A Maori John Alden.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 September 1904, Page 449

A Maori John Alden.

By HILDA KEANE.

fHE evening kai was finished, but the hapu sat on. The red flames leapt high into the dark, then sank to a crimson smoulder. Every flicker lighted a c^u^ group of dark faces. yCA ' Sometimes only gleaming eyes and teeth would \jr answer, sometimes a form

would show against the blackness. Once the light caught the strong, tattooed face of Te Rewhiti, next it outlined Hina, whose hair fell over her shoulders into the shadows, but whose face was buried in her knees. A sudden great flare shot forth. All were talking, eagerly gesticulating. Then, as only the embers glowed, the voices lulled, and a child cried in the distance. "Te wharepuni !" said a girl, shuddering from the night. A streak of light shone from the panel of the meeting-house ; and instantly, brands w T ere seized, the kapara torches were burning, and the korero was begun.

Not one in the hapu, withered old crone, or tiny child, but knew that Te Maniwha, chief of the Rarotoka, wished^ a marriage between his son and Hina, the young- princess of the Ngatimanua. The matter provided talk for many weeks, and though each knew that the betrothal was a sure event, the argument would be prolonged for weeks more. Te Maniwha was asked to come in person, and to bring his son, the bridegroom. But Te Maniwha lived a hundred miles away, and the winter floods were heavy/ Then a dispute with a neighbouring tribe demanded that he should nght. The boy, Te Einga, was in the early stages of Vot X.— No. 6.-28.

tattooing, and therefore Te Maniwha sent in his stead, the finest orator of the tribe. Te Rewhiti wasi ordered to explain that his chief was gone to collect the heads of his enemies, and that Te Ringa was sick. Upon his arrival, the men of the Ngatimanua pretended that this gave occasion for serious consideration, and in their hearts welcomed the new turn in affairs. It was not every day that such excuses for talk came to them. Then, too, such stores of kumera and shark had come with Te Rewhiti and his warriors, that the Ngatimanua saw feasting for days ahead. Te Rewhiti was handsome and stalwart, so were his comrades, and many of the maidens envied Hina.

In the darkest corner of the wharepuni, an old woman was muttering alone. Everywhere was talk and chatter. A man sprang to his feet, and poured forth a torrent of words.

" Haeremai ! haeremai ! men of Karotoka ! So it is a wife you would have for your chief ? Is it our Hina ? Ah, Hina is ours, the flower of the hapu, and if you take her, you take somewhat of our mana."

" Yes, and you take her whom I have looked on as mine \" shouted Patuona. " Why should Hina not marry me, who am of her own tribe ? You would send her to a child ! Why have the Rarotoka sent Te Rewhiti ? Why not Te Einga ?"

" Because/ was hissed from the corner, " because he is a weakling. He is ugly. He is not tattoed. He——" But a kapara torch fell, and in the semi-gloom, the women

scuttled to the doorway, and the meeting broke up for the night. Between the times of feasting, Te Rewhiti, the spokesman, learned to know Hina. He saw her in the poi dance, lithe as the water-rush, graceful as the ponga. [' Truly/ he thought, " a fit "bride for my chief, for any man, but better still for a warrior." He wished the day for taking her away would hasten ; but when he saw himself handing his charge to the

chief, he did not want to think more. She came toward him,, a perfect Maori maid, alert, brighteyed, beautiful.

" You talk little; Te Rewhiti \" she said, " yet your men say that you are chosen of your tribe for that which your tongue can say. "Tis, I am told, like the rapids of the swift, clear Ponakatere, when words flow from your lips I" Te Rewhiti was slightly nettled. He was taciturn in conversation,

and with the prolonged nights of argument, he had not yet had his chance of pleading- for the Rarotoka. His face became animated as he answered the girl. " Ah, yes, Hina. And when you hear me — oh, I will soon win the hearts of the Ngatimanua when I speak ! I wait, but you will see. To-night " " Au-e !" said the girl, frowning and impatient. A group of poi dancers had sauntered up, and stood with their arms about one another. Much interest was taken in this hnndsome youth, who had come to woo for his chief. "Te JNga, the tohunga, comes back to-night/ said one, " 'twill be he who shall say whether Te Rewhiti may carry the news of a betrothal/" Te Rewhiti scowled. " As for that," said a Rarotoka, " your tohunga has only to hear Te Rewhiti speak." Hina turned away, and after watching 1 her swing herself with the easy carriage of a princess, Te Rewhiti strode after and overtook her. That night came another korero, and another till a week was gone and the spokesman no nearer his end. Argument of all kind was given, and prowess and genealogy told and retold. Oration is a passion with the Maori, and a little thing serves as an excuse. This was a case which gave great opportunity. But Te Rewhiti was studying' the moods of Hina, and with each day, he burned with the desire to carry her off to the Rarotoka. At last came his pleading, and in the sombre, torch-lit, smoky whare, his voice thrilled them with the war spirit, touched their very hearts with pathos. When he told of the prowess of a tribe that was not theirs, the men of Ngatimanua grunted their approval, when he spoke of enemies, young warriors started to their feet and yelled fierce yells of defiance. Under the spell of the stranger's tongue, the women shook with emotion, and tears ran down their cheeks. One

old woman, used to leading her own people in the war dance, thrust herself forward and screamed her taunt to the Ngatimanua against these picture enemies. The orator knew his power. He finished quietly. "Te Ringa Poko is young ! True ! but the youth grows old. His tattooing is unfinished. True ! but marriage will not prevent it. He will .be a great chief. He must marry the daughter of a chief. Who in the land is more fit for the wife of so great a tribe as your Hina ? Hina, of the tattooed lips, Hina, fairest of your tribe ? Who can ma!:e your tribe strong again in war ? Join your friendship to that of the Rarotoka, and none but will fall before you. The great Te Maniwha awaits your Hina. Say, shall 1 give him your answer V The hearers grew calm again, but a girl continued sobbing. it was Hina. The old tolmnga shuffled to his feet. " Last night 1 heard the waves speak. They told me that Hina must be the bride of a Rarotoka., but of .a hapu that we know not, But we shall see. Send the news to Te Maniwha that the atahu is begun/ But having won his cause, Te Rewhiti had still other work to do. Hina, contrary to all custom, had declared that she would not go to Rarotoka to marry this ugly boy. She refused to eat, she threatened to kill herself, and she sobbed all the day. " Shut her in her whare I" said the tohunga. " Let none but old Kiri have speech with her \" ''Let me talk to her," asked Te whiti, strong in confidence of liis success. " Ah, yes, that is good !" said the tohunga, "■ yes, let her be free. Te Ilewhiti will win her over, and make her even as us in her thought. Yes, yes, that is a very good way ! Leave her to him/ " You must give her time, and none else must say aught to her," claimed Te Rewhiti. He wished to have the sole honour of this task.

" 'Tis agreed. You may have a long time." So Te Rewhiti came to the door of Hina's whare. His voice trembled a little as lie called to her. It was the tremble of excitement. Not many men could do as he had done, and as he was going to do. " Hina ! Dew of the forest leaf ! Light of the morning sky ! Hina, hear and come with me ! We shall walk by the river as of old." The girl started, unbelieving, confused. She clenched her hands at the sound of that voice. It was the voice of him who had swayed her people, and it was the voice of one, who alone with her, had very little to say. " Hina, 'tis I, Kewhiti, who would have speech with you." " I come," she said. " They said I might be free ?" she questioned, glancing at the slaves near 'by. " Yes, yes, they have said so, for a time, for ever if you but listen wisely to me." Hina frowned again, and they walked on, now entering the fern growing- high by the river. There were some minutes of silence, for Te Rewhiti of the stream-like eloquence had forgotten what he had intended to say. He was struggling with a strange, unknown nervousness. His mouth was dry on the roof. Was this girl makutu that she robbed him thus of his gift of speaking ? " What would you say ?" she asked, looking at him. He was silent. " What is it ?" she demanded fiercely. He answered her look, and he, the fighting man, he, the chosen of the Rar.otoka, quailed before the girl. A wild idea came to him of flight. Let the Ngatimanua do their own persuading ! He stopped. But again he drew himself together. He tried to remember past exploits. Then at last, quietly enough for such an orator, " I would speak to you," he said, " of Te Ringa Po " " I hate him \" she burst out,

" ugly child ! Look at me. I am. a grown woman, the most beautiful of the Ngatimanua. Am I not, Te Rewhiti V sbe asked more softly. His eyes expressed his opinion. " Yes-, Te Rewhiti ! I am good to look at. You know it. And you would mate me to a puny lad, a sickly child. Am I so poor a thing that I am good only to bring children to a weakly 'boy, who is not tattooed ? Tell me, Te Rewhiti, you who are a man, would you choose an ugly, peevish child for your wife ?" " But he is the son of a great chief," he began. " And what matters that if 1 hate him ? How can Igo to him, Te Rewhiti ?" and the mournful eyes searched the soul of the man. Great drops were on his forehead. He took her hand. 11 See, little one/ he said tenderly, " your tribe decree, and if the marriage is not to come, Te Maniwha will be insulted, and will take fearful vengeance/ "He will demand ' utu ' V she asked thoughtfully. " Yes." " Upon us, the Ngatimanua ?" " Yes, and upon me !" " You '!" She looked quickly at him, then her eyes rested upon the broad, flowing river. A. small canoe bobbed up and down with the swinging of the tide. The canoe was tied to a flax bush. The rocking of the tiny boat stole into her senses, and soothed her. '' What will your chief do ?" she said very quietly. " He will come with his warriors and will destroy the tribe of Ngatimanua." " And you, Te Rewhiti ?" " When I return with my errand unaccomplished, T, too, will die." " Au-e," she whispered shudderingly. The man saw soft yielding in her eyes. " See, Hina, you would not cause the death of all your people}?" " Who says they will die ?" She was defiant again. " Die ? Can

we, too, not fight ? Are we weak ? Fight ? Yes, we will fight, and I— I will dance to the men as never woman danced to fighters before. I will make them fight, and they will slay, slay — ugh — till there is none left of the Rarotoka. Ha ! ha ! then they will see what spirit there is in the Ngatirnanua, and that cowardly boy, who dare not show his face to woo for himself, he, too, will die, and 'tis 1 who will claim his head \" Then stopping suddenly, " Will you be of the warriors, Te Kewhiti V

" No, alas," and the battle glint died. "No ; I shall be as I said. I must die."

She changed her tones again. " Would you, Te Rewhiti, like to see. me the wife of this lad ?" " He is my chief/ he answered, " and what my chief wills, that is my wish."

Hina had moved toward the little canoe dancing on the water. As the flax to which it was tied, swayed downwards with the motion, the girl caught it in her hands and drew it towards her. Te Rewhiti had followed her steps, pleading with all his wonderful eloquence. She seated herself in the boat, still held by the flax. She leaned her chin on her hands, as though prepared at last to listen to reason. The man followed up the advantage.

" Tell me," she whispered, and the boat swung up and down.

He pulled it close to his feet, and holding 1 the flax so with one hand, he spoke rapidly, convincingly.

"He will be a 'brave chief one day. He will be great over many. He will have the mana of his tribe/

Hina was looking" thoughtfully at the man. He was gaining power at

every word, and proud in himself, met the softened look in the woman's eyes. Once he wandered a moment as her beauty flashed into his being. " Pity/ he thought, " that 'tis only a lad who is to have this woman." Then a slumber seemed to steal into his brain, and he became scarcely conscious that he was speaking". A reverie of words came from his lips. The curious " makutu " feeling 1 was over him, hut the voice went on. " Yes, you will marry," his lips said. "Whom ?" breathed another voice into his ear. He had bent over the canoe, and both his hands were on the girl's shoulders. He answered, mechanically, "Te Rin " "■ E pai ranei koe ? Why not you, yourself V said the voice, and two soft, warm arms were round him, and hot tears were on his cheek. Then the light burst on him. He awoke. He looked from the boat to the sky, he looked at Hina — Hina, pleading now, her eyes moist with tears, with soft lips quivering. For a moment the spokesman remembered his errand. A puny lad ! This woman ! This woman who by right of great love was his, and his alone ! The light in her eyes changed. It suggested flight, haste, and passion. He stepped into the canoe. She was deftly untying the flax that held it. His look answered hers. He seized the paddle, the canoe was free. One long look at his beloved, and with a vigorous motion, he had shot the boat out into the stream, and they fled — to 'be together. His mission was ended. The bride was won, but not for Te Ringa.