DESCENDANTS OF THE LOST TRIBES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3163, 1 October 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

DESCENDANTS OF THE LOST TRIBES.

Scattered over the breezy downs of tlie Nilgherrics, in little villages of wicker houses that look at a short rlistar.ee like nothing , in the world so much as a colony of beehives, live? (the Times of India says) a community of GOO or 700 people, who are variously believed to be the descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel, the aborigines of Southern India, and a community of Manichasns. " Pastoral folk, idle aud picturesque," Mr. J. D. Rees describes them in his deligrbtf ul wa}', " they live on milk and the produce of the buffaloes, and aa the unknown is dreaded hero as elsewhere, their neighbours, much feariug- what they do not understand, pay them fees as wizards for value received in occult matters, and an a retaining feefur their aid in counteracting- the spells of the dread men of the slopes, who do their business with beasts of prey, track the bison, simre the leopard—a fearsome people, whose women leave their children in the charge of tigers when they go forth to cultivate the barley and the amaranth aud to gather honey in the woods." STRANfJK BETiIKKS They believe in a strange Trinity and a hell—a dismal stream full of leeches, aud this they must cross by means of a single thread. Tho soul burdened with sin is too heavy for this slender support, and tho sinner falls into the stream, but tho thread sustains easily the slight strain of the souls of the good. The funeral of a Toda for tint is the name of this singular tribe is as odd in its way as his religious belief. His body is wrapped in a new cloth, and his toos tied together with red thread. Grain, sugar, tobacco, and money are wrapped in his funeral tosra to provide him for his journey across the Styx aud the dark plain beyond. Two buffaloes are slain beside the corpse, and tho dead man's hands are placed upon their horns, a piece of hia skull, his hair, nnd his finger-nails are removed to be used later on at the great ceremonial of the year— the elaborate celebration of the death of all those who during the twelve months have " taken the leap over the great precipice into the bottomless abyss." J-UVERAT, TYRE. Wheu these tokens arc removed, clarified butter is smeared on tho fragrant wood of the funeral pyre, and the body is burned to ashes, nnd tlic ashes scattered to the four winds. The annual celebration is like a great fair, '' Gr.ive-looluQg greybeards are sitting astride open-mouthed, tongue-biinging wooden horses, burlesque tigers, and long-trunked elephants, and ample togas nutter in the breeze as the incrry-go-rouud whirls around as it does in an English fait- at the rate of a farthing for 30 revolutions, and swing boats s ay away with their aerial freight. In along impromptu lane shopkeepers from the neighbouring village of Octacamund, eight miles away, display their wares : sugarcane for bright white teeth to munch, rocA--cakes browned with burnt sugar, light fried rice, cigars and cabbage-rolled cigarettes ; oranges and ginger-beer, of course, but also eocoanuts, cinnamon, datej, wheatcakes, tandstickor matches, and sugar caudy." THE HOUSE OK MOOIt.VI.VIJ. In a house of mourning, a bunch of new bamboos, crouch the still sorrowing womenfolk of the year's tale of dead, and with them are the pieces of skull and hair, and fiuger-nails, and the grain measures and milk bowls of tho dead. There is a great umbrella dance of beaded Todas, who usher in the sacrifice—two female buffaloes for each of tho deceased. These are kept in a kraal, into which nt the appointed hour twelve of the athletes leap and strive to " break in." the frightened beasts, six of the twelve throwing away their clubs and holding on to the buffaloes' horns. Later on a guest approaches the kraal, selects a buffalo, throws a chaplet of leaves towards it. The athlete drags the animal to tho sicrificial stone, nnd it is instantly killed by one blow from the butt eml'of tin axe, and God is asked to accept the animals' death as an expiation of the sins of " whoso name shall never more on earth be spoken." The sumo ceremony is gone through with the ro'rainiug buffaloes, aud the uext mournintr the women meet at the house o mourning, light a fire by rubbing two sticks together, and tliijn burn down the house and all its precious relics of the dead. A strange people truly, of whom Mr Rees at some future date should tell us more.

JUDGMENT OHURA SUUIH. Tins caso wa.-s oui'm/sicd r.n the Kith of August, IS'.l-J, wh-u Patni«at'i Kcpa, on behalf of the Nuatiurunuiiii.i tribe, claimed as r.gaiust the Xgat-ha-iua trii-e, of Wiiatigauui, ."(«).') acres (in. .1-.; or Irs.-) of that portion ~f the Ohira I'lock, '■>'. ten.ding from the junction of Man«ii'.:atukaioa with Ont_'ani!iu l!i\vr on the w.--t, to the N'gakoi'iui on the oa.-t, and bounded on the north by the Tarinpamotu River. This land he claimed as 1 i-ing known to belli tri!;. , - as--Te lloraiigal'ai.' The XiZat.iuiunnmia title to t hi-land, according to I'ntupitu, o.i:jiuat:-d in tiie lighting which, frm lime inmiemoraiile, had taken place between the two Iribi * above mentioned, and which ended in a j cai'i'-making, known to all cntiiiccti-d as Te l!nran»apai, on which occasion this land, then known as Orongohira, was formally given lo NgAtiui-unumia, in

order to confirm the good undersUmliiii; between the two tribes.

Fiom the evidence of this witness it is made to appear that the history of thift block is but a continuation of that of Orahiri No. -. for he says that the tighting began with TaraiiiL'ahciv, when the Nfiatirancatahi were defeated as already related ; that subsequently that tribe, aided by the Ngatiraukawa, attacked tho Ngatimaniapoto at To Takapou, and were again defeated, losing their chief Takahfj after which the Xgatitakibiku murdered Tu Uhunga of Ngiitiiiianiapoto at Tangimania, and then the Ngatirangatahi, dreading the vengeance of their powerful eueniies, fled to Whanganui for protection, and from that time ha r e lived with the Ngatihaaua of that district. So far it is clear that these battles had nothing whatever to do with either the Ngatihaaua or their lauds, for the simple reason that although tho Ngatirangatahi settled on the Ohura Block they did not own if ; whatever iurnia they now have over the block eair.e to them by marriage with the Ngatihaaua, the ancestral owners. With this tribe neither Patupatu, Te Hihi, or Wahanui have shown any fighting—in fact, they say they know nnthinu' more of the casn thin they have told, and that is wonderfully little.

\Vr arc told that some yeare after the events above recorded the Ngatiurunumia, who were then living at Tuhuu, went to Otamakahi and there slew the Ngatirangatahi chief Tutemahurangi ; his son Te Porou, who was with him, managed to escape, but was pursued as far as the Tuahu, where Ngatiurunnmia halted. Te Porou reached the villages of Xgatihaaua, ami asked assistance from the chief Te Oro, father of the lite Topine Te Matnaku. This chief responded to the call, and noc only raised all the fighting men at hand, but also sent messengers to warn his father, Te Whakaneke. Meanwhile Te Oro contented himself by watching the enemy, who remained on the north bank cf Taringamotu. When, however, Whakaneke arrived he did not join his son's party b-it moved directly towards the Ngatiurunumia, his men cairying the tongues of their tniahas upwards instead of the blades, which would have been the ease had they intended war. By this token Te Oro knew that there would be peace.

Whakanoko was a Tohnnga of note, and met tho Tohunga of ihe other side, whoso name was Tawhaki, and together made that most solemn peace, which is called "a rongo tabitaki"—viz., a peace between the opposing gods.

On the following morning the two parties met again, and peace was made between man and man. It was at this period of the ceremony, according to Patnpatu, that Whiikaneko stood up and said, " I give to Ngatiunmumia tho land from Maiißakahikatoa to Whakanckepo," and the witness adds : " Whakaneke did this because he had heard that Ngatiurunumia had come to this land, and did not intend to and therefore lie feared lest Whanganui should bo slain by them." Patupatu also asserts that when Topine married Tahanga, of Ngatiurunumia, ho confirmed this giFL, nnd also on his death bed reminded Wahaimi that he should hold on to the land. The evidence in this caso i-hows that tho following chiefs of Ngatimaniapolo were present when the gift (vasmade :—Tawlmki, Mnniauruahu, Rauakitua, To Raunahi and Wabangntaua, and it is contended that these chiefs and their followers occupied the land, and that their descendants have never ceased to occupy down to the present day.

That no food or tribute of any sort was given to the Whansranui people, or any aet done which would justify the court in assuming that Ngatiuriuiumiii lived on their land in a positiou subordinate to Nffatihaaua.

On one point Patupatu nnd his witnesses are very emphatic—viz., that from the time of the peace known as Te Horangapai,there has been no fighting between the two tribes who are now opposing each other. As a proof of the good feeling and peaceful condition of affairs, Patupatu says that when certain of the Wnitarii, Ntratimaru and Ngatitama induced the Xgatihaaua aud Ngatiruru to join them in a raid on Ngatimauiaputo at a time when most of the men of their tribe were absent on a war party, Topiue joined in the raid for no other purpose than to prevent an attack on tho Ngatiurnnuinia, and for that reason took the warriors to Te Mapara, where the Ngatiparekawa were then living. This was the last intertribal fip;ht, and Topine was tho man who, by his action, prevented the peace at Te Doranirapai beinur broken.

Piitupiitu assorts that it was Tuao, a leading chief of Ngatihaaua who gave them the boundaries of the land which they now claim, and that the right of this tribe has never been questioned until DOW.

The inference to be drawn from the Ngatiuriiuumia evidence is : First, that Whnuganui gave this land out of fear, and in order to save themselves from destruction at the hands of that tribe ; secondly, that the occupation has been absolutely continuous from tho date of gift to present day.

The question for tho Court to decide will therefore be :—(lst) : Does the history of the two tribes justify the conclusion that this land was given in the way contended by Ngatiiminuinin—hud the Xgutihaaua suffered serious defeat at any time at the hands of their enemies sutficient to warrant the belief that they not only allowed a chief to be killed without taking revenge, but also purchased a shameful peace by giving up 5000 acres of land ; (2nd) : Did the'Xgatiurnnumia occupy this land as stated by witnesses, was that occupation uninterrupted, in fact was the peace of Te Horangapai never broken ?

Before dealing with these questions the Court will comment on the evidence which in this case as in all others in which the Ngatimaniapoto are concerned is of the most unsatisfactory description. It is ne - er possible to do more than obtain the most meagre sketch of any event. The conductor of the opposing party in vain cross-examines a* to matters which may possibly have an important bearing on the case. The witness invariably professes ignorance, which may be real but which often leaves an impression on the mind of the Court that it is assumed.

In this case the ignorance is profound, the Ngatiurunuinia witnesses boldly assume that Ngatihaaua must have been in a state of'abject fear, but they are quite unable to say whether there had or hail not been any battles previous to the alleged peaee. They do not know the genealogies of most of those for whom they claim, nor can they say whether these men had or had not an aneestr.il right from Whanganui in addition to any right which might be discovered to attach to their Xgatimaniapoto connection, all of these arc questions of importance.

It is uot sullicieut fora witness to know ouly that portion of the tribal history that will suit his own case. Such evidence cannot satisfy the mind of the Coi'i't when it is found on cross-examina-tion that he has no knowledge of other important events closely connected with the subject.

The Coiirl will t■■'..■..■ th.- most ek.rit- ! able -.i.-.v of tin- want of k nov !■ ■.!■_:.■ < - : hibit-il v- this ( '',u.-t- by w.Mii,- ■••< in th'- ■' airi rio'T cas'-s. i-'or it w.iiM - .-ii: ;.o ' have be. n the policy of th.- ohi.-fs of :li.. I t<,iy ..n.! tic Ci ~»'.., -,■!.eaV.Llv. in ■ "'' I ■•i "iv.-d; !• them s-u!.-..tv''. ut' to a !■■".- j rven'old ~; i, havi lo,t all kicwled;;.. o! tin ir r.n,l ri'.'h'.; :■.:>.! a;, i.v.v at ';i mcivy o! a 1.•■.-.- u;i ■.-■-■.. |. = 11- ■: • uc uv.l. > do ;;ot Icitaie <-. lake .-„! va i.t -,■/ ■o: t;, ■ po'-uioi, tecs I .■.\ed:,i,,-..,,muc! : t , ,M. .I". bi-v.i.d the t-.h- i... I ..- 1:.'.-!. Te iKiii ki;"o\vs stiil ':. s<. ai.d Wab niui ■' ■■ •■ nt hci'ate to admit thai he of the ease b, y..nd the ion villi Ti.piiKi which arc m> .-i r-i.-uously dcniid bv the itihiana wilr.i 'The evidence μ-ivm by the Njat ibii-in i witnes-i, llakiaha Tnwhiao, is a complete refutation of all that has been adx.n.e. ,! by those of Ngatinrunumia. ll'i" «i; have a clear, srr.r^li'.l'iii'w.i!. 1 . ;.c-,',ni' of the history of th-:'relations <.-\i.-l i:,g be. twccii the'two tribes from the death of Tutemahurangi down to th'. pn-sciit day, given in a manner that ba-i probably never been oqtrdled in a X itive Land Court. The cross examination l:y I'epeiie Kketonc, who is a most able conduct! r, failed to «lnke Irs evidence on any one point, and the impression loft on the mind of the Court is that Hakiaha was telling the, truth. His account is briefly as follows : — Ifc tells us that Tnteimhurnngi was not killed in battle, but was murdered by the Xgatimaru of Waitaia, who then lived at Otamakahi in a position subordinate to Ngatiurunumia ; that these people acted nnder pressure from TJari Maiurn, a chief of the last-named tribe, who said to them, " Ka eke te Kaka I'aialdwai kaua o takiritia, ka eke tc Kaka Ivura takiritia." If a common kaka should light here, do not snare it : if a red kaka, snure it. This advice was well understood to refer to Tutemahunuigi,_ who shortly afterwards came tn the village with Pango and Te Porou. Tho two former were killed, but tiie latter succeeded in escaping to his pa, Te Tutu o Rangitane. To revenge, this injury, the Xgatihaaua and the Ngatirangatahi raised a war party with the intention of annihilating (N'gatimaru. But Tauo-i, a younger brother of the murdered chief, said : 1 will not attack a tribe, of small note ; let the XciiUmaniapoto pay for this. This speech was approved, and the ope attacked Mangaiapn, where they killed and ate Te Xgarnramoerua, oF Ngatirora. Aft-r this peace was mado with Ngarue, chief of Xgatirora, and the ope returned to Whanganui. AH Xgatimaniapoto had, however,' by this time heard of the death of Te Ngarara, and to the number of 400 pursued the Ngatihaaua. At Te Parepare Ngarue attempted to stop them, saying that pence had been made ; hut the 400 declined to be turned aside from their purpose, and overtook the 170 of X'gatihaaua at Te Hoio. where, after a desperate battle, the Ngatimaniapoto (led, leaving the great chiefs, 11 ore, Ra..gituataka and Sg lel'.e, dead. Wahanui, however, escaped. Ngat-iimiia now turned their anus against Xgatimarii, who had left Otiniakahi and were now catching pels "n this block. About 50 of this tribe fell, including the chiefs Marotana, Pango and Ran«itahi. All these, it is said, were shiii by seven men only of the victorious tribe, and only 20 of tho Ngatimani under Wheto escaped. To avenge those defeats Wahanui attacked a pa in Ohnra called To Kuri Pakahn, but he failed to take it and returned without lose to either side. Shortlv after this fiasco Wahanui and Hari le-id-in»- chiefs of Ngatiurunumia quarrelled overall eel weir Te Taheke which they had taken by force from tho rightful owner and in order to settle who of these two should own it, it was agreed that each should lead a war party against the enemy and the most successful man should own tho eel pa. Wahauui attacked the Ngatitama at, Poutarna .ind Hari led his opi against tho Nffaiihaana who met them at To Karokare and once more Npatiuruniiinia were defeated. Hari was slain by Tangatakatoa, Tuteakau was slain by Kani, Paruparu and Nanivwern, hy Tangi, and Wharepaikea. by Te Porou. Toa Ransatera and Mauiauriviha o---capeii with the survivors. This battle (ilosi'd tho war which had been caused by the murder of Tuteinahurangri. Subsequent to this Tc Oro being in tho neiahboiirhood of Taringamotu sent, his wife Kahnkarewao, who was aNuatiurunumia to see her people at Tapapatann. _ This worn an found Maniauruahu, Told, Kuwn, nnd others at that village and was well received. She wi.s asked where her husband was, and told thorn at Ngapuana, on her return she informed her husband what had boon snid, and ho requested her to return and invite tho Nfratiuninutnia to come and sec him, thi" was done, and her tribe aeooph'f! tho invititinn and pumped at Orougohira, meanwhile a messenger was sent to fetch Whakanoko who came and met the Neatiurunumia Tohunsra Tawhaki in tho manner previously dos-c.-ibod nnd peace was mnrle between the opp«sin«r sods Maru and Ucnuku On the tollowin»-'diiy the two tribes met and the pence was definitely concluded. This ponce was made on a piece of land formerly called Orongohira but which has since bo<m known as To Horangnpai situate on the north bank of Tariifratnotii. But. no land was given by either party. Now if this evidence is trustworthy Mini Patupatu had evidently no foundation for his statement that xVliniisranui had reason to fear that they would be destroyed by Ngatiurunumi'i. The Court has rrnsop. to know that much of this evidence is tnie, and as before remarked has no reason to doubt the remainder.

Tho evidence of Hakiiiha as to subsequent affiii's is equally clour ho says emphatically that the peano was broken aud gives the following history: — A tribe of lower Whangimui called Nsatilu having sought to occupy Waipuna were driven away by Xgatihaiiua and in revenge attacked certain persons of Nsititimiuiiapoto who were then livingnear Ohura killing Tahohy and Iliroa, this says Hakiaha was done with the express purpose of embroiling Xiratiliaana with Ngatiurunumia. When news of this attack wiib brought to the former tii',.e, Kahukarewuo was sent to inform her relatives with the result-that Maniaimmhu told her to return and warn her husband to get out of his way. Messengers were then scut by this chief to all the hapus of Xgatimaniapoto, who forthwith marched to attack' Nsjatihaaua and killed Tc Moana--31-iki, of Ngatirangatahi, as also a man of Ngatihaaua. The ope men returned to tlieir home. Meanwhile the Ngatihaaua, warned by the wooden gongs in the different pas, had mustered, and at Opetea met a war party of Ngatitama, who had come, to settle a grievance of their own. They were under the chiefs Te Puolio, Taringakuri, Te To, Pohepohe, Rongomatane, and Te Manu o Tiaki. The two parties joined force and ove the retiring Maniapoto at Tapapatane. Here Ngatiurunumia were defeated, and the following chiefs, Te Rua, Tawhitiwhiti and Raugitewhata, killed. Ngatihaaua now built a pa. at Te Hinriu, and awaited further developments. They were not long kept in suspense, for Te Mauuwhakaruru, son of Rauakitua, led his tribes by four roads to the attack, and the following men of note in Ngatihiu.ua lell : J e Poakai, Tc Kihi, Patini, Te llihiua, aud Tutengaiiahau ; also '20 others of le.-s consequence.

As a set-off to this affair, Ngatihaiua attacked the Alokau people and slew Takaratai, Rangitcwewehi aud others, and on their return composed an insulting song against one of their own chiefs, Te Kuraiiiate, who had not joined in their raid. This caused the chief such annoyauc3 that he raised a war party of 800 men from different tribes and besieged Njjatimauiapotu at Puketupu, but did not take the place, aud returned without glory or profit. Tho next event was an attack by Te Hihi on Otuuui, when Te

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(1) That his wife, Tahanga, wa ■ living on the .JOOO acres claimed, as also his near relative, To Naku.

(•2) Because as aliv-ady ■'-.ted Topine's mother was a Xgaunrui... . i> and therefore lie was neaily relate.l to many in that tribe and hid no desire !■-. bri;:u' on

another war. Hakiaha denied that any of Xgatiuniuumia lived on the Ohura block until after Tahanga married Topino ami then only l'araonc Tongaporutu and his family. Hi; moreover asserts and the Court agrees with him that Tc Xaku and To lla arc not to bo resjurded as Xgatimaniiipato ; on this bind they arc clearly entitled to be considered as NY-alihaaua and the Court is of (.pinion that they must be regarded as having an ancestral claim on this land. Hakiaha denies that Te Hihi ever lived on this land and says that his kiaiiga is at Te Kotir.i and that his father was at Tc Mapai-J when the Xgatiluuua attacked that place and that he narrowly escaped ik-ath at the hands of Takcrei.

There arc man}' matters in the evidence that would require comment were there any doubt in the mind of the Court, as it is we will take only one or two.

I'atupitu in his evidence denied that any of the cattle given to them by Npitipuhiawe in return for the prcsi rved birds of this land were passed on to Waiiganui. But Te Hihi contradicts him and says that some of the progeny of these cattle. were so given for tin; reason that the bii\ls were procured on Wanguiui land.

Patupatu tells the Court th it whon T<; Rua was killed Renpeua was also ralcrn prisoner to Poulann and at that period TahaiiiM, his mother's younger sister \vii< Topine's wife, and he use.-' Ihi-i as an argument to show tint Xgatilaaua, could nothave taken part in th<> fiuht. Xow it is wc-ll known that Xgatitama have not lived at l.'uutama since ISl'l, ami as I'atupatu is a youn H - man of not tiuue than 4."i years this evidence- is to say (he least unreliable. It seems to he much moiv likely to l>; true as stated by lhkialui thai Tahiinjr.-l, first saw Topine aho.it the yeal IS:!! whin the allies were aboiir to mareh to Otaki in order lo save Xgatiraukawa.

In l'atupiitu's list of names there :iro 7!) persons, but; ol nil thi'S-: lie can only -ay that, four havß lived nu iho land, and lie admits that IV lla te Manu and others whom they now claim as having occupied the land for Ng-atiurunurma nro lint included in their list. His explanation is that To Ha had caused c<mfu-i>m in tho Block, but that it was intended that he and his pe.iple should be put in nt some future time, N<>w the-e lists were before tho Court from the 12th April to 22nd June, when tiny were finally elo-cd and during- that period. .Vtratimaniaivito never attempted to put in tl.e men whose occupation they now claim as their own.

Wahauui says that Ins name has no right to be in their list ; the Court agrees with him.

Tin; Court is of opinion that this case was lint brought before the Kobe Potae Court in a very peculiar and underhand manner. Oα the Ith April, ISSS, Matikitalii, who is related to each lribc, appealed before the Court and read out x list of boundaries, which ho represented as having been approved by Ngatai (the real chief of Ngatihaaua), and staled that that man had returned from Tc Kuiti to his home since there was no reason why lie should appear in Court, ho (Matakitaki) having been deputed to act for Ngatihaaua.

Under these circumstances the Court fixed the boundaries, and lists of names for Ohura were handed in by men who had a claim on both sides, and who, in the opinion of the Court, did not hesitate to saerilice the interests of Ngatihaaua. That something of this sort was done is apparent from the fact that on the '21st June Xjratai appeared and informed the Court that as he had not been able to agree lo all the boundaries proposed by Ngatinianiapoto, lie J>. l 1 returned to consult his trib , " , , and had now come to formally object. Tho mischief was, however, done, and tho Court refused to alter the boundaries.

The note i.i the Court booU of 22ml .Tune, ISSS, to the ell'ect that Taonui had explained to the Court that Tc Jlorangapai was only a very small piec. , : ot laud at the junction of ami between th.i and T.iringamotu Rivers cannot altogether bo passed ovrr, as it is n valuable indication of the evidence Taonui could have given if called upon.

It is contended that these people did not deny Wahanui's statement made in Court that he had a claim on this land ; but there is nothing to show that the real Xgatihaaua were present ;it that time. Matal;ital;i was present, ami prob.ibly sold that tribe in the same manner as he had done in the matter of boundaries ; his words, nt anyrato, were suspicious. He said: "It is true; I had forgotten the fact." Such an admission is tantamount to sayintf that he had never heard of it before. Men do not foriiet the fact of "iOOO acres having been driven away. Mcxt certainly Maoris do not forget these trilks. Patupntti is also exceedingly hnzy on the subject, lie says Tc ilorani.'itpai is a very small piece oflanil, not more than a 1000 acres; he has claimed r>ooo acres. Xo order bavins; us yet been made for this lan.l, the Court calls upon the to hand in a complete list of those who ought to be in the l ; sl, of owners, but who have been left out, by misadventure or otherwise ; such list to include Tu lia and his pci.pli'.

The Coiut can .sje imj uasoa lhat would justify it in eonelnding th,.t any gift hail been nia.le of this land lo Nuafiunimmiia, and therefore awards to tint tribe 100 acres, to cover burial-grounds, utc. The remainder of the block U awarded ,to Ngatilia:uia, who will determine the relative interests with the least possible delay.