CAMP LIFE WITH TE KOOTI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3043, 7 November 1871, Page 3

CAMP LIFE WITH TE KOOTI.

A correspondent at Opotiki sends the Hawke's Bay Herald the following —

I formerly gave a few notes relating to Te Kooti's earlier life. The following, collected from some of his latest followers, however improbable they may appear, are perfectly authentic, and denote the power of one man over the many, obtained by the aid of superstition, even to the ex--fcreme 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 Ms own judgment under all circumstances. ;

It is Te Kooti's custom, when arising from sleep, to call his followers to Icardkia <(i.e., prayers) ; when the 32nd or 3#h 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 the first pig - caught, arid to oiler up thanks to the citim. In all cases where food is obtained, thanks are given, arid men going out arW particularly instructed not to eat, drink, or -smoke till return to camp, lest the • atua should be offended. If a party returns <Tinsuccessful, blame is attributed to one of -them having disobeyed the orders given, ; and that the atua had kept the food from ' them. The offender, if pointed out by his • companions, is j>unished by Te Kooti, who . in strong terms will sentence him to be i 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 deooy bfeon his1 shoulder, or a tomahawk, to get honey. It is a practice of his to go out . and reconnoitre the surrounding country, - climbing to the tops of the highest ranges, not returning to camp till evening.

He pretends to undertake all Mb expeditions to murder or plunder by the iri- . apiration of his atua, as when inspired at the Chathanis to deliver Ms people, from "boridage. When so inspired, he will of^en arise from sleep and call his folk«t«rs together to prayers, afjfcer wMchheiniqrms them that his .atua has given something to him during Ms sleep, biit -whether ■ food, man, or woman, he cattiiotetelL A party is then despatched: by him in the direction desired by him. If -.a man, or food, is found, well and good, Trot if a woman she is to be brought to him. If the party return xinsuccessful, the man to whom charge of the mission was given, is tied up and confined in a ■vohare for. days without food or. fire. j Should a messenger, or a man haying Abeen absent from camp some time, return, no one dare hold conversation with him, till after seeing Te Kooti. He is led up : to Te Kooti's whare, and remains outside, t awaiting the word to enter. It is a strict sarnie ; no one approaches Mb whare with•tmt xjermission. Karakui (service) is held four times a vaay, the last being the prayer for sleep, retiring to rest, after which no one is allowed to move about, and silence is kept by all, and no one dare approach l=Te Kooti's whare after that time. When thunder is heard, his men will -enquire the words of the aiua ; he will thenawsply to the effect that the atua tells chim that there are men among them desirous to escape to the Government, and that they will be killed. A rainbow is another favourite sign of the atila to Jbim denoting many things, chiefly as it -suits him at the time, it would seem. He threatens all men e&capmg to Government with a future punishment; however long they live in imagined security, judgment will come for deserting the *atul. He asserts that all the Govefi--ment people will be delivered into his hands, and great power given him when all seceders will be put to the sword. When a man is to be put to death, the <f>2nd psalm is sung over him and then led to execution. When on the march or war path no one is allowed to smoke -or eat till the Word is given by him.

All fresh converts to his,atua are re«christened by him with scriptural names. TE KOOTI'S SONG. Eha tepiitaki . OVKooti c Wliaiwhaitia nei .Ana kei Waikato : -■--—-■k*Te putaki ehu ae. ..■.,■■;-. ' Etoru te kau tonu He v/aki nei te puihi Te kai pupuri ra I a kenana c mi ae. -