PRIMITIVE MAORIS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14635, 13 February 1918, Page 9

PRIMITIVE MAORIS.

IN THE HEART OF THE UREWERA

Interviewed by tlie "Manawatu Times," Mr A.W. Bull, one of a party of Aucklandors who journeyed through Rua's stronghold stretching from Whnkatane to Waimana, a run of 20 miles, gave an interesting account of the Natives and their primitive habits. Mr Bull said that the Maoris who inhabit this area are rngst primitive. Their faces are tattooed. Even the young girls have their lips and chins ornamented with ancient designs, and some of the old men are entirely tattooed, face and body. They adhere to all the ancient customs, and have implicit faith 311 the hereditary superstitions of their race. Many places are tapu and kept sacred,, while their belief in the Taipo, black devil, who comes at night, is strongly manifested. These Maoris belong to the Tuhoe tribe, and many were followers of Te Kooti.

The scenery is wonderful in its rugged grandeur,, the overlapping ranges oi hills making it a series of "drop scenes," the vivid red of the rata blossoms making bright splashes among the many greens. It would be impossible to traverse this country but for the sure-footed Maori horse which performs seemingly almost impossible feats with amazing skill—fording rivers, climbing steep banks, and picking a way through dense undergrowth to test the nerves of the best horsemen. ,

The Maoris are generous and kindly, offering what hospitality their meagre larder afforded. Wild pigs and pigeons, kumaras • and corn bread were their staple diet. In the pigeon season birds were preserved and kept for special occasions. The cooking was done in the open, on the stones and fern, and they lived the very primitive existence of their ancestors of 60 years ago. They still carve t their canoes out of Jogs, the party inspecting.ons of recent construction. Many of the children had never seen a white man before, and kept in hiding, and with the exception of one or two of the men English was unknown, the guide acting as interpieter. The natives have abounding faith in their prophet Kua; they firmly believe he can do -ill he said he would do. Mr Bull, who has travelled widely, and 'visited the various countries of Europe affording scope for adventures scenic .charms, states that the grandeur of this untouched, country hidden in deep recesses among well-nigh inaccessible mountain |ranges stands alone in primitive beauty. The Maori dwellers, too, retain the best attributes of their ancient race, unspoiled by contact with civilisation, from which, with tlie perversity of human nature, they seen to assimilate the worst traits, the combination making, what We so of ten I find in popular tourist resorts, a pro-' duet not typical, nor to be admired. Simple, kinHiy ; and genial, they live their simple life away from tho haunts I of the pakehaj retaining their simple faith and ancient customs. Jin these days of wars and stress how many will envy their sanctuary, 5n the heart of the hills.