“TITOKO-WARU”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10096, 8 September 1925, Page 5

“TITOKO-WARU”

WAS HE A CANNIBAL?

DENIAL BY IvIMBELL BENT RECALLED.

A BRAVE FIGHTER AND A GOOD

GENERAL.

“Kawharu” writes:- —“Under the heading “Titoko-Waru,” I recent-v noticed in the Auckland Weekly News an article by “W. 8.” Otorohanga, in which he states that he has 'been asked to settle two questions, viz.: “Was Titoko-Waru, the Taranaki warrior, who fought against us in the latter ’6o’s, a chief?” “Also, was he a cannibal?” To the first question, “W. 8.” gives an emphatic negative, but states that he was a ton. (brave), one who had distinguished himself in war, and further that a tea was a distinction that a slave might acqiiiro and thereby gain a manumission on the spot. “Now, this latter statement 1 must question, as, in ancient days, when a prisoner became a slave he lost his raana (prestige, influence). The gods forsook him and he ceased to _ be a human being. He became subject to the most contemptuous of Maori insults. He was “Toenga kai” (remnant of. the feast). It was useless for him to attempt to escape. 'He was an unlucky person and his own people wanted none of his luck. „He was, in Tacit, virtually non-existent. As regards Titoko-AVaru’s - lack of chieftainship. he was a direct descendant and traced his descent on his Ngatiruamii side from Hoturoa, the commander of the Tainui, canoe. His immediate ancestors were people of infinenco among their tribe, although not on the ariki line of descent.

“In answer to the question—‘Was Titoko-Waru a cannibal?’ ‘W.B..’ depends on the evidence of Pa Vi ram a, one of Titoki-Waru’s bodyguard, who distinctly denies that such was the case. And there is no doubt that Pakirama spoke the truth. I myself lived in close proximity to TitokoWaru for some years and was intimately acquainted with him and also with most of the tekau marua, his bodyguard. The many fights which took place on the Coast often formed the subject of conversation between us, and I must sav that no suspicion of cannibalism having been practised by them ever occurred to my mind. I was also acquainted with many Europeans and Natives who had fought against him and from not a single one did I ever hear such a charge made.

“One writer, in his published work, thought proper to accuse Titoko-Waru and his followers of having engaged in cannibal feasts. He Quotes the fight that took place at Te Ngutu o te Manu and describes it as having been a “forest stockade.” This is wrong: it was simply a. natural clearing in the bush in the centre of which stood a hollow rata tree. It was from this tree that Hunter, Von Tempskv and others met their death in 1869. The writer enlarges on this subject and states that they (Titoko-Waru’s party) indulged,in cnnn’bal feasts and the renewal of human flesh-eating for its own sake ‘because the fat of man was sweet, etc.’ It is a great p'ty that, some writers who pose as authorities on the doings of our fast dispearing Maori friends are not more careful to avoid misleading statements.

“As far as mv inquiries took me. the only case in which the body of a fallen enemy was mutilated was to obtain the heart as a “whangaihau”— an offering to the Gods of War, which was a very ancient custom among the Maoris generally. When Kimbell Bent, a deserter from the Imperial Army, was induced to leave the bush, ] was one of the first two Europeans to interview him. He had been taken and kept a prisoner for years by the Natives, whom he assisted in repairing their guns, etc. During the interview, we enquired most particularly from him as to the truth of the rumors as to cannibalism that were about. He was most emphatic in denying the stories and stated that, during tho years he was held by the Natives, he neither saw nor heard of any such thing having taken place, assuring us, at the same time, that, if anything of the k'nd had taken p’aee, he would not only have known of it. but would have had to participate in anv such feast. “Titoko-Waru was a brave warrior and a good genera- 1 . He fought according to the Maori idea of fair play and never in anv instance did he descend to tho cold-blooded murderous measures adopted by Te Kooti Rikirangi. I would humbly suggest to some of our would-be recorders of Native customs, concerpts, etc., that before publishing their works, they shou’d be more careful to verify their statements. If we are to have a proper record of the doings of our most interesting neighbours for the perusal of future generations, let us at least endeavor to make it as accurate as possible. ‘ . . “According to the most reliable information I can glean, the last cannibal feast on the West Coast took place at Wanganui about 1837 or 1838 when a party of Ngatipubi took the Gospel there. The local NaDves. it seems, became suspic'ous ar.d thought that ’ their visitors intended to Imw'tcb them. So, to relieve their minds of all suspicion, they slew their guests and consumed their bodies!”