NEW ZEALAND STORIES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 2, 10 January 1912, Page 55

NEW ZEALAND STORIES.

The Editor desires to state that New Zealand Stories by New Zealand writers, are published on this page regularly. The page is open to any contributor, and all accepted stories will be paid for at current rates. Terse bright sketches of Dominion life and people, woven in short story form, are required,.and should be headed “ .Veto Zealand Stories.’’ Stamps for return of MS. must be enclosed

MOTU POURIRUA.

(The Island of a Double Grief.)

By

G. E. CLAY.

©N the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, at a distance of some five miles from the mainland, there lies a small island, known to the natives as Pourirua. The island lies off a point, on each side of which is a small harbour. The district surrounding these harbours, was formerly the home of numerous natives.

Knowing that Maoris' seldom give a name which has not a strong local significance or interesting history attached, I one day inquired of an old Maori acquaintance, the reason for this peculiar name, and the story of the islet. Takao (such was my friend's name) being duly propitiated 3 -with' gifts *of tobacco and waipiro spoke as follows: —- You wish to know, Hori, why we call the island Pourirua, and why though the tio (oyster) and kina (sea urchin) are plentiful on its shores, and many titi (mutton birds) make their homes there, no Maori goes there, for fish or bird, or dares, to break the strict tapu which lies on it?” r Well, Hori, I w ill tell you. though it all happened long ago, before the Pakeh.i earrie to the shores of Aotea Roa, and when the Maori owned all the land, from Reiriga in the North, where the spirits of the dead leap into the other world, to Terawhiti in the South, which looks on the narrow water through which sailed the great Pakeha Kapeni (Cook). My father told me this tale sitting In the dusk, when the evening meal is done, and the old men gather round to talk, and to tell old tales of Rangi and mighty Maui, and of those our ancestors who came from far off Hawaiki >n the great canoes. J.ong ago, when even the nioa roamed our land, two great tribes Jived here, one on each side of. the point. On the hither side lived the Ngatiwai, of whom those you see around you are all that are left. On the other lived the Ngakohe, and of them nothing but the mounds and ditches of their pa remains, for when the great TTongi came from 'the North with his tribe armed with the new and; terrible pu (gun) he massacred both the Ngakohe and the Ngatiwai. and very many of their men went to fill the hongi (cooking-holes) of the Ngapuhi. Yet at the time of which I speak the men of both tribes were many and their store of pounamu (greenstone) and paraoa (whalebone) was great, and their krimara fields,' in 'which worked the women and the slaves, stretched wide over the flats behind the sandhills. But though these tribes lived so near each other, and though their forefathers came from Hawaiki in the same canoe, there was not peace between them. At one time the Ngatiwai had ravaged the kumara erops of the Ngakohe, at another the Ngakohe, taking advantage of the absence of many of the Ngatiwai warriors on a raid, had attacked their tribe, and, though unable to capture the stockaded pa. had burnt many canoes and done much damage Therefore the yonilg men of each tribe fought fiercely whenever they met, ami no member of either tribe eriosed the ridge to the enemy's country unless with many companions and carrying taialHT and mere. Now. though in most things these tribes were equal, yet in one did the Ngatiwai exvel. Their women were famed for their comeliness far np amt down the mast. Because they were so fair the girls'df the Ngatiwai were •ought In marriage by all the younjf men of that district, and the fathers at the tribe grew rich in presents from

the grateful lovers, for seldom does the young man consider whether the maiden is elever at mat-weaving or fit for long toil in the fields, if her face be but pleasing to the eye. But never, since first cause for quarrel arose between the tribes, did the suite mat eover Ngakohe man and Ngatiwai maiden. Disgrace, deep and everlasting, would have fallen on the maiden who consented to such a union, and death on the bold man who dared propose it. Of all the fair maidens of the Ngatiwai the fairest was Rotiro. No other’s movements were so graceful in the poi, no other's voice so sweet in the song, sung ae the girls returned at sunset to the pa. Many men, chiefs and rangatiras of neighbouring, tribes, asked her in marriage, but to them all Rotiro was

deaf. Marriage, which most maidens so wish for, was to her to be avoided as long as possible, even when the husband was a warrior and a chief. So in time most of her suitors took other girls, and Rotiro was left with none to fear for when the fighting taua departed on an expedition, and with none to whisper to in the friendly, dusk behind the shelter of fern or manuka bush. Yet she was in no way troubled, for indeed love had not ae yet entered into her heart. Now at this time there lived among the Ngakohe a young warrior of th' name of Mapiri, of good birth, but of no great possessions. It chanced that this Mapiri, one day snaring kererus (pigeons) in the tall hinau trees, wandered farther than was his wont, and, crossing the ridge, came suddenly out

of the bush on to an open space, fct one Bide of which was a spring.

Then Mapiri. being athirst, stepped across to drink, when suddenly a maiden, who had been filling her water vessel at the spring, arose and stood before him. At sight of her Mapiri started, for he knew he was in the enemy’s country, but perceiving the maiden to be alone he took heart and held his ground, and Rotiro (for ’twas she), though much frightened, yet seeing that he carried neither taiaha nor other weapon than his bird spear, knew that he was not one of a war party, and stood still. At last, after they had gazed at each other in silence some little space, Mapiri spoke:— "Tena koe,” said he. "Tena koe,” said Rotiro, and, finding that this Ngakohe was not fierce and savage, she smiled. But Mapiri remembered his thirst, and, pointing to the spring, said: — "Ehiainu ana ahau. llomai he war maku.” (I am thirsty. (live me a. drink.) Then Rotiro stooped, and filling her ealabash gave it to Mapiri, who drained it, and, handing it back, said to Rotiro "Kapai” (Let. “Cood” i.e., "Thank you”). Then after asking her name -and telling his, he turned and passed back through the InWh. for indeed it was not safe for him to linger where many enemies might, be at hand. Now. Hori, it is certain that no morel words passed between them on that day. It- is strange, therefore, that on the foil lowing day both Mapiri and Rotiro wer-j at the same spot once again. It is stilt stranger that though the pigeons werA but few there, for he brought very fe# home, and his hunting must be done iA constant danger from fierce ami crues foes, yet Mapiri went snaring often iff

part of ffic bush. Also though there faere many springs nearer hex father’s whAre, yet Rotiro must often fetdh water from this one. As time went on, therefore, 'by thus frequently meeting, they grew to lore each other beyond all else, and Rotiro, knowing that her father would never allow her to wed a Ngakohe, at length agreed to leave her tribe and flee with Mapiri to his people. On the next night but one they agreed to meet and escape to the Ngakohe, for then the moon would lie dark and no man might see them, 'Now it chanced that Rtftiro had a cousin, by name Tupelie, who st-ill loved her, (and, being by nature jealous and suspicious, he wondered much -why Rotiro so often went not with the other girls to bring water. At last, for lie Was a very contemptible -wretch, he followed her, and on this same night secretly came upon her with Mapiri at the little spring. Now Tupelie feared to attack Mapiri, who was a famous -warrior, openly an<J by himself, bo creeping lhack ihe anade

Vnown to the tribe that Rotiro met one >f the enemy in secret; but, though a |>arty immediately pursued Mapiri, lie escaped, for he saw them coming and fled swiftly, so that they could not find him in the thick bush and scrub. But at ill lie knew n6t (as they were aware) that they had seen him with Rotiro, but thought only that they were a stray Land, who had by chance surprised hinu Then the chiefs of the Ngatiwai, of whom the. father of Rotiro was one, being highh intense!, took counsel together und decided that they should put Rotiro In a >afe place before the following night, while some of the young men lay in wait it the spring to slay Mapiri when he •ame. So it was done, but Mapiri came lot, fur it yet wanted a day till the appointed time for their flight. But the Ngatiwai re- lived to wait again till they la light this bold Ngakohe. Now Rotiro feared greatly for Mapiri, lor she knew the plans of the Ngatiwai Poneerning him. Therefore since she rouhl not herself leave her hut, she bribed a slave to meet him as he came over the ridge, and warn him of his danger. Tims the Ngatiwai were again, foiled. In the night. Rotiro, who slept by lierlelf in a little hut of which the door was fastened, heard a ruru (rnopoke) call within the pa. and her heart swelled within her breaM. for she knew the voice »f Mapiri. and softly hooted in answer. At last, after calling again and again, Mapiri found her hut, which he knew not before, and unfastened the door. I'hen the\ iltsl a way ..and before daylight Mme to Mapiri’s people. In the morning came heralds from the Ngatiwai. who demanded the daughter >f (heir chief and the life of Mapiri in payment. Wli •« the reaeon of their de Iliana was made known ininy of the ild men wished to do as they asked. Tur," mid they, “in this thing has Mapiri done wrong, and is it net just deal lie should pay the utu for it hither than th it the whole tribe should eiifler for Ina fault?” But the young me a

were proud of their friend, and wished to give up neither him nor the maiden io the Ngatiwai, whom they hated. At length, after much korero (talk), the young men had their way, and the Ngakohe sent their defiance to the Ngatiwai with the refusal of their demand. Then the Ngatiwai gathered their taua (fighting band), and Coming round the headland in their canoes they landed oh the beach and attacked the Ngakohe. Rut the Ngakohe retreated to their pa, and though the Ngatiwai attacked many times, and elew many men, they could not break through the palieade. At length they in turn had to retreat, and fled to their canoes, whither the Ngakohe did not pursue them, for they were much weakened by the fighting. -But as tlie Ngatiwai fled one of their chiefs stood forward, and, shaking his mere at -the Ngakohe, spoke:— “O Ngakohe! Taurekareka and cowards, we go now, but another day we will come with many men, and your pa we will destroy, and your men we will put into our cooking holes, and your women, for they are ugly, to work in the kumata fields.”

Then the Ngakohe were angered, and would have pursued, but their chiefs would not allow it. Now, after the Ngatiwai- had gone, great was the turmoil in the kainga of the Ngakohe, for a great many men indeed had been slain, and the rest knew that if the Ngatiwai came again they would come with all those who were allied with them by marriage, and they would not be able to stand against them. Then said many, ‘‘Do we suffer all this for Mapiri and his wahinet Let him pay his owu utu.” And there -were but few to speak for ■Mapiri, for many of his friends had been slain in the Ixittle, and many more, having had friends mid relations slain, had become his enemies. Therefore once agaan the chiefs held a korero and discussed whether Rotiro should be seut back to her people.

In the night came a chief, a friend ol Mapiri, and said to him: — “IS koro, you are lost. It is decided to send Rotiro back to her tribe, and. you, too, only you will go in a kit, ready for the hongi. Arise, therefore, and flee.” Then Mapiri rose with difficulty, for he had been wounded, and with Rotiro, who carried a kit of kumaras and fern root, he fled to the beach, that he might escape in a canoe. But the wind blew hard, and great waves rolled on the beach, so that Rotiro was afraid, and begged him to flee through the bush. But as they turned they heard shouts in the pa, and knew that their escape was known, and that in a canoe alone could they escape. iso in despair they ran to the shelter of the point, where the canoes lay, and with difficulty succeeded in launching one. But Mapiri was weak with h : s wound, and Rotiro but a woman, so that they could not paddle against the wind, and though they struggled for a long time, and no doubt their tapui (familiar spirits) helped them, it availed not, an t in eight of their tribe, who stood on the beach, they were cast on Motil Pourirua, and the life beaten out of them by the wind and waves. Thus the Ngakohe lost their bravest warrior, and the Ngatiwai their fairest maiden, gnd for three weeks was the lamentation continued an both tribes, for Rotiro was much beloved by all, and now that Mapiri was dead the people forgot their grievances against him. This then, Hori, is why that island is called Pourirua (double grief), for in both pas was the tangi held, and in their common grief they forgot their ancient enmity, and each mourned their Own and the other’s loss. “Whakamutunga, Hori. Emoe Koe!” (That is the end, Hori. Good-night!)