MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 May 1937, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”) THE PIGEON. The handsome plumage of our native pigeon (kereru), its gentle nature, and tuneful pleading call, Ku, ku, ku, which caused many tribes to call it Kuku or lcukupa, make its wanton destruction all the mox*e deplorable. If it is to be rescued from the fate of the Huia and Kakapo, now is the time for absolute protection. It is believed to be - the largest and most beautiful pigeon in the world. Its quiet, trustful nature makes it an easy prey to every pothunter under the name of sport. Compared with their vast numbers and Maori methods a century ago, their slaughter is like that of a machine gun. The Maoris had three ways of capture. A platform in the branches of a favourite tree abounding in berries. On this was hidden the hungry bird catcher. Above him a short pole with a perch, and a noose under each hunch of berries. When a bird reached through the snare, the Maori pulled the string. Two hundred birds* a day are known to have been one man’s tally. Another method was to place wooden troughs of water in the branches of the miro, with fixed snares above them, at fruiting time. ’ When a pigeon drinks he stretches his head and neck back to swallow, and is thus caught. A long thin shaft with a spear point of barbed bone was an effective weapon in the hands of a quiet prowler beneath the trees where birds rested and slept in the sun. Mats of fine hand-woven dressed flax (muka or whitau) were interlaced with the tinted colourings of pigeon plumes from white to bronze and purple. So attractive indeed’ were these that as much as £25 was given for a good specimen. These were taken abroad, and may now be found in foreign museums. A strange thing is that the bright glow of tho pigeon’s plumage disappears within ten minutes of death.