LOST TRIBE

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 8

LOST TRIBE

SOUTHERN MAORIS AN EXPEDITION MOOTED (I * ; . J— ~ , STIRRING DAYS. RECALLED DO SURVIVORS STILL LIVE? Does a “lost tribe” of Maoris still exist in the almost impenetrable wilds of Southland’s fiord country? For very many years this question has exercised the minds of students of Maori lore and much has been said and written on the subject. But although not a few people have held the belief that such a tribe does exist no organized attempt to settle the question once and for al! by means of an expedition into the mountain fastnesses has yet been made. There is a distinct possibility, however, that at an early date an expedition will leave Invercargill to carry out investigations, extending if necessary over a period of three months, in the Sounds country where legend has it the lost tribe fled for safety in those far-off days when the South Island of New Zealand was the scene of bitter conflicts between invading parties of North Island Maoris and the less aggressive southerners. Among those who firmly believe that such a tribe either is existing still or at any rate has existed until recent times, is Mr John Topi, of Ruapuke, whose father played such a big part in the history of that picturesque island and who was one of the recognized authorities on the history of the Southern Maori. Mr Topi is most anxious to see an expedition launched and from what can be learned he is likely to meet with plenty of support. Though no doubt many will consider it extremely improbable that a tribe is living in splendid isolation in the recesses of the fiord country, the expedition may quite conceivably come across evidence that such a race of Maoris has lived there. This in itself would be a very valuable contribution to the historical records of the Southern Maori about whom all too little is known. Should the expedition actually discover the tribe in being, it will provide one of the most sensational pages in the history of the twentieth century. Those who believe in the existence of the

loet tribe are not basing their belief purely i on legends. On not a few occasions those whose ways have lain over the bush-clad slopes of Fiordland have reported traces of Maori occupation. One prospector went so far as to eay that he saw a native who immediately disappeared into the forest. Two Theories. There are two theories which would account for the existence of a tribe of Maoris in the Sounds country. One dates back to the struggle between the Ngaitahu and the Ngatimamoe tribes more than two centuries ago. The second concerns, though indirectly, the capture and recapture of the Tuturau Pa, on the banks of the Mataura, in 1835-36. Of the two theories the former seems the more probable, as it readuy accounts for the presence of Maoris at Dusky when Cook made his second voyage, although this fact is not wholly incompatiuie with tne second. Both, however, contain highly interesting pages trom Maori history, for which reason tney are dealt with lairiy exhaustively here, it has to be admitted, however, that what may, to some authorities, seem errors.may have crept into the narrative, for the're are so many versions of happenings in those distant days that it is difficult to know what to accept. It may well be that those in Southland who have made a study of native history will, after this article ■ appears, be able to throw further light on the incidents recorded. It is generally accepted that the Ngatimamoe had a most unlortunate career. They were gradually forced from the North Island into the South and even then were far from being at the end of their vicissitudes for the Ngaitahu tribe crossed Cook ■ Strait in the seventeenth century and drove the Ngatimamoe southwards, finally subduing them alter the vast majority had been killed.

It is interesting to hear what early historians said on tne matter; also what the chief Judge of the Native Land Court said. In a decision given at Kaiapoi on February 4, 1925, Chief Judge R. N. Jones said: ‘The traditionary history of the Maoris shows that such a tribe (Ngatimamoe) inhabited the South Island during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and that their first ■ occupation was probably at the northern end. Later the Ngaitahu tribe came amongst them. The two tribes at first lived peaceably together and intermarried, but disputes arose between them, the friends became enemies and the Ngaitahu got the upper hand and gradually drove out their former friends. Sir Walter Buller, in a report written in 1861, stated that the Ngatimanioe were almost, if not quite, extinct, but that it was reported that a remnant of the tribe was in existence at Milford Sound. Canon Stack, writing in 1877, stated: “Having suffered so cruelly from the Ngaitahu the survivors of the persecuted tribe (Ngatimanioe) seem to have been always in a state of flight, imagining that then ancient foes were still in pursuit. It is just possible that a small remnant may remain secreted in the recesses of that inaccessible region.” Captain F. W. Hutton, in a paper on the Maori written in 1891, stated: “It seems to me improbable that the Ngatimamoe, the last remnant of whom inhabitated the West Coast Sounds, were moa-hunters.” H. M. Stowell, writing in 1808, stated: “Attacked and slaughtered at Otakou (Otago) the Ngatimamoe survivors fled to the mountain fortresses surrounding the south-western . lakes where, crushed and broken by the power of the dominant northerners, a remnant found safety in utter isolation.”

In the “Ancient History of the Maori,” John White wrote: “The doomed Ngatimamoe were attacked and indiscriminately slaughtered. A remnant fled southward, but were hemmed in and many exterminated. About 30 escaped and fled inland to Lakes Hawea and Wan aka to which place the Ngaitahu thought it inadvisable to follow.”

The foregoing extracts make it abundantly clear that there was a strong belief that a number, probably a fairly large number, of the Ngatimamoe sought refuge from their enemies in Fiordland. Was it some of these whom Cook encountered at Dusky Bay on March 28, 1773'! Will their descendants, or traces of them, be discovered by the expedition which may set out from Invercargill? Tuturau Pa. One of the memorable events in the story of the Southern Maori is the capture and recapture of the Tuturau Pa. Te Puaho a nephew of the terrible Te Rauparaha, decided to take an invading party into the more southerly parts of the South Island.

If tradition is reliable, he undertook this journey against the advice ol Ke Rauparaha. lie left Cook Strait with a fighting force ot aoout 7U and proceeded by way ot the West Coast. He apparently chose this route as he anticipated being considerably reinforced irom the Ngau-wai-rangi tribe who lived on the Coast and who were friendly towards Te Kauparaha. Te Puaho, however, found that the Ngati-wai-rangi by no means approved of his expedition and only a score or so of recuits were added to his force. The taua, now a hundred strong, proceeded in their canoes as far as tne Hakst River, where they beached them and proceeded overland by way of the Haast Pass. At Lake Hawea they met an eeling party presumably consisting of Ngatimamoe. The inVaders found no necessity to shed blood at this stage of their journey, but were content with securing as much infot mation as possible from the fishermen. They learnt that the chief man of the eeling party was at Lake Wanaka and the chiefs son volunteered to guide two of Te Puaho’s men to his father. This boy was not without guile, for no sooner had he got well out of touch' with Te Puaho than he proceeded to get the ’two northerners hopelessly lost in dense bush. Putting on all speed he reached his father, who assembled his few retainers and travelled to where the two warriors had been left in the bush. The two were found and put to death. ' After a wait of a few days Te Puaho realized he had been duped so he exacted utu (satisfaction), though not of a very drastic nature, from the eeling party he held as hostages, and proceeded on his way to Tuturau. Te Puaho’s party navigated the Clutha River on mokos and worked their -way down the valleys of the Mataura. When they reached the spot where the Waikaia River joins the Mataura they called a halt to recuperate themselves after their arduous journey. The inhabitants of the Tuturau Pa, although living in fear of an invasion from Te Rauparaha by sea, little dreamt of an attack from the interior. The invading party caught the Tuturau natives quite off their guard and Te Puaho, with all the thoroughness of his redoubtable uncle, proceeded to slaughter the whole pa party. A young man who was working on the riverbank managed, however, to hide until dark and then made his way to a bird-snaring party at Tapanui. This party lost, no time in reaching the Awarua whaling station and word of what had occurred at Tuturau was soon despatched to Ruapuke, where Chief Tuawaiki and his men were. In his book. "Historical Records of New. Zealand South,” Ro-Carrick has the following graphic description of what then took place on Ruapuke and at Tuturau: “It was the last, occasion on the island on which oblation was offered to the god of battle, in accordance with ancient Maori customs. An immense cavern opens to the sea beach beneath the island fortress. It may still be seen, a dark abyss, and although geological periods have elapsed since it was instinct with the life of the mighty ' waters, the echo-swish sounds and resounds as if acting and reacting the story of its nativity. Shut up amidst these ghostly sights and sounds, the tribal tohunga or spirit njedium spent the night in severe exorcisms. Outside in the open was heard the clash of arnfs, plaintive wails and lamentations of the Maori coronach or tangi for the dead. Departing at dawn of day they cast Koangaumu, or spell for weakening the enemy and spoke the Kitao or invocation of the spear on the eve of battle. Arriving at the mainland the taua effected a landing at Owe (Fortrose). Concealing themselves during daylight they marched under cover of night, reaching Tuturau early on the morning of the third day. Being inapprehensive of danger the inmates of the pa were caught napping and its recapture was brought about almost as quickly as had been its capture. Te Puaho and hia chief men were killed: thirty in all. The others were taken prisoners.”

So much for Tuturau. Now for its connection with the "lost tribe.” As soon as the eeling party, which Te Puaho encountered at Hawea and from whom he exacted satisfaction saw the invaders disappear, they are reported to have fled towards the Sounds in mortal fear of having to pay a much more deadly toll to Te Puaho’e men on their return or to another party which, for all they knew, might come so unexpectedly over the Haast Pass. It is from .the precipitate retreat of this, eeling party into the forests of Fiordland that efforts have been made to identify the lost tribe. However, as previously mentioned, it seems more probable that it was from the Ngaitahu raid a century earlier that the legend sprung. Do descendants of the lost tribe still live in primitive fashion in the wilds of Southland? Is' Maori tradition on 'this point unreliable? These questions can best be answered when an expedition such as Mr John Topi hopes to organize explores every inch of the country where the “wild, untamable race of savages” are reputed to havo taken up their abode.