TURI TURI I TENEI KOOTL
(To the Editor.). Sir,—The vignettes appearing in the Waikato Times under the heading of “Maori Memories,” Avritten by “J.H.S.” are very interesting, but I cannot understand how he arrives at his interpretations of the Maori language. Surely ho allows his imagination to run riot in order to get a poetic expression. "Turu turu mokai” (Shut up, you fool), quoted in your issue of llio 16th, Is beyond the limit. Mokai is generally acoepted to mean a captive or a slave, not neoessarlly a fool. “Turu turu mokai” xvould either mean a captive or a slave bound or trussed up, or one having to use a staff to steady himself when walking. “TurJ 'turi" Is such a well-known expression for sllenoe that there can be no doubt about It. One has only to attend a Native Land Court to hear the court orderly oall out “Turi turi”—l am, etc., A.W,
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Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 9
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154TURI TURI I TENEI KOOTL Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 9
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