The Burial of the Chief Tohu.

Opunake Times, Volume XXV, Issue 948, 12 February 1907, Page 2

The Burial of the Chief Tohu.

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT. On Friday last the remains of tbe late chief were interred in the burial ground at Parihaka. The body had been " lying in state " in one of tbe smaller houses near his late residence, covered with a number of mats, rugs, and shawls. COFFIN OR NO COFFIN. Just previous to the time for the interment, a meeting took place amongst his relatives and leading followers as to whether he should be buried in a coffin, which had been provided by the modern follower. The older ones grew excited, and said they did not believe in following tbe pakeha style, but wanted the old chief buried in true Maori style—an his rugs, blankets and shawls. The argument on each side was very exciting, and the glare in their eyes showed that they were ready for anything, but the fact of Constable Hickman (who acts as a break on their fiery natures), accompanied by Constable Kelly, being present, no scene took place. Eventually it was decided to place him in the coffiin, when it was found to be too small. Then the ancieut men were pleased, as they would have him taken to his last resting place in the same manner as his forefathers. Bo it came to pass that the body was conveyed to the cemetery in the way peculiar to the Maori. THE PROCESSION. The procession was headed by a number of Maori women and girls, dressed in white, and greenery around their heads aud bodies. They were chanting, and keeping time with their poi balls. Behind them came the body, on large shawls and rugs, carried by ten men. Then followed relatives and friends, and a fewpakebas. The coffin, which was intended for the corpse, wa3 next in order, carried by four men. The deceased's belongings were carried by his relatives. A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT. One of the adherents, whose antipathy to the coffin was more pronounced than the others, hung on to it to prevent the men having it in the procession. He continued to show his objection, and several times was pulled over and dragged on the ground. Constable Hickman and Messrs W. Gray and Macßeynolds then took hold of him, and he walked along quietly. AT THE GRAVE. On reaching the grave the coffin was flattened out, and placed at the botton of the grave, which was 8 feet by 0 feet, and four men were working in it. A bed was placed on the coffin, on top of which was placed a number of rugs. The body was lowered on to these, and the remaining rugs aud mats placed o'j top. The idnc of the coffin came next, and then the lid. There wag a little chanting and some " tangi-ing " but no official ceremony. When the body was in the grave one of the men gave a little loose earth a kick .with his foot, and said in the native language : "Go back to earth from whence you came, and others have gone before you. Enter into the rest of thy brothers." The grave was then quickly filled in. Fr >m the time the body left the house till it reached the grave there was firing at regular intervals, and a salute was fired over the grave. TOHU'S CAREER. Tohu Kakahi figured prominently during the Parihaka trouble in 1881. He wa3 always talking fight, while Te Whiti preferred peace. About sixteen years ago, there was a difference of opinion between the two men, principally over the division of the spoils, and Tohu then set up as leader of a rival faction, including principally those of a warlike nature. His followers were the Ngatiruanui, who were called Pore (the Unhomed), and tbe Ngatiawa followed Te Whiti and were called Maire (the Horned), For the past ton years Tohu had been living very quietly. Both men have lost a finger, Tohu's being taken off when putting stones in position at a flour mill when he was miller for the Maori troops. Te Whiti had his finger shot off. On November the sth, 1881, Tohu in company with Te Whiti and Hiroki, was arrested, aud a week later they all came before the Police Court at New Plymouth, Te Whiti and Tohu were charged with sedition and Hiroki with the murder of John McLean.

Tohu belonged to several hapus of the Taranaki tribe, and had almost as much power with the natives as had Te Whiti. After their trial Te Whiti and Tohu were taken to Nelson, where they spent some time and they were also taken to various places in the South Island. At tho time of bis death Tohu was about seventy years of ago. His personal appearance has been thus described:—"Tohu is a heavily built man and stands about Oft lin. in height, his weight being 14s 71b. A cast affected the sight of ono eye but the other one is very piercing. His nose aquiline, his mouth large and heavy, and chin square and firm. The back portion of his head is rather too developed, but he has rather a good forehead. He has a dogged and sensual cast of countenance, a slight beard and a very luxuriant head of hair."

Neither Te Whiti nor any of his followers attended the funeral, which fact was taken notice of by the other party.

Tohu's is about 70, aud his wife is not dead, as reported. Te Whiti, who is 76 years of age, said, when he heard of Tohu's death, '■ His is done." He then placed his hand to his head as though thinking. It is said that the old man, who is now somewhat feeble, appears to feel the death of his rival. May be' he thinks his time is not far off.

Dr Pomare was at Parihaka during last week.

Some of the natives wired to the Minister for permission to have liquor at the taugi in honor of so great a man passing away, but the request was rightly refused. The provisions for the fcangi have come far and near, and one native gave as much as seven bullocks. He is not a Tohu-ite, but " blood is thicker than water," and he likes to see the old custom maintained.

There is a diversity of opinion as to the amounl of money possessed by Tohu. A few years ago he was being prevailed upon to bank his cash, and at that time he had £4,000 in gold, notes, and silver. A merchant went there one day for a settlement of his account (about £100), and the money was brought out in a big cloth. His amount was counted out, and the balance put back in the treasury. It is rumoured that there is £30,000 stowed away in Panhaka. It is not known how Tohu's wealth i 3 to be distributed, but it is expected there will be a good deal of haranguing about it—all the same the pakeha. Sunday's visitors. There were more Europeans seen at Parihaka on Sunday than natives. The visitors came from New Plymouth, Kaponga, Manaia, and all the places between, but they were disappointed. They wandered around, and were looking for something which they thought should be going on. As a matter of fact some expected to see the Maoris feasting, dancing pois and hakas, and making merry; but the natives were having a quiet time in the whares, and took little notice of the visitors. Some of the natives were playing billiards, some selling cordials and tobacco at the billiard room, some washing, and the younger generation bathing in the river. In most of the kitchens the shelves) were laden with cakes, tarts, &c, and the dining-rooms at Tohu's and TeWhiti's places were set aside for the visitors. Some of the Maoris expressed surprise at the unceremonious manner in which the pakehas go into their rooms and handle things without permission. Oae native said :" We do not mind you coming into our house, but we do not like you to treat it as if it belonged to you. What would you think if we came to your place and marched in your front room and commenced to pull things about?" A certain license has been allowed visitors, until they think they can do as they like at the Maori houses, but the native is beginning to put his foot down.