THE TANGI AT PAPAWAI

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1665, 27 January 1904, Page 24

THE TANGI AT PAPAWAI

•' EiXPERiENCES AND ; - observations. 4 >. A lady correspondent -writes: —As a visitor,,,to the Maori Pah, .Papawai, I dike to say something in connecthe tangi being held over the late chie®, Hanmvai Tamahau Mahia,/l pnku. It was my first visit to a **' tangi, and I miust say I was deeply interested in the customs of our New Zealand natives. A large number of people (European and native) journeyed to witness the celebrations. Having been introduced to one of the Maori ladies, she took me to a" meeting house where the late chief was lying in his coffin.On either sule of the coffin sat his two waves, wearing browns of foliage, and it is said than they sit all day and night like this, eating little or nothing. At the head of . the coffin, there Were placed several Maori .carved walking sticks belonging to the deceased, and 1 a valuable diamond ring, -with his coat and hat, the Hatter being decorated with the feathers of native birds, conspicuous among them being some very fine huia feathers. Some fine specimens of Maori mats, and a native war weapon, belonging to the late chi'ef, were placed at the foot of the coffin. It was impressively sad to note the lamenting of the natives for the late chief. After looking in several of the Maori homes, I was taken to a place where sat about twenty Maoris, scraping potatoes with pi pi and mussel shells. It amusedl me very much indeed, and I said to them, “Why are you peeling so many potatoes ” Their_ answer was, i “For the good chief.” 1 also noticed that many of the wealthy native ladies, who pursue European habits in their own homes, assume native attire at the tangi. One of the most interesting features of the Maori customs was the way in which they live during these celebrations. In the hall next to the meetinghouse, native mats, rugs and blankets were -strewn on both sides. This is where they sleep and lounge about during the day and night. There were three hundred Maoris who came from Hastings and Napier to witness this great celebration.