Australian Tales and Adventures.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2044, 18 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Australian Tales and Adventures.

No IS. A MAORI PIG HUNT.

By ATHACHAI’TEU 1. It was at the close of a tierce and stubborn night encounter with the rebels at Te Kings that I was made prisoner. I held the unenviable position of a field reporter to one of the metropolitan journals at the time, and in the excitement during the nu hr forgot myself and my peaceful avocation; hence my cap-

tivity. I was not the only prisoner (be Maovies made on this occasion. I soon discovered that Captain Hanleigfa, of the Auckland Kifies, and two of bis men, were also prisoners of war.

During my experience of New Zealand warfare I found the rebels rarely made prisoners of the Fakeha. Indeed, on both sides ‘ die or do ’ seemed to be the order of the day. Therefore, it was with some surprise we found ourselves, on the morning following the oombat, seated at breakfast with our captors in a beautiful valley, selected for the repast. Here the wounded Maories bad their wounds dressed, those who where severely hurt being placed on karos, or rude stretchers, formed of titree, and easily manufactured on the spot. We soon patted company with the main body of warriors, for, the breakfast being ended, a dozen stalwart rebels armed with rifles were assigned as our guard and escoit, who, under the command of the noted ohief Bewi, led ue away into the scrub. Speculation ae to oar ultimate fate was pretty rife amongst us, bnt the Maori not being a talkative animal we could learn nothing whatever from them. Fortunately, I possessed a sufficient knowledge of their language to enable me to gather from their brief muttered conversation that a settlement near the coast was onr destination. We were a week in the scrub—a week of long weary marching and bad food, a log lot a pillow, and the wide spreading Kauri pine for a roof at night. On the eighth day of onr long march we reached the summit of a bigb range of hills that looked down upon the Maori settlement. To the west as far as the eye ooold reach, lay the ocean, without a tipple on its vast expanse; while before ns, mountain upon mountain towered one above another, ending far away on the blue misty horizon. Below ns the village of Te Kooti, on a sheltered patch on the extreme plain, the wharves, from onr elevated position, seeming no bigger than a ebild’s toy. In the rear of the settlement we noticed an immense sheet of water, bound by a chain of bills, and studded with email miniature islands.

“ One cannot wonder at the Maori fighting so determinedly for a country like this ” said Captain Hanleigb, gazing round him with a kindling eye. “To the devil wid the country, jn’ these murtherin’ savages along with it into the bargain,” responded Bennie Finn, a stout, short, muscular son of the Green Isle, who had been made prisoner with bis captain. “ Begorra, it isn’t ranch soldiering I’ll be after once I get my ould bones safe out of this.” 11 Well, Finn, for my part, I’d run the same chance of being taken captive to-morrow for such another glorious scene ae this,” answered his comrade, a tall, poetical youth, fresh from one of the drapery establishments of the city of Auckland. “ Arrah, talk sinse, man alive,” retorted the Irishman, warmly, at the same time wiping his face with the lining of his forage cap. “ Sure, what will be the use of all the mountains and the says (seas) in the whole world to ye whin the savages has on’st hoult of a man?”

Captain Hanleigh looked hard at Finn, then turning to me, eaid quietly, “ I have board that the tribea hereabouts are mostly all cannibals.”

“ True, Captain, and moreover I have beard Te Papa remark that above all things under the euu the coast natives prefer to feast upon a stout healthy Pakeha,” I answered gravely. “ Indade, but ye don’t mane that,” rejoined Finn, trying to laugh. 11 1 do, I can assure yon.” “Do you believe that, Captain, agra? Mueha I it’s only humbugging, he is.” “ I’m afraid it is true, Dennis,” replied the Captain, in a gloomy tone. “ Yet if one has to die, what does it matter how we are disposed of; it’s all the same in the end.” If my life had been the forfeit I could not have refrained from laughing at the look of horror on the features of Corporal Finn. “ Holy Bailor I it’s a pleasant matter to laugh at, isn't it, now ?” cried Dennis, reproachfully, “ to be roasted like a pratie or a leg of poork. I’m an Irishman, an' 1 don't care a brass button lot any couple of Maoriea in the country in a fair stand-op fight; d’ye hear that? But to be roasted an' eaten like a ehouldher of mutton, good God, it’s awful.” And Corporal Finn gazed fiercely at the Maori escort, as if he would have tried conclusions with them single-handed on the spot. This time the impulse to laugh was quite irresistible, sod the captain and myself joined in one loud hearty guffaw, which made the Maori guard open their eyes in wonder. Our arrival at the settlement caused no ■mall etir and excitement among the inhabitants. Two or three hundred savages—men, women and children, came yelling and dancing around us, and at whose hands we should have received a demonstrative reception but for the timely interference of our escort.

The village consisted of about fifty wbares, the walls and roofs consisting of a species of thick substance manufactured from native fiax and swamp rushes. The huts were built at right angles to each other, the designs varying according to the architectural fancy of the builder. In rear of the whares were several patches of soil under cultivation.

The place swarmed with dogs of almost every kind of mongrel, and they came snarling and barking about our heels like a pack of hungry wolves.

Brief time was allowed ue to look about. Rflwi marched us to a email hut, and wc were thrust inside it without further ceremony. The place had anything but a pleasing odour. It was low-roofed, and quite devoid of door, windows, or furniture. The Maori cares little for luxuries in the shape of chairs and sofas, indeed, his dwell-ing-place would not admit of it, considering that be builds bis whare without chimney, lights his fire in the middle of the apartment, and makes a hole in the roof for the-esoape of the smoko.

We lived for over six weeks, close prisoners in this foul den, when one morning we received a visit from Te Kooti, the chief, who informed us in very good English that we were to be released from further confinement, and, furthermore, that providing wc did not attempt to escape, and did not quarrel with his people, he would send us back again to Te Hangs in the course of a week. Apart from our unbounded faith in the fulfilment of Te Kooti’e promise, we ware my glad to breathe pure air again and feel the warm sunlight. We mixed freely with the savages, and became very friendly with them; whereupon a great pig hunt was arranged to take place in 010 »;„c

our honor, and we were invited to join the sport. The party consisted of Te Kooti and twenty of hie foremost warriors, who kindly supplied US with weapons for ihr chase. There was a fosnst of i'ii k hush about five miles west of the villeß", ■■.her ' the chief informed us should ho I plcfify of I'iima. Selecting half a dozen 'mm the pack at hand, we took our dryinn, serous the range of hills towards the hunting ground. Captain Hanleigh hud been favour-i with a gnu, the Swc riflemen aud myself with each a tomahawk.

Dennis Finn was in high spirits, and out suoh capers as set even the grave savages laughing.

As wc drew near the spot indicated by out guides the country surrounding became broken and irregular, (iigantis K'suri pino trees, sonic rising to a height of sixty feet, grew almost side by side, with thick coils of the New Z eland creeper supple-jack curled and entwined about their broad trunks and branches, and descending thence to the ground again, like ropes dangling fretn the spars of a stranded ship. At length wc entered a flat space, where theunder growth was very rani; and luxuriant. Here the chief halted, and directed the captain and myself to accompany two of Ids mi n to a spot lower down. One of the warriors could speak a little English. “ You know how to catch pig ?" said he to me.

“ No, I have never taken part in a pig hunt before." "Ab, Prtkeha soon see."

He dived suddenly into a thick copse of ferns, and, lying down on his face, began making a succession of grants and squeaks, s§ inimitably true to the. noises made by the porcino species that Captain Hanlei/h instantly brought his gun to bis shoulder for a shot.

The Maori laughed—a queer noiseless laugh —at the dflioer's mistake, and again repeated the sounds.

£5" Pig, him sly fellow; smell Pakeha,” said the savage, with agrin. “ Maori more sly than pig. Him no likeyfaori, not a little bit. Maori fond of pig.” And ho laughed again, but no sound followed.

We crouched down beside our swarthy companions for some time, when gradually we became cognisant of a low rustling sound some distance away. The Maori ceased hie mimicry, and looked up with an intelligent glance. Presently the sounds grew nearer, accompanied by hoarse grunts, and immediately five or six full grown pigs, headed by a fierce boar, with long projecting tusks, came bound ing forth, and, breaking cover at the sight of na, fled swiftly out into the more open bush land, and in a line almost with our bush companions. Here one of the dogs broke from the party, and the frightened pigs, catching sight of him, wheeled halt round, and scampered away in another direction. Tally-ho 1 The chase began, I'akchu Maoris, and doge were in full cry. Over fallen logs, and over deep creeks ard gullies, went the game, screaming with rage and fright. The dogs with gaping mouths, stretched themselves out after t !>• Ir pny; while the Maoris, in frantic delight, b i.ped high in the air, uttering their terrible battle cry,' their features distorted, and clearing space with their tomahawks at every bound. Tally-ho 1 over boulders, marsivc and fantastic in shape, and standing like bn ,v giants to bar our course; over sharp jutting rocks, and across deep chasms, where one UN p would have been certain deaths Maori and Pakeha running and laughing, their breath coming and going in hurt gasps, each is striving who shall be lirtt in the exciting race.

Tally-ho I through swamps and hog went the grunters for dear life, their long snouts covered with foam, their hair bristling “ like quills upon the fretful porcupine." The swiftest dog was within a few fret of tbc hindmost porker when the bout turned at bay, and with one sweep of his sharp tusks inflicted a wound, which totally disabled the poor brute.

Onward yet 1 The chase is now going at a slower pace, and the dogs are fast gaming on their prey. Te Kooti is leading th.: run, and eeeras to have plenty of “stay" ; j,-fi iu him; the captain is next, ttru ; like a second Deerfoot for the lead ; Corporal Finn is hall a mile away iu the rear, pulliing and blowing like a whale, and gesticulating like a madman.

Tally-ho I A Maori pig hunt is a fine thing to test the soundness of one’s lungs. At the bottom of a deep ravine the pig", were run down, and the final struggle between them and the dogs took place. One courageous brute, a large dingoe, seized the boar by the throat, and, in spite of several wounds, held on to hie prey gamely, until Te Kooti came up, who, with one blow of his keen tomahawk split the boar’s skull in twain. Another dog caught a porker by the car, and there held him until be was secured and finally despatched by one of the Maorins, A fine plump pig tried to bide itself behind a mass of rock that opened out to the hill above ; but Captain Hanleigh brought him down with a clever shot that won the goodwill of thg chieftain.

After the piga had been despatched the Maories bled them and dragged them to the creek close by, where they were thoroughly cleansed.

The butchering then began, and I noticed the Maoriee carefully examined the liver of each pig. I enquired the cause, and was informed that a filthy disease is prevalent among the wild pigs of the Northern Island, and that the only way of detecting those diseased is by sundry white spots over the surface of the liver. The pigs we had caught wore fine healthy ones, and were considerably above the average size and weight. We had nearly completed our arrangements for returning to the settlement when Corporal Dennis Finn made his appearance, his clothes saturated with water, and minus bis hat. “ Where iu the world have you been to ?' enquired the Captain. ■ Been, is it?” echoed Finn, ruefully. “ Musha, I ve almost been out o' the world Och I an’ may the divil burn up every swamp in the counthry, I say.” ” What is the matter ?” “Mattbcr? I'm nearly drownt, bad cess to it.” Have you been in the swamp ?” •' I have that; olane to the bottom. An' a terrible cold hole it is, ye may depiod, Captain. 1 followed one o' them ugly bastes down a bill, and when I had got him nately by the tail, bad luck to me if didn’t drag me head over heels in an ould swamp.”

“ How foolish to have held on to the beast. Why did you not let go?” said his comrade. “ Arrah, don't be makin’ a judy av yourself,' answered the Corporal, angrily, “ Shure the like av you would have let the pig go; but bagorra, it isn't an Irishman 'ud let go his hault ; d’ye hear that, nfa bouchal?” And Corporal Finn took off his coat, and wrnng the water ont of it. 11 1 suppose yon lost the pig, Corporal '! ’ “Well, yon can suppose that came, me honey; but I didn’t eorra o' fear o’ that,” answered Finn, " I drew him all the way here by the leg, and I'll lay yez he's the biggest grnnter among the whole lot o’ yez, come now!” On oar return to the village we received an invitation to dine with Te Kooti. Wc accepted the chief’s hospitality, and after spending a rather boisterous evening returned to onr mats, and slept soundly alter the fatigues of the day. Two days afterwards we were en ?,<»(<■ to rejoin out comrade# at Te Banga.