BIG TANGI AT WAAHI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 865, 11 July 1910, Page 11

BIG TANGI AT WAAHI.

PICTURESQUE CEREMONIAL. MOURNING FOR AN OLD CHIEFTAIN. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, July 0. A few days ago tho remains of Parnta To Tuhi, tho old and wellknown chief of tho Ngnti Mahuta, and undo of the present Maori King, arrived at Huntly, whence they had been brought by King Mahuta, Rata, the heir "apparent, and many chiefs from Mangore, where tho deceased had lived latterly. Tho body, which was enclosed in a casket of polished wood with sil-ver-mountings, was taken by launch to tho landing at Waahi, and carried thenco to the Marae. Hero the coffin was laid down until the conclusion of tho weird lament, chanted or sung by tho resident Natives, among whom the fomalo relatives were mado conspicuous by their closely-cropped, hair and tho willow wreaths which encircled their 'The lament and preliminary wailing over the orator of tho assembly stood forth, and in glowing periods traced the descent of tho dead man from the leader of tho canoe in which his torefathers came from Hawaiki. -I" 011 , breaking into verso, ho graphically outlined the heroic deeds of tho departed s ancestors, concluding with an account of the strenuous life of tho chief when, as a warrior, ho took part in a warfare which brought victory and disaster, famo and hardship. Tho speech concluded, tho wailmg broke out anew, and tho raised coffin was carried to the tent set asido tor it The tent was floored with fern and mats, and decorated- with the weapons of days Rone by, as well as with pictures, copies principally of Goldie s ivoll-known one which kept alive tlio fine facoof the deceased, and showed tho delicate tracery of the moko (tattooing) with all its elegant curves and beautiful tcchnio.ue. The coffin was continually watched by relays of mourners, whose copious flow of 'tears Rave evidence, of a sorrow of which the mournful wail that never ceased was tho audible expression. At intervals a male member of tlio tribe would stand in front of the tent, and in a lengthy speech would pay a volublo tribute of respect to the dead. From all parts of tho district natives arrived in largo numbers, the ceremony of welcome being repeated on each occasion with punctilious iteration, tho one deputed boariiiß testimony in chant or song and speech to the virtues of the deceased, and the whole deputation at stated intervals interrupting, with cries of sorrow and lamentation. On Friday Patara's coffin with that of a Native who had died at Waahi early in the week was placed a launch, which, followed by a ? canoes, carried the corpse to- the "royal" burial ground at Taupiri Mountain, where all that was mortal of Patara To Tuhi was laid to rest, closo to tho crave of Tawhiao, the second Kins of tho Maoris.