MAORI GUILE
A storv of Maori shrewdness comes from Tirau. On Guy Fawkes' night this month there were two parties of Maoris near Tirau, with bonfires within a short distance of each other. While one party was in work and able to purchase the fireworks, the other Maoris had no employment, and keenly felt the absence of explosives and their consequent inferiority. Xot to be outdone, and with true Maori guile, several manufactured some flax whips and brouglit them to the bonfire. The fireworks at the other fire commenced with much show, and to the astonishment, of those who were there lights and explosions indicated that somehow fireworks had been obtained by the unfinancial camp. The evening and fireworks passed at tlie one bonfire, and still the celebrations were continued at the other. The puzzled Maoris decided to investigate at this stage, and found that their fellows were enthusiastically hurling lighted sticks into the air, the meanwhile cracking the flax whips in imitation of explosives.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 20
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165MAORI GUILE Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 20
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