A SCENE FROM THE PAST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 255, 21 July 1908, Page 11

A SCENE FROM THE PAST.

(A description of tho Maori Haka, by Apirana T. Ngata.) ■ v. Prologue. We reclt not that thq day is past; That Death' and Wine, vbo Wiicl- Fates, , .Have? torn us' from tlte scones ;wo loved, '. ..And.; brought ,us to; this unknown wprfd, ... - IM ineifrl.ry ling'ring,' all too hazy, Blurred,' uncertain; still they cliarra ua. v ••Afij-ifre.-lovo-' them!.--" language doth, but . ClotHeiiii;,artifice, our passion, . Doth but to tho world proclaim Wo aro traitors to tho past. . Traitors ? , when pur hearts are. beating, - . -"'.'Thrilling stirred by recollections? . ... Present, "Future?Theni iye kilbw pot; : df .us ;:ii6 memories they hold. . .. 'rriiitbrs?;,when our. ears, are ;ringing, : . Filled-with echoes from the dead? Deaf tb all these chords alono Make, ih'cavenly music,- penetrating Souls by \ strangeness long since deadened, Now iiy sympathy, vibrating. ; . . ' Traitors? ' Nay, wo scorn the name! Bigots; blind , fanatic : worshippers, f \ . Idolaters serving things of clay, Call us,: and that naino-were dear ! • , Ori v life's rough stream you'' launched us forth; ■ You thought to buoy us, 1 gave us hope. * Your sturdy oak, our flaxen.bark, ■ ' Your iron-clad, our humblo reed, . Made sorry company, and - ; you; glided, AVell equipped, tho whilst wo 1 troinbleu. Ah, no! your hopo but kills all hope; You crush tho life you wish .to, save. ■ Nav,- rather leave us' with the past; In mom'ry let us wander back, Amul the scenes we loved of yore.- /. There let us roam, untramellcn, tree!- . For: mem'ry, like, the herb, einbalms, ■ Preserves, ehdears : bur'recollectiohs. _ V .'.. .v (The Maraa aiid Hui.) : One dear scene in myi mind's ,oye is floating, Martial,"warlike,-yet graceful5 ' • Stag'd .in meads that-heard-no 'bleating, . Save ! pf.;;savaga at: pl»y.. ■ There .the old,pa stands to-day; .■ Where the 'inountaihi-clad in* koukas, . ; ' Bends';i£ith gentle, slope .arid' fondly Show'rs kisses on the stream. . . _ liippling,": laughing; • winding, moaning, ..Hies:, she Von to join''.the;'- ocean, ' ; Emblem-;of a race that's Speeding - ;' Sidly onwards to oblivion. Day is breaking on that pa; All within is bustle, stir. 'Tis -the ' hour of dedication; 1 • . - Te'.Kawanga, solemn consecration, AVKen ,6ur ovhare. in its : beauty,;. Tukutuiu pukana, ohorirari! . ,- Duly to'the gods in',Heaven ~ ~ ... With olir. war-dance must be given; ■ ; r- ;, ; " '- - . . (The assombly. of the tribes.) ;■ All day -long from far and near, The crowds pour in to_ see and near. Amid this groupr aro chieftaiiis bold, ■ Ebwi.Y.Taonui—names of ■ old. • .; i Ypnder ' Kahunguuu.'.'niere in hand, .- ; Frowning -marshals - forth his. band- - -*. Te A raw a, Tainui mo te -Whakatohea : Whakaata, Taupare, Tuwhakairiora. A-noble'sight th'.intruding band, :. Biit; grander yet unfolds itself, Yonder;-massed, ono sea of forms, - ■<".MMds*with'■Mvar^ , iprs.■dUernatin'g,■ ;:•■■ -Ih'!.the-iyatt : aro maidens loyply, ~ - . , Dressed 111 mats- of finest fibre, ■Cheeks' with takon, gaily liued, pliiiied,;with quills .of • rarest hum. ■ Beyond—but no;" no more'is Been, ' Though hundreds..lie to.shout -Haere mail;, ; V The'maids must first display their graces, •••' Then ivo'll-gaze on .warriors' faces, . . "'-(Maidens' Welcome.)- , Softly aid gently, and chanting most sweetly. Uplift they their welcome, 'Haere,. -mail. : Haere mai!" ... y . . V ■ With knees bent gracefully, - with; slow step and gesture,. .■'■>' , ~ . . As sbft: 'as .tho panther,,yet queenly and . stately/ ■ "'V'.' ''V ' . Hark! npw.,it .is-changing, in'chorus they re ibiding; .i&iMHOitt&j •" ip_-i : .• It wells; and .it rings; -it. bursts forth .tnumIn raSland m gesture, in.-body ; and limb,. t) ' Their welcome is spoken,'. "Naumai! naumai How • mmbly ; tliey- foot.it,; how supple their - bodies; .'- i : ;'■'-■ Ye nymphs and ye naiads, beware of your • laurels! i .': These untutored,'; by Nature - en- ..■. dow.ed, ■ Msiy eliarin yet Apollo, the god of. all Kraoes.; -'V, (Chant., while withdrawing.) - - •' '.'Kih'ei ,'aku' mihi' i: pan atu, : e -hine !'. . ' Rokohanga koe ka . pikauna e! : But now* behold , the.: nymphs- subside,' - The rhythmic motion s' ceased, and'l6! : The - ranks give way, the,, van files off, ; Unfolding terrors .to jbur/vi'evy." . Bows of. warriors, dusky, war-like, Line the t earth and make it bristle; ~/■; . -All:recumbent, silent, 'speechless;. ' ' : , ..-■v Seeming in'-lethafgic'sleep. ,/■ > . .. ; i ■ :■■■',■■.' (The-Men's Welcome.), '. - ~>kAoteafilv's 50ns,' -ye .warriors'-stern,. '.. . ; ... : ; ''Awakel.Vawake! they.'.come! • they ,'coraaj: ye' strang.ersr!.. ; Naumai!,. Nau-. -Respond ye lo the call so feebly, . -. ~ ' ■ Though your • war-paint glows. so- fiercely I' ' ''-Welobrtie ye strangers! Haore'mai! haera mai!".. ■ ■ - - . - Ha! ye sluggards; raise your voices, Up, and stamp. and tread like Maoris! 'tis the haka, powhin, 1 war-dance, "■■■ Fierce and warlike, savage, martial! (The Whakaara.) ■ - Ko' te iwi'.Maori e ngunguru nei! Au, au.' au e ha! ■ ■ - iwi ;Maori-'.e ngunguru. nei!,. Au, au, , au e ha! ■■: : .< .■■ , - , , ..' ■ Ko- riga iwi katoa ra, tau ';tangata' e taoho ai koe,-.Taoho! .. .- .' ,' Ha! your blood is coursing now! " ; Ha! your spirit's roused at last! . '■". Ha! the welcome rings" out, clear! r "Powhiritia atu!" -"Haere mail - Haere /. . , mai!" Heads erect and bodies stately, ■ Proud, imperious, yet be graceful; Arms and limbs, in rhythm moving, , . ; >; ;Mars, Apollo; are reviewing. '' i (Tho grand Powhiri.) - - : "Tena i-whiua!" With motion majestic, their arms now wido • . sweeping, ~, _ ...... : Now circles describing, then to heav'n uplifted,, - v ■ ... , Their bodies'set, firmly,;yet limbs in mid- - air! ' ; "Teria i takahia!" . With-knee joints set loose, With frenzy in gesture, with eye-brows con- - ..tracting, .■ ■ ■ .With eyes glowing fiercely, with ; bounding -'. and leaping! - But; mark, mild Apollo the War-god, is soothing. . .. .. 1 "Powhiritia atu!" "Haere mai! -Haere mai!" ' ' Hail;warriors are.leaping; the ranks they aro 'surging'; , , '-, -.'• - . The War-god'has conquered; the war-cry is raised! :. . . ' t Tis'"sounding," tis swelling, tis roaring, ;tis •thnnd'ring! •''''' - ' ' Ea! Frenzy, thou workestj us blood.', now . . they smell. ■: ■ , . "The battle! the battlo! our taiahas and : meres!" . : ■ Thoy. shout, as they leap;.a madnoss has ■ .seized them., , ..' ? "Tdko lei to tai rangatira!. Tako!' , .PnbtNhed by WhitefimlT? and Tombs, and readby Mr Njs.ta'at the-Maori.'entertainment held in-Wellington .on Wednesday last. •