MAORI WITCHCRAFT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8636, 23 November 1889, Page 2

MAORI WITCHCRAFT.

Tiikub still seems to bo a strong belief in witchcraft in the Maori composition despite all the natives have learned from the Europeans. At Rahotu at present a great meeting and feast is taking place, which has for its object the driving away or killing of the makutu that has lain on Kahui, a chief, so the natives of his hapu affirm, for some time. Kahui recently had the misfortune to lose two children, and this is sot down to makutu wliich was supposed to be in a stone. Two Maori doctors stated to bo from Waikato are at the meeting, and one of these it is said dreamed that the stone that was doing all the mischief to Kahui and his family would bo found five chains out at sea. He swam into the sea at a particular spot down the coast, and following out his dream, he dived down and picked up a stone, which is said to be the one that has the makutu giving powers in it. This stone is now at the meeting, and the doctors have undertaken the job of killing the evil spirit (which is said to have been put in it by another native) out of it. The meeting and feast has been on a week now, but how long it will take the doctors to fix up the spirit is not definitely known, but no doubt the exorcising, or killing, will last as long aa the " tucker " holds out. The whole affair will show how rampant superstition is still among the Maoris.