advancing party marched gravely on, while
the whole of our non-combatiye population
shrieked out the welcome "Haere' mai!
haere maii
Our men formed uo outside the village
in full force. each warrior kneeling with
rnusket sloping. butt on ground At this
point off dashed the three runners. who,
column danced about with horrible
grimaces, flung their reeds, and turned,
pursued by a like number of our guests
the whole company rushing after, still keep
ing their formation with admirable pTecis-
ION. Two OF the runners tpursuer and
pursued outdstanced the rest. the eXcft-
ing race between them being watched amid
tUmultuous uproar. The pursuer gained
upon his opponent. and when within about