IN THE “EARLIES”

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3666, 10 February 1940, Page 5

IN THE “EARLIES”

SIDELIGHTS ON CAMBRIDGE HISTORY MAORI HAKAS IN CAMBRIDGE STREETS IX. Some interesting reminiscences have come from Mr Sidney C. Richardson, formerly a well-known resident of Cambridge, but now of Melbourne. Mr Richardson tells how the Maoris used to throng the streets of Cambridge sixty years ago, sometimes performing hakas in the main street.

During the early ’eighties, Cambridge was on several occasions fulS of Maoris, sometimes to the number of two thousand or so, to attend the periodical Land Courts held to settle the claims of the different tribes to various blocks of land sold from time to time to the whites, and on these occasions much mild excitement prevailed. One sunny afternoon a great haka was held, perhaps to welcome a visiting tribe or chief, or for some other reason, I forget now, that was made the excuse for one of their favourite pastimes. Several hundred men lined up in three long rows in the main street, many very scantily clothed, and danced their wild barbaric dance, singing or yelling their old songs of defiance to their enemies, or of welcome to their friends, stamping heavily in perfect unison, sometimes jumping with a wild yell two feet or so from the ground, till the very earth shook, or seemed to, making often the most horrible grimaces, with protruding tongues covering, with the more practised dancers, almost the whole chin, with eyes rolling till sometimes nothing but the whites showed, it was indeed a sight not to be forgotten. Cherished Weapons Those warriors with their cherished taiahas, or long wooden staffs chiefs or Tangitiras’ with greenstone or bone meres ..or carved wooden ‘patus,’ shook them at arms length in their rapidly quivering hands so fast that for a while their outline could not be distinguished, or with their arms extended alternately to right and left as they danced, similarly shook their open hands as no white man could ever do. Sometimes the natives be addressed by one or more of their chiefs who spoke to them fluently in a clear loud and musical voice, that could be heard for a considerable distance, for there were many great orators amongst them. In making their land claims they often traced back their ancestry for many generations, going back several hundred years. But, as with their white brethren wine and women caused trouble sometimes. One morning) just as day was breaking, we heard a commotion in the street fronting our house and looking through the window we saw a crowd of natives hastily forming into a rough column. We lost no time in dressing and soon were' interested spectators to the exßited gathering, and the noisy straggling march down the street of many men and women. We learned tliey were to visit another tribe camped in tents and temporary huts near the river, a mile or so away to demand “utu” or satisfaction from them for the reason that one of their young men had eloped with the wife of one of the men of the visiting tribe. Scantily Clothed

Some of the marching men were scantily robed, in several cases a necktie round the waist was the only “garment'’ worn. Those who were nof the fortunate possessors of the much prized meres or taiahas armed themselves temporarily with sticks of firewood as mock weapons, for it was to be a perfectly friendly attack. We boys followed that rabble right to the other tribe’s camp and when they heard the noise of their visitors all was excitement. At once they in turn collected similar “arms” and a wild mock battle followed. I remember one old tattooed warrior emerging from his tent dressed in a single garment —his waistcoat and that was unbuttoned and flapping as he ran into the melee, but in his hand he waved a fine mere that he would not have parted with for twenty suits of clothes. He ran through the throng of noisy natives slashing here and there (with care not to hurt) until in imagination he had slain a great number of the enemy, and when all had “killed” to their satisfaction the excitement died down somewhat and the real business was proceeded with, and a parley began. One or two small thin sharpened

sticks were stuck in the ground while the natives squatted round. Then the offending tribe brought forth their “utu” or payment—who fixed the amount' of the fine or what it amounted to I do not know', but numerous pound notes wore stuck upOii those pointed sticks, and alongside a pile of blankets and other goods was made and in due course removed by the friends of the lady or more likely her husband, and all honour was satisfied. Nearly forty years after this event, I mentioned the circumstance to a native wood-carver at Rotorua —at once his face lit up—“Dat ray uncle—dat was my uncle,” very proud apparently with his connection with the hero (or the villain) of the otherwise long-forgotten scandal.