THE SLAVE WIFE AND HER CHILD.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 208, 28 November 1896, Page 3

THE SLAVE WIFE AND HER CHILD.

•VX INCIDENT OP THE FALL OF MOKOiA. By Tuiioe. When the Ara\va stronghold of •jf>koi\fell to tlii p>wers of the raidiu" Ngapahi way oack in the oarly twenties, 1111113' prisoners -were taken by the conquerors to their northern homes. Among these unfortunatos lod awiy into captivity ware tv> women, who were both taken as wives by a Ngjpuhi chieftain, who explained to hU slave wives tint in the event of either of them bearing him a male child, the child should be well cared for, .'md the mother maintained in comfort. If, on the other hand, the child should be a female, thou both mother and infant would be put to death by this fine old native gentla--111:111. Then the hearts of those women became diirk within them, and in niter days one fled to the wilderness, there to give birth to her child, so fearful was she that it might prove to be of the wrong sex to retain life. An I there in tint bleak and cheerless spot was born a female babe to the slave wife. Sad was the heart of the oppressed mother, «ind gloomy indeed the prospect for both ; for was she not unable, to .return to t'ao kaiuga where her child might be cared for in warmth and comfort ? There was no sheltering home for them, no" wharo kohanga '''-' ; for the sore tired mother and feeble infant. Death awaited them in the tribal village, and there was no hone; the road to HaWaiki was cut off. So this poor slave woman hid herself withiu a grove of karaka trees, and there, with uo garments or covering, she strove to protect her child with her own body, and by the warmth thereof cherish its feeble life. And as she crouched over her hapless babe, this banished mother lifted up her voico and sang an " oriori ' or lullaby to still the cries of her dying child. It was thus, on the third day id' her exile, that she was found by a slave sister who was powerless to help her, but, who sat by her side as she chanted in low mournful tones a slumber song of the. Maori, And as she finished the plaintive song they looked together upon the feeble little figure which lay half concealed hy the sheltering limbs of its mother. ]!ut there was no answering look to theirs and no movement of tin; frail little body. For the flickering spirit th. rein, weary so soon of life, had drifted out.across the Ocean of Kiwa in search of Kongo the Peaceful and the life-giving waters of Tano. SONG OF SLAVE WIFE TO HER GUILD. 0 little maid ! evil in the world is the name we bear. Alas ! As wo shelter beneath the green karaka leaves. Elsewhere are there, O little maid'! from tar Hawai'.'i, The great ones of noble descent, Left by thine ancestors in tins world To animate this little maid. Xow indeed is it said of us Mine was the fault—t'was he that sought me. Ah : And made of me a slave—lns wife; Hence came thou forth to this world. Alas ! There is, O little maid! no chief But Marateo alone. Who Hnnsri Ilika.'s pride laid low, Causing joy throughout the land. Sit wo two lowly on this plain. On the earth that makes men lords. Tremulous is the cry of the little maid At the salvos of peace from Takahorca's guns. Thai shakethe very heavens. \\'<re thou but a man thy weapon wouldst thou seize And tread the bills of distant liikurangi, Where dwells To Roki-mara —he who gave The subtle counsel that hither bound The proud ones of those lands Wherein wo dwelt, as did thy ancestors On far Herangi, O little maid'! Tam seeking—-I am searching S'uiic common friend. Turn thy gaze to Mount To Aroha — To thy lover there, to Herua-i-te-rangi, Who drove the war cloud to the north, Whereby the great Ngapuhj fell, And death was thus avenged. A slave is To Kahu on distant shores. And great the fall at the scaling of To Huaki. Thou shalt be seen of the company of Pare-raututu shall lead thee to thy home And deck thee in fine garments. Then shalt thou demand the silky fibres, Ami stretch forth thy hand for sweetsmelling herbs To scent thy body, O little maid ! •Whare kohanga.—The " nest-house " into which a. mother and new-born child were removed from the " wharo halm " or tot us house one day afterbirth of chHd.