TE KOOTI'S BODY.
WHERE. IS IT? In giving an account of his recent journey through the Uiiwera Country, tho Mayor, Mr W. D. Lysnar, made*;, singular announcement . respecting the circumstances surrounding the cud of tho notorious rebel Te Kooti. "When m tho Uriwera Coun try recently," remarked Mr Lysnar, "I "made, inquiries a* to wlut had been done with the remains of Te Kooti, which 1 heard had been buried near Whakaktnc. On making furth:r inquiries I found that the body had been exhumed. The grave was found open, witli the .corps.and coffin gone on the fourth day after Te Kooti's biivial. What became'of the body is a mystery. The Natives explain that he lifts 'risen again, on the third day.' like Chrisl, and has gone to Heaven. 1 ascertained on interesting story, however, from a persju whom 1 consider very reliable — a mail who liad himself been endeavoring to 'discover what became of the body. Meeting one of Te Kooti's leading -supporters one day, a Native who was generally: regarded as one of they few wli> l.iu\» the secret, my informant, observing the old Te Koqtiite was under the influence of drink, <i,sked him : ' Wli-.it did yom do with Te 'Kooti's ' body ?' The Maori replied : 'We take him to Gisborne. It took us a week to taiko him thine, as we carried him at night. It was a disagreeable undertaking. Wo t<:o'< him out of the »eoftin and wrapped him m six tents. Te Kooti had b-en dead FK>me time' The -locality where the body was conveyed to m Gisborne the Native resolutely declined to ■ disclose." "Such a thing," continued Mr Lysnar, 'm only iri keeping with Native custom. Old chiefs of standing, and there were few who h;»d not at' some ■period of their career caused the death of others, were frequently buried m an unknown spot, fhe, reason being that otherwise the relatives of the rangatira's enemies would .surely desecrate his grav 0 m revemre. . ft is quite likely this custom was carried out m the wise of Tc Kooti."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19100124.2.12
Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12654, 24 January 1910, Page 3
Word Count
343
TE KOOTI'S BODY.
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12654, 24 January 1910, Page 3
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