CAMP LIFE WITH TE KOOTI.

North Otago Times, Volume XVII, Issue 676, 10 November 1871, Page 4

CAMP LIFE WITH TE KOOTI.

A correspondent at Opotiki send s the following to a Northern contemporary : — I formei'ly gave a few notes relating to Te Kooti's earlier life. The following, collected from some of his latest followers, and, however improbable they may appear, are perfectly authentic, denotes the power of one man over the many, obtained by the aid of superstition, even to the extreme of trespassing •upon personal -affections. No doubt, Te Kooti is a -man of strong mind, combining with his fanaticism a depth , of cunning seldom equalled among natives. He* is a strong disciplinarian, both in camp and on the march, relying solely upon his own judgment, under all circumstances. ■ , , It is Te Kooti's custom, when arising from sleep, to call his followers to karahia (i. e., prayers) ; when' the 32nd or 34th psalm is sung, altered by Te Kooti to suit himself, prayers are read by him, or some minister appointed to do so. After prayers, parties are ordered out to hunt; food, &c. When pigs are .to be found, men are instructed. to cut off the ears of he first pig caught, and to offer up thanks to the atua. In all cases whei'e food is obtained, thanks are given, and men going out are particularly instructed not to eat, drink, or smoke till return to camp, lest the atua should be offended. If a party returns unsuccessful, blame is attributed to one of. them having disobeyed the orders given, and the atua had kept the food from them. The offender, if pointed out by his companions, is punished by Te Kooti, who in strong terms will sentence him to be deprived of the opportunity of hunting food, by confining him to camp. Te Kooti will often start out alone in the early morning, with a decoy kalca on his shoulder, or a tomahawk, to get honey. It is a practice of his to go out and reconnoitre the surrounding country, climbing to the top of the highest ranges, not returning to camp till evening. He pretends to undertake all his expeditions to murder or plunder by the inspiration of his atua, as when inspired at the Chathams to deliver his people from bondage. When so inspired, he will often call his followers together for prayers, after which h« informs them that his atua has given something to him during his sleep, b\it whether food, man, or woman, he cannot tell. A party is then despatched by him in the direction desh'ed by him. If a man, or food is found, well and good, but if a woman she is to be bx-ought to him. If the party return, unsuccessful, the man to whom charge of the mission was given is tied up and confined in a whare for days without food or fire. Should a messenger or a ,man, having been absent from camp some time, no one dare hold conversation' with him 1 till first seeing Te Kooti. He is led up to Te Kooti's whare, and remains outside, awaiting the word to enter. It is a strict l'ule — no one approaches his i wJiwre, without permission. Karakia (service) is held four times a day, the last being the prayer for sleep, when retiring to rest, after which ! no one is allowed to move about, and silence is kept by all, and no one dare approach-. Te Kooti's whare after that time. It is a practice with Te Kooti to have intercourse with his followers' wives, by telling the men to send them to him, ihat his atua had said they would become enciente. Whatever men may think of this, they' seldom dare refuse, or Te Kooti will, at some future time, profess that his atua has revealed to him a traitor, and will request his death. He is never at a loss to find a pretext to dispose of any one obnoxious to him. When thunder is heard, his men will enquire the words of the atua ; he will then reply to the effect that the atua tells him that there are men among them desirous to escape to the Government, and that they will be killed. A rainbow is another favorite sign of the atua to him, denoting many things, chiefly as it suits him at the time, itwould seem. .He. threatens all men escaping to Government with a future punishment ; however long they may live in imagined security, judgment will come for deserting the atua. He asserts that all the Government people will be delivered into his hands, and great power given him, when all t secedars will be put to the sword. WTien a man is to be put to death, the 62nd psalm is to be sung over him, and then led to execution. When on j the march or war-path no one is allowed to smoke or eat till the word is given by him. TE KOOTI'S SONG. . , Eha te putaki i Te Koot i e Whaiwhaitia nei i Ana kei Waikato Te putaki e hu ae. I Etoru te kau tonu Ho waki nei to puihi To kai pupuri ra I u konuna c hu ae.