MAORI BELIEFS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3265, 23 October 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

MAORI BELIEFS.

(From a Lecture Delivered by Colonel Porter at Gisborne.)

The Maoris had an idea that the heaven was separated from the earth by being forced up by poles ; sturs wore then fixed ’in to light the firmanent, and there not being light enough, a scheme had been invented by which the moon and sun were put at different ends, and wore attached by a string, so that when one went down the other came up. The Maoris bad a great belief in spirits, the curious part being that the spirits were all young children. The Maoris were much afraid of going out after dark. On one occasion Colonel Porter was riding up the coast in company with a native when a night bird flew out, and the native, in fear of an evil spirit, ran and hid behind a flax bush.

Some of them had great faith in spiritualistic signs. Colonel Porter, was once given an opportunity to hear the so-called spirits. The place was darkened, and he was'told to wait for certain noises, and then to ask questions. He heard the noises, but could get no replies to his questions, and the tohunga explained that it was because the questioner was a European and therefore could not hear his answers.

There were plenty of fairies in the belief of the old Maoris, and the elves were always up to some mischief, getting in the way of people, and upsetting calculations, generally. Tho Maoris were great believers in dreams, and the war dance was really explainable as a consultation of the oracles, and not merely to work up excitement or for show. If all went well it was a good omen, but if a warrior made a slip then the fates were adverse.

Referring to the Maori belief in dreams, Colonel Porter related a case of a man who dreamt that he was going along the beach, and saw a fish thrown up by the waves. Ho tried to catch it, but the fish escaped his clutches and got back to .the sea. Further along he again met the same fish. This time he was successful in capturing it, and found that the fish was himself—was his own image. He argued from that that he would be killed in the battle next day, and so ho told the Colonel, who, on account of his nervousness, had him placed in the rear guard. And a rather curious coincidence was that while the advance guard were allowed to safely pass an ambuscade without a shot being fired, the dreamer was the first to fall by the shot of the enemy. The oracles were consulted in the ordinary affairs of life. It would never do to eat food, or take food with a party when'going Out fishing, for if the. fishermen were to bite beforehand the fish would not bite. The fishermen would have to go hungry unless they ate the fish raw when caught. The way in which fish were cooked was very important, for if they were cooked in a certain way it was supposed that the fish would leave the locality. The natives would not make presents of fish for fear that they should be fried instead of being done in the orthodox manner.

A welcome was always a tearful affair, while a~dep'arture was considered a time for merriment, so that the feelings of those going away should not be made heavy. A good many people have the idea that tenakoe means “ good-day.” It really moans “ That is you.” The proper reply is tenarakoe —“and that is you.” While a still further salutation means “ That is you also.” The form of welcome known as rubbing of noses is not really a rubbing of ncaes. The greeting is among dear friends, the noses just being brought into contact, and- it is a gross breach of etiquette for either party to keep their eyes open. If you are visiting a Maori’s place ho does not, like his' pakeha friend, ask you where you are going, etc. He asks no questions, leaving it to the guest to volunteer information or not, as ha pleases. A curious thing which sovours much of impertinence to the uninitiated, but which is really not so, is that a Maori would not hesitate to call anyone to come across the street to him, and it is the person’s place to go, even if it .wore for such an unimportant trifle as,to bo asked for'the loan of a shilling. At the same time the person who called is just as liable to be called himself—not necessarily to lend the shilling, but to at least go across the road when called on. ;

In love matters the Maori is quite as impressionable, or more so, than his white -bretheron. Colonel Porter related an interesting legend of Titirangi (Kaiti hill), the love of a young brave being so strong that a maid at Opotiki was by the aid of charms drawn to Gisborne, even against the will of her people, and many of the natives of the present day proudly claim descent from that couple. The numerous suicides, and even murders, among natives, prove how deeply they can be moved by feelings of love. The originator of the Hauhau religion took his cue from what he had heard among the pakehas; he made use of a jargon in imitation of the British military orders, and led the natives to believe that it was pure English. An incident connected with the Taupo chief Te Heuheu was related by Colonel Porter. Thoughtho chief willingly assisted the missionaries, he kept aloof from' their teachings, the following being given'ashis reason. When Te Heuheu was asked to accept Christianity, he was told that if he did so he would go to heaven when he died. “And if I don’t, what then?” The missionary explained that in that case there would bo warm regions awaiting him., “ And have my ancestors gone to that place ? " “ Yes," replied the missionary. . “ Then I should not feel at home in heaven among strangers," replied the chief.; h i would sooner go where my ancestors are, and I know I, would be among friends." Subsequently Te Heuheu and all of his village were enveloped by a land slip ; some years later his bones were recovered, and they were scraped and . cast into Tongariro volcano, that being considered a burial place beyond desecration.

/ A great deal of Colonel Porter's information was derived from the tohunga (in latbr days, Maori “doctors" were called tohungas). The Colonel related an experience of his, own in connection with. Major Ropata’s illness, while the' Major was under , the, care of a tohunga. The tohunga’s camp was a curiously contrived place; tents sick people jwere erected all around, while in the centre there was a mound. A great many people had come from far and hear to this doctor, who had the reputation of being able to cure all diseases to which tho flesh is heir,'by the laying on of hands. Amongst his patients was Major Eopata, and when Colonel Porter visited him (without the knowledge of the tohunga), the Major was in a very weak state, and tho Colonel offered him a little brandy, believing that would strengthen him. The Major refused it, saying that it was against orders in that place, and although he knew it might do him good, still he, would not break the rules. The Colonel, , however, said he would leave a flask and explain matters to the tohunga. He had scarcely left the tent when he was surprised to see the tohunga rushing breathlessly after him. The tohunga reviled him for breaking the rules, and said he had left strong drink there. The Colonel said he 1 had done so. The tohunga said, “ The Major will surely die ; there is no strong drink, no smoking, no buying or selling of land, or other evils allowed here." The Colonel tried to pacify the tohunga, who asked him had he been drinking himself. The Colonel replied in the negative, and after some further parley was commanded to follow tho tohunga, which ho did. The Maori picked up three shells; in dramatic fashion he threw one to the north, one to the south, and the third ho placed on tho ground before him, and asked the Colonel wdich was the right side of the shell. The Colonel, fancying there was some catch, replied, “ The under side,, the one that adheres to the rook," Then tho tohunga wont into ecstasies, rushing up to him and effusively shaking him by the hands, and stating, “ Now all will be well; you are the first man who has answered that right—everybody replies, the top side of the shell.”. He capped this by saying that now the Major and the Colonel could both have as muoh drink as they liked, and all would bo well with the Major. VAmong other things Colonel Porter mentioned that there wore no curse words in the Maori language, and in some cases it was very unfortunate, as in the experience of a Maori at Tauranga; being, unable to curse in Maori he had ' to fall back on English, and after using' up all the English he had acquired, he was rewarded with 48 hours in gaol. The eating of human flesh was more as a means of cursing enemies than from relish of tho.food. Thera could be no greater reproach in Maoridomthan for one man to taunt another with the fact that his ancestors had been devoured by .the ancestors of the taunter. ■ - -