MAORI PIGEON TROUGH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12263, 26 May 1934, Page 8

MAORI PIGEON TROUGH

GIFT TO DOMINION MUSEUM. OLD METHOD OF SNARING. Reminiscent of the days when the. Maori took pigeons for food and feathers, and interesting kereru, or pigeon trough, was recently presentl- - to the Dominion Museum, Wellington, by Mrs J. J. Clark, of Kilbirnie. This kereru is a plain unearved log over seven feet long and 12 inches wide, hollowed in such a manner that the ends are closed. As a typo of waka kereru, this one differs from oblong examples already in tho museum’s collection, and is on this account quite outstanding. The taking of birds by the Maori was largely a seasonal activity, said Mr AV. J. Phillips, assistant director of the museum. All trapping and snaring operations were carried out by experts, and called for a greater degree of specialism than many other tasks. The pigeon was one of the most important of all forest birds, and a favourite method of securing it for food Avas that styled ‘waituhi,’ which term referred to tho setting of snares over Avater to take the pigeons when thirsty. The berries of the rniro were ripe in May and June, and during these months pigeons fed jargely on them, becoming thirsty when they had eaten. their fill. So, during that season, the Maori fowler would set many snares around the edges of strpams. His plan, was to cover surface of the stream with hranchlets, leaving only certain clear spaces at whieh tho birds might drink. Snares Avore set around these clear spaces so closely that a bird could not hut put its head into a noose to reach down to the water. After drinking, the pigeon, like many other birds raised its head slightly, ruffled its neck feathers, and shook its head. These motions largely assisted the snarer for the back string of the, snare caught the ruffled feathers. Sometimes a strong stick was placed across the clear opening, and on this the shares were set. A*n interesting artifact of tho Maori was seen in the waka kereru, adopted from the idea of compelling the birds to drink at certain given places, ahd put his head through a noose to do so. This Avaka kereru was a hewn wooden trough up to 7ft. long, 4 to Sin. deep, and about Sin. wide. The trough as filled with water and placed in a conspicuous position either up on the trees or on a couple of posts set up by the fowler. Many waka kereru were highly prized, and had special names assigned to them, and some were carved on the outside. Charms were repeated by fowlers to provoke thirst- in birds.

“The first bird taken in the season is utilised as an offering to the gods,” Mr Phillips added. “As such, according to Mr Elsdon Best, it might either be cast aAvay, suspended on, a tree, or be ceremonially eaten bv a female of the elder branch of a leading family. This latter act would take some of the tapu off the forest, and so enable women to enter it and take part in the various operations. Snares are examined at once a day and more often when the birds are numerous. Trespass on snaring places by outsiders is looked upofi as bad form.- Should & man in Avandering through the forest chance upon some place set with snares he would break off a branch of a tree leave it in a conspicuous place and walk on.”