PULLED PATUONE'S HAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume 246, Issue 246, 16 October 1926, Page 13

PULLED PATUONE'S HAIR.

DEATH OF MRS. R. VINCENT. lINK WITH EARLY ~.Z. jjrjBSED BY CHIEF WHO SAW COOK'S SHIP. There has just died at Westerham, Kent Mrs. Richard Vincent, aged 94, who as a baby was in New Zealand, and was dandled by that fine old Maori Patuone, firm friend of the pakeha Armns Heke's -war. Patuone died in 1872, aged over 100 years, and ijeg ' buried in the cemetery on the slopes of Mount Victoria. He was was one of the Ngapuhi Maoris who gaw Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour, at Cape Brett, near the Bay of Islands, in the year 1769, so that until she died last month Mrs. Vincent was a living link with one who could remember a century and a-half ago. Born in 1532, Mrs. \incent was the daughter of Captain Ranulf Dacre, who W as trading in his own ship to New Zealand getting kauri spars for the British Admiralty. Julia Datre, as she was christened, was on board with her fathei and mother while the ship was visiting various inlets round the North Island, searching for suitable kauri, and inducing tbe llaoris to fell it and deliver it at the water's edge. Captain Dacre was the first white man to cross the Kaipara Bar. While the ship was in that harbour the chief who had undertaken to give help in supplying the spars, demanded powder, muskets, and other tM__3. and adopted a menacing attitude. Captain Dacre, who had about 50 men with him, while the tribe of the chief would muster probably 1000 fighting men, began by throwing the chief overboard, and this so impressed the brown man as an instance of bravery that he actually put more men on, got out the . spars in good time, and earned his pay. On one occasion, when down at the Thames, which was a popular place with the early spar-getters, Captain Dacre had a kit sent him from the shore with a message stating that it contained "kai for the rangatira."' When he opened ii be was horrified to find it part of a Maori cooked. Of course, little Julia knew nothing of all these strange experiences of hei father, but she herself was actually concerned in an incident that shows how difficult it must have been for the early traders to avoid infringing some of the rather odd rules of etiquette, or, rather, tapu, in force among the natives. For instance, the head was strictly tapu, and the head of a chief was something peculiarly sacred, hardly to be conceived by a mere taurekareka, or slave. The most horrible curse to hurl at a man was "upoko kohua" (which means "boiled k>ad' ; ). \\ bile Captain Dacre's ship was loading at the Bay of Islands in the year 1833, Patuone frequently went on board, and he often used to pick up the baby and nurse her. One day Julia made a grab at his hair and caught a good hold in her tiny hand. Putting the child down on the deck Patuone got up, called his followers, and packed off to the- shore, terribly outraged. Just imagine the feelings of a Court if a j suitor on being presented to the King siould tug the royal beard instead of kissing the royal hand; Patuone's Court was quite as horrified. There was a great korero, and for three days the tribe debated what reparation sEould be demanded. Most of them were in favour of cutting the vessel off, and having nothing more to do with people who owned such a child. Patuone, who was ever a most reasonable old soul, and was really very fond of children, argued that the baby really knew no better, and must be treated just as they would treat a person who was porangi (mad) and not responsible for what it did; its actions not being regarded as wilfully wrong. This view of the momentous question was eventually adopted by the tribe, and trading with the vessel was resumed. Patuone resumed his visits to the ship, but he never again attempted to handle Julia, and always kept his sacred head well out of tne of her tiny fists. Julia Dacre went to England at an early age and never returned to New Zealand. She married Mr. Richard Vincent, and is survived by two sons anel. one daughter. Right up to the end of her long life she kept all her faculties. }Ir. James Dacre, of the North Shore, is a brother of Mrs. Vincent, and there are also several nephews and nieces of - hers living there. Strangely enough Mr. Dacre, who was born after his sister, and went to England but did not Bee her, and brother and sister never met.