SWALLOWED UP

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5001, 16 October 1918, Page 5

SWALLOWED UP

MAORI ARMY’S FATEFUL MARCH. . finale to a family feud. THRILLING STORY OF OLDEN NATIVE TIMES. ' (By Onlooker.) In the history of the European nations n, u on record that many an expedition—some 0 f a military, ‘ and others merely of an exploratory character—has set out lor a new field of jonque.st and met an unknown fate. ■ 1 m 'L v .also have been similar episodes in, tue early national life of most of tne Native races. .Maori ' tiadition at ad events contains examples or overwhelming disasters uJueh have befallen adventurous .quints, but, maybe , none is more thrilling Jian a story which on one occasion, was unfolded before a Native Land Court which was holding a sitting m the Hot Lake-, district * under the presidency 0 f H; s Honor -Judge Rawson. THE PATCHED-UP PEACE.

It happened that at the time of the legendary incident— and the date of the occurrence is set as far ba.-fik as the year 1600—that intertribal warfare was fairly general in. New Zealand. Born warriors, the early Natives could not long remain at peace and. in the intervals when a tribe was not engaged fighting for its own territory—and existence—it engaged in a raid on one of its nearest neighbors. On one occasion it appears that a tribe made war on an adjacent Native community and after a most sanguinary struggle occupied a great portion of its weaker opponents’ lands. An armistice was then arranged, and, as not unfrequently happened in the case of an intertribal contest, peace was patched up by a marriage, the parties in the in-

stance under consideration being a son of the partly conquered chief and a daughter of the victorious tribal head.

A RIFT IN THE LUTE. All went well (so the legend runs) for a year or so after the conclusion of hostilities. In the meantime a son was born to the young couj.de and outwardly they appeared to be on tlie best of terms. But one day the young wife gathered up her infant and fled back to her people., Tiie story she bad to tell was one of utmost unhappiness. Her husband had insulted her in a way which suggested that he considered' her. of much lower degree than himself.. It was decided that the insult .should he avenged, for it was felt that a, reflection had been east on ,aii her people as well as upon herself. In accordance with unwritten law her brother went forth , and slew the transgressor and the incident came to he regarded as closed. THE CALL OF THE BLOOD. The infant grew into childhood and. then into boy-hood, -beiore ho learned of the fate of Ins rather. Everything possible had been done t-o keep" him In blissful ignorance of the tragedy. But one day whilst he was our fishing with the uncle who had slain his father he annoyed him bv splashing some water upon ,him. The irritable foster parent retaliated by decrying the lad. adding tautnothing better could bg expected or him seeing that his father, had -mud to pay with his life for having grievously insulted his mother. , In turn the youth fled home, and interrogated liis mother, who at last most )-- luctantlv had to confess tnat what he had been told was only too true. As was only natural the' spirit oi revenge cried aloud in the pad s ~y-d and he took counsel of another ot ins uncles. The upshot was, of that lie found that he was in none r bound to avenge his father s Ucaui. But he was only a slim youth ,and the uncle who had rot-bod him or m,* father was both big and robust and,, what was more, feared because of his skill in the use of arms. AVENGED!

The humiliated lad had no alternative hut to set to work to ;.'-u>ter the art of warfare. For four yea; 9 he remained at his task, his tutor being the uncle under whose tiiatc-xc-d roof he had now taken up ills abode. Then the day came round when ::e felt that he could carry out ins seuimpoied mission. He called his xmsfolk together and, although it was a very painful decision that they na-i to make, they bade him go and co his duly. The struggle which ensued was both lengthy and gory. ymr in the end the lad. like David or B.ulical fame, brought into operation measures which resulted in sw.it death to his Goliath-like adversary. But now he feared that- he. ::i turn, might be attacked and, for a true, he kept well out of harm s way. THE MARCH TO OBLIVION.

The next that is heard of the youthful Native hero is that he has rejoined his tribal folk. He nas dreamed of successful military leadership. of great victories and or remarkable- conquests. Around him stand many adventurous youths who listen eagerly to his plans. He nas no difficultv in gathering together a small army. How many were or , ms party can only be conjectured, out tradition puts the number uoyn at. about 200. The expedition ns ntted. out * its members take ah, affectionate ’farewell of their relatives., ana in full battle array the baud pt nappy warriors journeys south. A i.a: cocaine of this Native army is a groatmysterv. for no trace of it v t,v * found." and it can only bo supposed that its fate was immediate ana c - pi etc annihilation. ,