A MAORI LOVE STORY.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 345, 18 July 1885, Page 11

A MAORI LOVE STORY.

Founded on Fact,

HIXEMOA ECLIPSED

For many years has the story of Hinemoa stood pre-eminent in the annals of Maori love— a story which, has shown what hardships a woman will face for love. What severe trials she will undergo, and how impossible it is to quench the flame of love when once kindled in her breast, A tale has now reached us which entirely supersedes the exploits of Hinemoa, and which for pure love and devotion is unsurpassed in the history of courtship. On the shores of Rotoiti, where Hinemoa dwelt, lives a Maori belle, beautiful of form, intelligent, and prepossessing. Two years back she was given in marriage to a most intelligent native of an adjoining tribe — a man who, for many years, served under Government in the Armed Constabulary. Though married, never once did Ani — for so shall we designate her for the nonee — show the great affection which is expected from a faithful wife ; but for two long years she served her lord and master in an obedient, humble way, and he, warmly affectionate and jealous, tried many means to gain the affection which he justly considered was his right. But Piri — her lord and master — had yet to learn that l< marriages are made in Heaven," and without a hearty reciprocation of love, marriage ends in misery. So, for two yeors, lived Piri and Ani in domestic partnership — lived peceably, and to all appearance, contentedly. At this time, however, came on the scene a stalwart, handsome young pakeha bushraan, who located himself close by the domicile of Piri ; and as Ani daily gazed on his handsome visage, tho flame of love began to burn within her breast, and day by day the flame became intensified, till her whole frame was seized with a passionate 3 r earning for the pakeha and his love. And the pakeha, who had travelled over most of the world, who had toyed with the affections of women in almost every clime, but who had understood not the gaspings and passions of the heart, here, in the pristine forest of Te Ika Maui, discerned in Ani the necessary attributes for his life's happiness. It is needless to relate how the lovers frequently met — how the existence of each was spent for the other — till the obedience which Ani had previously paid to Piri was changed to abhorrence, and she fled from the whare of the Maori to the house of the pakeha. Then was Piri's jealousy fired, and he swore Vevenge, and the capture of his beloved. Calling forth the members of his littpu, he sallied forth, and with assistance overpowered the pakeha and conveyed the recalcitrant Ani back to the home she had deserted. Then commenced the woman's sufferings ; then commenced the battle of love ; for forsake her pakeha lover tho woman vowed she never wonld ; they might kill her, that only would separate her from her king. The jea- ' lous husband, in the sight of the whole hapu, stripped naked his erring spouse, and there and then inflicted, with supple-jacks, punishment, severe and long. After each cruel stroke the flesh rose in livid streaks, but ne'er a murmur came from the sufferer. Then, by the hair of her head, she was dragged, and like a dog thrown into an outhouse, and securely imprisoned. Securely, as Piri thought, but to a woman's master miud, most insecurely. In the dead of night Ani succeeded in making an opening in the tojiare, and freeing herself ; and clotheless, despite tho wind and rain, despite the deep-rooted Maori fear of Taipo, she with fleet foot reached the abode of her Pakeha, there in his blandishments to receive, in her idea, ample recompense for her sufferings. The feelings of Piri can be imagined when on the morrow, after wending his way to Ani's ! prison, standing by and cajoling his faithless | wife from the outside— calling on the kainga to come and revile her — he found on entering that his bird had flown. His rage became fearful to behold — he swore he wonld kill both the woman and the pakeha, but was dissuaded by his aged father ; who, with the old tohimgas, proceeded to the pakeha's residence, and pointed out that unless he forsook Ani he would meet with sure and certain death. Yielding to their claim, he delivered the woman up, and handed her over to the raging Piri. Then came punishment number two. Again was she stripped — beaten most unmercifully— spat upon— dragged by the head — and again imprisoned, but in a more secure building. At midnight, as before, she managed to escape — this time through a small opening in the window, through which it seemed impossible for a child to pass, and naked, bleeding, and faint, once more she presented herself before her pakeha idol. On the morrow, Piri raved as a madman,

and but for being 1 i*esfcrained, murder would have been the outcome. Once more was the pakeha obliged to hand over his love to the old men, according to the tribe's mandate. This time, however, she was spared the brutal treatment which had been her previous portion, but was cast into prison, naked. After three days' incarceration, without food, by the help of a friend she again escaped, and fearful of being observed, took to the lake, where she remained fourteen hours, with only a portion of her face above water. During all this time Piri and his friends were searching high and low for the fugitive. At night, she emerged from the water, cold and benumbed, and evading her pursuers, made her way to her lord's house, again presenting herself before him, and fell fainting at his feet. Several Europeans had now learnt of the affair. They considered that in the interests of mercy they were bound to interfere, and accordingly sent word to the enraged Piri, that, as their friend and Ani were determined to be mated, they would resent any raid the natives made upon the pakeha's property in search of Ani or otherwise. The old men of the tribe now saw that love would not be baffled, and considered that Piri's treatment had gone far enough. So now came the I'aua, which most New Zealanders know the meaning of. Piri's tribe came down on Ani's, and took away waJcas, horses, blankets, bullocks, meres, poiinamos, and everything* of value. Then for a while Piri and his tribe were appeased ; till some weeks after Piri managed to recapture Ani, and conveyed her to a settlement some miles inland. Here for two weeks she was guarded, but gained her escape, and fled to the house of a European, who sheltered, protected, and conveyed her back to her pakeha. Then came another Tana, and Ani's hapu, incensed at having . all their property lost, threatened violence to the pakeha unless he left their district. Naked, war-painted, and armed, they in the morning marched to his residence, and threatened him with immediate execution ; but lie, taking the bull by the horns, vowed to chastise the whole army, which had the effect of an immediate clearance. After some more Jcorero, and some trouble, finding they could not quell the pakeha, the chief and his tohungas decided that he should be allowed to keep Ani, and that all enmity should be buried. So woman's love triumphed, and now, in a neat, snug tohare, may be seen the pakeha and Ani — the latter gay, cheerful, and triumphant ; triumphant in the fact, that as a unit, she had defied the whole of the world, and has now obtained that for which she thirsted, long and suffered much. Such is my Maori love story. Bravo for the Maori maiden, say I. It is the Ani class of women who mould men's minds, and govern the world, whose example causes coward man to marvel, whose example fills one with high and mighty adoration for her sex. Where have we, from the earliest records of history to the present time, anything surpassing the devotion which Ani shewed ? Only in one instance have I read of devotion approaching to it, and that in the case of G. R. Sims' ' Ostler Joe.' Fortunafamtfortibus. Pan go. Eotorua, July 12th.