MAORILAND MEMORIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 66, 22 September 1906, Page 7

MAORILAND MEMORIES.

JOHN RUTHERFORD.

A Pakeha Maori.

(CONCLUDED.)

> Uotof Hutherford and hfs companions tm. reaching the Kaluga Maori, o^er which! ths chief R&ugadi held sway, were received with most extraordinary demonstrations. The village contained about 200 Inhabitants, all bf whom, came crowding around tha chief Aimy, and his followers, kneeling, tbey criod aloud as if at the funeral of some departed chief, yet according to Maori custom, the shedding of

\otdm. ta ©rfgfjtaa drawing token m 1823) , teats and wailing were said by Rutherlord- to be signs of Joy and welcome.- In addition to their wailing, the villagers Cnt thele arms, faces, and other parts of their bodies with sharp flints which they earned am strings around their necks. JTbey eot late their flesh until the BLOOD RAN IN .'STREAMS, tt quoefl way to welcome visitors, certainly* After this, cutting and crying ttaplaqr, food was prepared and offered the visitors m baskets, and here it may be observed that no basket was used a kecond time. The only drinking vessel this tribe need was a calabash, and the only drink cold water. Wine or other intoxicants the tribe never used, although they kpew of such through friends who bad been to Sydney and had been asked to take wink. (Ia the late thirties there ana A 'COLONY OP MAORIS,, knen, women, and children, on The Rocks In Sydney, one of the thoroughfares there, being still known amongst old hands , as (Maori-lane. These Maoris had come to Sydney on various whalers, the wabines and children remaining while the men went voyages. Tbey were looked after generally by an inn-keeper named Brightton Cotton, who kept the Saracen's Head on those historic "Rocks." I don't think these Maoris objected to wine or rum. I mention the incident chiefly to show that association with tbe whites induces winebibbing and rum-drinking m all aboriginal .races.) (Jetting back to Rutherford and his companions. After dinner they spent the evening round a . large fire, Where they, attracted the attention of several women, whom Rutherford describes as having very pleasing faces. These women amused themselves m away that caused Rutherford and his companions some uneasiness. They played with the white men's fingers, opened theirt puirts and felt their breasts, examined .the calves of their legs, and , appeared to /be making a general survey. Rutherford thought they were determining whether they were

PAT ENOUGH FOR KILLING and eating, a very pleasant surmise certainly. When tho fire, which had been lighted m the largo whare to warm it, had burned out, the whole party retired to rest. Next morning the knives and toto acco boxes taken from Rutherford and , Ills friends were returned to them. For t>reakfast they had potatoea and cockles, cooked. Soon after the taorning meal, Aimy's wife and two (laughters arrived at the village. /These arrivals occasioned another jgeneral cry, hut on this occasion tho flints were not usecL One ol Aimy's .daughters admired the brass buttons on Rutherford's' jacket and .indicated that ■he wished them cut off and given to her. [Rutherford gallantly obeyed her. She (Was gracdous enough to say that the white man was very good. So far Cher ford appears to have fared well, but presently a ring was formed by the (Maoris, and Rutherford and his friends mere placed ln the centre.- They, wore then

STRIPPED NAKED, laid on their backs and held down by fcall-ardozen Maoris. What was about to fee dome to them they could not even guess, but they were not long m ignorance. Pieces of charcoal rubbed on a stone to a point, and dipped m some (thick liquid matter, were used to ' trace designs on the faces and other parts of the white men. A bone ground down like a. chisel and as sharp was used; a piece of wood used as a hammer, and another instrument was shaped like a garden hoe. These were placed upon the skin and .tapped with the primitive hammer. They 'put into the skin like a knife, blood flowflog so profusely that it required to be consistently wiped oft, as it interfered with the work of the tattooing artists. Rutherford Bays that the operators worked vigorously and deftly^ The suffering occasioned him was acute,, but he never iwhlfnpered, while his companions moaned dreadfully. The operation lasted four feours, and when completed the VICTIMS TO MAORI CUSTOM SJrere taken to the river to wash themselves aad wipe away tho bloodstains. A great fire was lighted, and their clothing istnrned, all but their shirts, which they (observed were worn by some of the women, the openings behind, m which they appear to have anticipated the modern custom of closed shirt-fronts. For four Bays after the tattooing, Rutherford and bis companions were not allowed to use their hands m eating., being fed by the women, who on the whole were very Und to the unfortunate whites.

(BY "OLD CHUBf.")

While at this village, one of Rutherford'a party—John Watson— was taken ♦.Way fey a chief to another' village. Rutherford says the parting was very affecting, as Watson believed that he .would never ccc his friends again. Aimy and his party, with Rutherford* and his' remaining Wends, now mad*, a start for another village six aii les away. This kaiuga was ruled by a chief named Plama 'At this village another white man—John Smith— was left* and another very affecting . scene mto* enacted. The next village reached, twelve miles distant, was go(seraed by a CHIEF NAMED EWANNA. J_\t this village ths white men were pre•snted with a pig, which tbey killed ia the English fashion, much to the aston\Ul_mett of the Maori*. As they killed I the animal the Maori children caught tha ! ' blood m their bands and lapped it up While warm; On leaving the village toother of tho white men — Jefferson by name— wm left with tho . chief Ewanna. Two males further on Alrny and his train tmafiXaad % r.var aad *be **ttrt__; h»itati, V

fire was lighted and potatoes and fish cooked, all the party making a very hearty meal. After satisfying the cravings ol hunger, tbe party crossed the river, which was only kneo deep, aao. travelling through bush until sunset, they arrived at some cultivated ground. where Rutherford says were ground where, Rutherford says, wer» grown potatoes, cabbages, turnips, taro* yams, watermelons, etc., the cultivation having quite an English appearance. Travelling on and crossing another river m canoes, they reached Aimy's village, only two of the white men being now left. Here they had another warm welcome, ANOTHER PIO WAS KILLED, and general rejoicings ensued. This village appears to have been one of importance, and Aimy's house or, whare the largest m it; It seems strange, but, not-; withstanding his long residence with the Maori, Rutherford was not able to give definite information by which these rivers and villages could be positively identified to-day. t • • AM Aimy's village, Rutherford lost his remaining white companion under very superstitious circumstances. Rutherford and his mate had acquired the Maori language, and went out fishing and shooting, the chief having an excellent double-barrelled fowling piece which he lent them* Their lives appeared to be perfectly safe, and they "appeared also to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Rutherford's mate lent one of the slaves his knife with which to rut some rushes to roof his whare. He afterwards peeled some potatoes with it, and gave some of them when cooked to an old woman — mother of the chief Aimy, who happened to be ill, and she ate them m the presence of the Maori doctor. She died on the following morning, and her funeral obsequies or "wake" showed • that she was a personage of some importance. On the third day of the wake some hundreds oi the assembled Maoris COT THEMSELVES AND WEPT, and the ordinary occupants of the village, including the white men, sat down to feast upon the viands brought by the numerous visitors. On +*•<■• fourth morning only the men appeared, formed m a circle round the body, which wad m State : I cannot say "lying m State," as it was m a sitting posture. •". • • The Maori doctor who had attended the old lady walked up and down within the circle, and explained the course of her illness to the questioning chief. Ruther. ford and his companion well understood the dialogue. The doctor retired, and a chief of importance, adorndd with •■ the feathers of the "huia" and walking up and down m the circle, gays' it as his opinion that the woman's death was caused by eating potatoes peeled, by the white man's knife, after it was used for cutting rushes to roof a house. .The chief declared that the man" to whom the knife belonged ought to be killed tn honor of the old lady. .». » * The proposition was favorably received by the assembled Maoris, and Rutherford went into the circle- to argue against it. pleading that even if the act of his comrade was wrong, ignorance of their customs might excuse it, Rutherford be-> sought Aimy to spare his friend, but Aimy sat motionless mourning for his mother, and while Rutherford was yet speaking with Aimy, the chief with the "huia" feathers smote the white man DEAD WITH A MERE. Aimy would not allow the white man's' body to be eaten, and Rutherford buried it decently^ • * * Some time after this, Aimy, commending Rutherford's activity m fishing and shooting, proposed to make him a chief. Rutherford consented. His hair was cut m front with an oyster-shell, mats were presented to him, also a greenstone mere. Having to select wives, he took Aimy's two daughters, and was therefore fully set up as a Maori chief. • « a A journey towards Taranaki was now comimenced.- During the journey by sea and land they came across a great chief named Otago, m whose tribe was an Englishman, James Mowry. ' This man said that he had belonged to a ship named THE SYDNEY COVE ; that the entire crew excepting himself had been murdered by the Maoris. He had married the chief's daughter, and was bow satisfied with his surroundings.: • * * Rutherford and the tribe to which he was attached reached Kaipora, where hs met another white man, who gave ths name of John. Maw man, and a native of! Port Jackson. He declared that he had) shipped m the Tees sloop of war, had de-\ serted, and was then living with **_«►■{ chief whose name was Rawmatty wn&j whose daughter he had married., _S__g| Kaipara, Rutherford asserted that iaV .witnessed the great fight m Which Hongi j was defeated.' i • • • [ Not long after, Rutherford had returned to the East Coast, signal fires announced that a vessel had arrived; at Tokomaru. The Maoris were making preparations to ! capture her, and to Rutherford was deputed the duty of decoying her ; but THE PAKEHA MAORI proved disloyal to his trust, though he cannot be blamed for proving a traitor. Tho vessel proved to be an American barque^ commanded by Captain Jackson. With tihe son of a chief and four slaves, Rutherford went m chief's attire m a canoe to the ship, not as yet an anchor. The crew exclaimed, "Here's a white New Zealander," and Rutherford and the I chiefs son were invited on deck. Ruther-' ford warned the captain of the plot and advised him to get away as quickly as possible and to take him (Rutherford) with him, it being the first chance he ever had of making his escape. While Captain Jackson and Rutherford were m conversation, the chief's son had been committing several thefts. Captain Jackson had him promptly TIED UP AN!) FLOGGED soundly. Then he was put back into his canoe, and Rutherford was taken away and landed at Tahiti. For the first sixteen months of his residence with the Maoris, Rutherford had kept dates* but ailor that he had lost all count. It Was on January 9, 1826, that he sailed away m the American barque, leaving his weeping wives to grass-widowhood* On arrival at Tahiti he entered the service of the British Consul. In Tahiti, on May 26, Mr. Rutherford pommitted bigamy. He married a chief woman, whom he said was simply interesting. On January 6, 1827, he sailed m tho brig Macquarie— Captain Hunter —for Port Jackson, leaving another grass-widow at Tahiti, to whom, however, he made a promise that ho would return m two years. The Macquarie arrived m Port JaCkson on February 19, and m Sydney Rutherford met a young woman saved from the massacre of the Boyd. This, no doubt, was the little girl Broughton, now grown to maidenhood, i whom Mr. Alexander Berry had rescued from the Maoris at the Bay of Islands. • Rutherford secured a passage m the vessel called SYDNEY PACKET, j . Captain Taylor, which called at Hobart j . I Town, mod )Uj *a voyaged to *>*«»• «>■••- '

I m Rutherford entered th? sr-rvice of a Dutchman named Harris. lio Was introduced . to Don Pedro, who wanted him to join ' his navy, but the Englishman declined. The Don, however, presented him with 80 dollars, for which Rutherford was duly", grateful. Rutherford was teken te England m the Blanche, frigate. At Spithead he left her and made his way to his native town of Manchester, which he had not seen since he went to saa m 1806. In England, Rutherford's history and his picturesque appearance attracted much attention, especially m missionary and religious circles. The Church Missionary Society took him m hand, and j having taken down his New Zealand history, paid him for the manuscript. He then joined some travelling showmen as the curie af tho day, though he states . that he had a great objection to exhibit- ■ iog himself for money. This life does . not appear to bave had any charm for ■ him. Tho • '. CONVENTIONALITIES OF ENGLISH ', LIFE i were not to be compared with the free- < dom which had been his m Maoriland for < 10 years and over. He longed to be i again amongst his savage friends. He 1 wished to return to Tahiti, believing that '• from there he could reach Tokomaru, * where, if he brought a blacksmith and ] plenty of iron, he would induce his Maori ' friends to believe that he had been for- ' cibly kidnapped and carried away by the American brig, and that when re-estab-lished' m the favor of the tribe, he would ' be able to make money m trade. John ' Rutherford's portrait is from a picture 1 taken of him m 1828 on his return to ' London, and published by the Church j Missionary Society^ '