MAORI CHIVALRY AND COURAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 286, 3 December 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAORI CHIVALRY AND COURAGE

In the western piirt of the Ohinemutu native town near the t'tuhina, which flow* in a gla«n dear stream Into Rotortm lake, there i•< nri artistic mecting-hoime witli tho name "Tunohopu" pnint<'il on it. The posts and •lalm in the house front are all earved, and the interior is bright with painted wroil patterns and other artcrai't. work of tin- Maori. This is the social hull of the small clan of t lie Armva tribe culled Ngati Tilnolio pu, after (In- principal ancestor of I lie «• ii l> t lilie. It i» a pretty part of Hoturiia, this resident iul (|iiarter Ixil'dei nig the I'tilhina. 'there are guldens nf flowem and cultivated plots of [Nilatin* and kninara; the ■ leiim eni Is of Nature's cooking • prilign rise in the Imckyards. Nearly e\ery home here hns its convenient tame "pnin," ipiite near t lie tnin«lueent liwr, where t lie trout swim ln/.ily or lie basking, lieadn lipHi rea in, The trihiil name Tiinoliopn inantory In itself, for it preser\ es the memory of the ancestor from whom the clan I iikes its title, and of his warrior deeds. Hut hid bravest act was an exploit not of war hilt of peace, a lit lie epic of heroism and devotion related to me by his descendant, the late chief and wine man Tana Tutanekal Haerehuka. The period of the story was about, 2."»0 yearn ago, as calculated from the family pedigree recited by the narrator of the tradition.

8y.... James Cowan.

Tho principal home of Tnnohopu ■ n<l hi* people wmm Kuwait* Point, that gr«M«n heHdlnnd, flat-topped and sloping down to a rooky point about a niilo to tli* west of Ohinemutu. Thorn w»» a fortified pa on the hilltop, but the rhiof of hi* family and their servants or slavea usually lived in a fliiiull fenced village on the shore of the lake near the point. Invaatoa. •Tiwt before dawn one morning the Bleeping kiting* waa attacked toy a band of enemies, a small body of raiders from Taitpo. These warriors hurst in and killed somo of the people before they had time to seize their weapons or launch a canoe to m«ape. There were very few men in the village, most of the tribesfolk had gone across to Mokoia bland to attend some ctremogial gathering there.

A Tradition Of Old Rotorua

The chief, Tiiriohopu. darted out of hin ho line at I lie first alarm, calling to his family to escape with him. With his spear he ran one of the attackers through the body. Then he snatched up two of the children, ami with his wives and the elder children lie rushed into the nha 1 low water and sheltered among the rock s. In the Cave of Refuge. Then, remembering' that there \va* a shallow cine >■ t the point, of which they could hide, he cautiously led the little party into it. The cave entr: nee was well screened with btlnhen and ferns. As the family crouched there in its rocky shelter, listening to the shoiitn of the invaders who looted the village and then set lire to the thatched huts—they discovered that one of the children was missing. This was a little hoy, the yonngent child, whone name was Tai opertia. He had been lost in the confusion and the darknesn, anil was either dead or a captive. The Tanpo men, after doing all the damage they could, departed as quickly as they had pome. The Mokoia people, on seeing the flames and nmoke of the burning village, manned their canoes and came dashing across the lake to the rescue. They purnued the invader* and overtook their rearguard, several of whom were killed. The Stolra Child. But most of the raiders ran clear of the chase; ami they carried with them, a« a trophy of the invasion, the little boy Tai. He was slung in a flax banket and carried on a man's hack, a« the captive of the chief of the war party, whose nam# was Tama-mutu. For a long time the Kawaha family mourned the missing child as dead. But at laat Tnnohopu heard that Tai wan alive, and was well treated by Tama-mutu at his Taupo home. The father resolved to recover his little "potiki," as the youngest child in a family was termed. To have rained a war party and marched down to the Taupo tribe's courvtry would have euited him well en»ugh, but it would hardly a««ist him t<» recover the boy. So he reoolved to go alone and appeal to the captors for his child. They might kill him, of course; still, it was the only way that seemed likely to save the boy from being adopted into the enemy tribe, or perhajm being treated a« a slave.

The Adventure Of Little Tai.

The Father's Expedition. So. in the year following the iuva- ! siou tln* chief of Kawaha set off all alone f< »r Taupo. After a journey of more than (><> mile*, over the rough tracks through fern and manuka and forest. ami swimming the rivers, lie reached the village on the north-west *i<le of Lake Taii|>o, where iainamnt u lived. Before entering the open ground around it he cautiously reconnoitred it from th?> hughes. Presently he kiw a Miiall boy outride the palisade. He asked him, '"Where is Tama-mutu's house?"' Ilie l>oy directed him to a large curved house in the middle of the pa. Tunohopu thereupon walked boldly into the pa ami without hesitation entered Ilie chief's house. It was like walking into the lion's den. for the two tribe* were still enemies. Tama-mutu recognised his visitor, whom he had seen in the days of jieace. He was amazed at Tunoliopu's daring and audacity in thus venturing alone into the midst of hi* enemies. He greeted his visitor with the ceremonious politeness of the Maori rangatira. Tunohopu told him why he had journeyed there from Kotorua. He longed for his captive child and had come to recover him or die. The Generous Chief of Taupo. Tama-mutu gazed fixedly a<t hie visitor for some time before replying. His chivalrous warrior soul was greatly touched liy thin act of fatherly devotion. At last he replied: "You shall have your son. But first the tribe must sec you and hear all about it." It was near evening and Tamamutu said he would presently announce the Kotorua chief's presence to the people. "And now," he said, "you must adorn yourself and attire yourself in fine garments and throw aside the rough one** which you wore on your long journey from Kotorua. ~»r I wish you to look noble and chieftainlike before your enemies." So Tuno'.opii laid aside hi« tattered flax mats, and dressed and oiled his hair, and placed in it tail feathers of the huia, presented to him by Tamamutu; he girded himself with a finelywoven soft flax kilt, and over his shoulders he put a beautifullybordered white cloak of the same material, all gifts from his "fighting friend." And then, at his host's request, he stood at the doorway of the house, looking out on the village square, with his taiaha or sj»ear staff in his hand.

Tama-mutu now walked out on to the marae—the parade ground —and cried in & loud voice: "He taua e! He taua el" ("A war party! A war party!") The shout raised a great commotion in the pa. Men seized their *pear 9 and clubs and ran to the various gateways of the pa to look for the supposed enemy. Xo sooner had they had time to gaze around and wonder where the invaders could he than Tama-nmtu, having quickly climbed to the roof of his house, shouted to the mystified people. "A war-party has entered the pa! Here it is, within the house!" In amazement the tribe crowded to the front of the chief's house. There they saw their old enemy, J iiiioliopH standing at the entrance, a noble figure in beautiful garments, hi* taialia in his hand. Many a warrior would have given battle to the intruder, but lie was their chief's guest. and within the shelter of the sacred threshold. The house was soon filled with tribespeople, eager to have their chief's explanation of Tunohopu's unexpected presence there. Tama-mutu addressed the excited assemblage. He told his tribe of Tunohopu's love and grief for his child, wid of his lonely and perilous journey to recover his "potiki." When he had ended exclamations of wonder and of admiration burst from the people. Tai Restored to his Father. Thus Tama-mutu said to his family: "Hring in Tunohopu's son, that he may have his beloved youngest child again." The little boy, Tai-operna, was brought into the house and restored to the father, who pressed his nose to the child's and wept over him, and chanted a song of salutation and of joy., Xow peace was made between the two tribes. The Taupo chief and his leading men declared that there would be an end of anger and strife. Tunoliopu, in return, said he was filled with gratitude and love for his former enemies, who were now his friends, because of the recovery of his child who was lost, but now was found. The visiting chief remained there for many days, an honoured guest; he was feasted, and many gifts were bestowed upon him. When lie left for his home again a retinue of bearers accompanied him to carry loads of preserved birds, potted in bark cases, and other foods of Taupo, a« presents for the |>eople at Kawaha. 80 happily ended Tunohopu's great adventure. The story, as dramatically told to me many a year ago, on green Kawaha hill looking down towards the historic lakeside and the rocks of refuge, is a perfect picture of ancient Maori life and manners. The courageous devotion and love which prompted Tunohopu's journey into the camp of his enemies were beautifully rewarded by the chivalry of Tama-mutu and liis triiie, and the lasting peace that followed the restoration of the little prisoner of war.