The Great Maori Feast at Parawai.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1966, 29 May 1876, Page 2

The Great Maori Feast at Parawai.

Prom ITotss Made on the Ground

OBJECT OF THE FEAST.-LIQUORING

UP AT SHORTLAND. According to promise, I send you a short account of what came under my notice at the Maori feast at Parawai. This feast was given by the Ngatimaru tribe of Kawaeranga, to the Ngatipaoas, in exchange for one given to them at Whakatiwai last year. When it was known that the Ngatipaoas had arrived at the Kauwaeranga Creek, the landing place was crowded with Pakeha and Maori spectators anxious to see the visitors. In the beginning, all was confusion, but soon after this the men and women got on shore, dashing through the crowd like so many red-hot plough-shares. Many of them made straight away for a liquor-up, and instead of rubbing noses with old Taipari and bis party, they rubbed noses with lamp posts and pavements of the streets. THE HAKA AT PARAWAI. Having done ample justice to John Barleycorn, the dusky crowd proceeded in their boats and canoes to Tarawai to th« feasting ground, the party then landed amid the shouts and cries of the men and women; a circle of some exceedingly dicrepid and decaying old women blocked up the road leading to the tents, shaking their hands and and repeating the uhunga tangi, whilst a mob of spicy-looking young women went through the stupid dance-song called " Haka," whioh disfigures and distorts their appearance. Some of these women fancied themselves very beautiful to look on, and all tho young bucks of the place name forward with painted cheeks and feathered heads, laughing and grinning in all the arrogance and assumption of the Maori lover, like so many wild boars down from the bush. Perhaps the most picturesque scene that appeared, was the old Maori warriors, with their mats and blankets hung from their brawny shoulders, while their hand, grasped two mero-mcros, the formidable greenstone weapon used in closo combat. The eyo of the looker-on was more struck with the form of these men, who wrlked up and down the ground with perfect ease, grace, and symmetry. INDECENT DANCES. A number of well-dressed women were to be seen in close and mysterious consultation, and as many as could get the grip of a shilling seized on it to buy rum. When they had taken a drop of the waipiro these women leaped on tho ground, and forced their way through the crowd with an clastic springiness truly surprising, chanting their old Maori ballads, and singing their new love songs in true maori style. One mad-cap fellow who was trying to imitate a pig by crawling all-fours abouttho ground, happened to run full-butt in amongst a lot of young women who were engaged performing the pukana feat, or tho wriggle-dance, so often used by the men and women at these feasts, and so celebrated for its coarseness and involutions of tho body; in executing thewriggledanco the Maori women aro ignorant of the common rules of decency, stripping themselves of all their clothes down to the waist. FLAGS COVERED WITH BANKNOTES. When the feast was properly opened, a gang of women came with high hats profusely trimmed with ribbon of different colours, wearing flounced skirts and black dresses, headed by Big Emma carrying a greenstone mere-mere, Margaret and Keritalianga with flags in their hands covered with banknotes sewn to the flags. It is said theso amounted to £200, and were given by Rapana and Taipari to the feast. The women cried out in loud voices as they came along the road, "This is the gift of Ngatimaru to Ngatipaoa," waving the flags in the air that all might clearly see. A crowd of people ran to welcome the fair women with the flags, when they made their appearance before the Ngatipaoas. This was the sign that all restrictions would be immediately withdrawn ; here the half of the grog and eatables were then re-opened to the visitors. It appears that attempts were made to stop the drinking by old Taipari. It was a bona fide performance on his part, but I am sorry to say that the demeanour and hardened carelessness which characterised the conduct of the mob throughout the meeting, led to much disorder and Britishlike conduct. Old Rapana was called the " Governor of the Feast and the head banker of Shortland." In astonishment, the Ngatipaoas beheld the showers of money, and tho packs of food of different kinds standing in compact rows completely occupying the ground. They said there was never such a feast of money and food given before. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRINK. Some of the old men in their speeches said that the sale of spirits should be put down at Shortland. This question was left for the law-makera and law-breakers to consider. Mrs Hoterene said, "It is true I at one time drank. I experienced the evil of it, and gave it up in consequence." The head chiefs*, in their speeches said, let no time be lost if you meet here to-day to talk over our land matters ; let our desire be con- [ firmed by all the Maoris present. ' The Nga- ' tipaoas, Ngatimarus, and Ngatiwhanangas, and all the other tribes of Hauraki, should agree to put Mackay in position as manager of native affairs. He is the proper person to answer for us. We should devote our whole energies to the business henceforth. The old chief Nopehea said : The Ngatimaru had plenty of land ; it was nearly all bush land on the hills. Although hilly land it had turned out rich with gold. Many old friends had gone to the world of spirits. Papana holds the cards now, and is compared to a cat watching ootside a hole to catoh a rat, because he devotes his whole energies to getting the money for his miners' rights. The love of money is the root of all evil. Among the Maories it is true that love of gain is greater than virtue. They believe there is no security in the laws, which arejno sooner made than broken. COST OF THESE FEASTS.—THE GOVERNMENT PAY THE PIPER. A native feast is the scene of a wild revel. Hundreds of pounds are spent in keeping this custom up to the point. I was told that upwards of £800 had been spent in getting up the feast at Parawai. The Ngatipaoa's intend to give a return feast in a month or two, to the Ngatitnaru's, and preparations

are now being made to raise the wind. In 1 all probability a hole will be made in the , Government chest, and immediately plugged up and covered with Maori land on the top of some barren hill, some dense forest, or sickly swamp unfit for use. It is evident now that if many more Maori feasts of this extravagant style are given, the natives will, ere many years, become nothing more than a lot of beggars in their own dear country. IMMORALITY OF MAORI PREACHERS. The cloak of religion covers a multitude of sins. Though many of the natives go to church, repeat prayers, and sing psalms, few really understand the doctrinesthey profess, many of the Maori Missionaries lead very loose lives,, and ignorance is very largely caused by these Maori preachers, or native teachers, who allow all kinds of rude and licentious practices to go on in their villages, and to shun the light of day as much as possible. I'hey do not Appear to cultivate the useful arts of civilization among their fellow-countrymen. When I went to Shortland, I expected to find that these native teachers had sufficient influence at their different Maori Mission Stations, to prevent the use of intoxicating drinks amongst their people, and that the natives had derived from the presence of their native teachers benefits pronortionftte to the vast sums that aft. raised for them, but in this expectation I was woefully deceived at Shortland. There is a cloud gathering over thesej^sort of Maori preachers, which may probably grow into a storm. Shortly after the feast at Parawai was over, there _ was to be seen a dissolute mob, increasing in vice. Alas, what a change took place. Maori songs of national lore, were sung in the open streets by the balf-drunken men and women, who went about the streets from one grog-shop to another, and got their nobblers at all hours sf the night, Indeed, it can scarcely be said th_.t Shortland is ever really quiet; silence even in the middle of the night is occasionally broken by the thumping and beating of drunken men or women, who wander through the streets singing aloud, and clapping their breasts. What is still worse, these Maori preachers, instead of being the friends of law, are to be found worming their way in disguise, through the maze of iniquity, which is carried to the highest perfection, at Shortland even. THE OBJECTS OF A FEAST. It is well known to those who understand the real meaning of a native "Hakare," that the primary requisite is feeding and cramming. So it was in the olden times. Now you may see singing men, and singing-women, well dressed, even the aged women shewing their figures to perfection, by stuffing and cushioning their hair, and swelling their heads out to a large size. I have heard that upwards of fifty pairs of hiph-heeled boots were bought by the native ladies who were the food carriers at the Parawai feast. As these women placed the kits of food before the visitors, the exploits of the single and married caused raptures of laughter and admiration.