RELIGIOUS RITES OF THE MAORI.
Ἀλλ᾿ ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν.—Hom. Il. 1-62.
The religious rites and ceremonies of the _Maori_ were strange and
complex, and must have been a severe burden, as will be understood from
the translations of _Maori_ narratives relating to such matters
contained in these pages. To make these translations more intelligible
to the reader, a brief review of the subject is now given in
explanation.
The religious rites under consideration are immediately connected with
certain laws relating to things _tapu_, or things sacred and prohibited,
the breach of which laws by anyone is a crime displeasing to the _Atua_
of his family. Anything _tapu_ must not be allowed to come in contact
with any vessel or place where food is kept. This law is absolute.
Should such contact take place, the food, the vessel, or place, become
_tapu_, and only a few very sacred persons, themselves _tapu_, dare to
touch these things.
The idea in which this law originated appears to have been that a
portion of the sacred essence of an _Atua_, or of a sacred person, was
directly communicable to objects which they touched, and also that the
sacredness so communicated to any object could afterwards be more or
less retransmitted to anything else brought into contact with it. It was
therefore necessary that anything containing the sacred essence of an
_Atua_ should be made _tapu_ to protect it from being polluted by the
contact of food designed to be eaten; for the act of eating food which
had touched anything _tapu_, involved the necessity of eating the
sacredness of the _Atua_, from whom it derived its sacredness.
It seems that the practice of cannibalism must have had a close
connexion with such a system of belief. To eat an enemy was the greatest
degradation to which he could be subjected, and so it must have been
regarded as akin to blasphemy to eat anything containing a particle of
divine essence.
Everything not included under the class _tapu_ was called _noa_, meaning
free or common. Things and persons _tapu_ could, however, be made _noa_
by means of certain ceremonies, the object of which was to extract the
_tapu_ essence, and restore it to the source whence it originally came.
It has been already stated that every tribe and every family has its own
especial _Atua_. The _Ariki_, or head of a family, in both male and
female lines, are regarded by their own family with a veneration almost
equal to that of their _Atua_.¹⁷ They form, as it were, the connecting
links between the living and the spirits of the dead; and the ceremonies
required for releasing anything from the _tapu_ state cannot be
perfected without their intervention.
¹⁷ It is observable that Homer attributes special honor to a few of
his heroes, who appear to have been the male representatives of
their race,—as to Agamemnon of the race of Pelops, and to Aeneas
of the race of Assaracus. With respect to each of them, it is
mentioned that he was honored as a God by his people. “Θεὸς δ’ ὣς
τίετο δήμῳ.” Among the Maori these chiefs would have been
distinguished by the title of _Ariki_. Homer gives them the title
“ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν,” the old meaning of which words has been a matter of
much inquiry. Mr Gladstone (Homer and Homeric Age, vol. I. p. 456)
says, “It seems to me that this restraint in the use of the name
‘ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν’ was not unconnected with a sense of reverence
towards it;” and he suggests the word chieftain as its fit
representative. Might not its original meaning have been similar
to that of _Ariki_?
On arriving one evening at a _Maori_ settlement, I found that a
ceremony, in which everyone appeared to take deep interest, was to take
place in the morning. The inhabitants were mostly professing Christians,
and the old sacred place of the settlement was, from the increase of
their numbers, inconveniently near their houses; a part of it was,
therefore, required to be added to the _Pa_. I was curious to see in
what way the land required would be made _noa_. In the morning when I
went to the place I found a numerous assembly, while in the centre of
the space was a large native oven, from which women were removing the
earth and mat-coverings. When opened it was seen to contain only
_kumara_, or sweet potato. One of these was offered to each person
present, which was held in the hand while the usual morning service was
read, concluding with a short prayer that God’s blessing might rest on
the place. After this each person ate his _kumara_, and the place was
declared to be _noa_. I could not but think that the native teacher had
done wisely in thus adopting so much of old ceremonial as to satisfy the
scruples of those of little faith. In this case, every one present, by
eating food cooked on the _tapu_ ground, equally incurred the risk of
offending the _Atua_ of the family, which risk was believed to be
removed by the Christian _karakia_.
By neglecting the laws of _tapu_, _Ariki_, chiefs, and other sacred
persons are especially liable to the displeasure of their _Atua_, and
are therefore afraid to do a great many ordinary acts necessary in
private life. For this reason a person of the sacred class was obliged
to eat his meals in the open air, at a little distance from his sacred
dwelling, and from the place which he and his friends usually occupied;
and if he could not eat all that had been placed before him he kept the
remainder for his own sole use, in a sacred place appropriated for that
purpose: for no one dared to eat what so sacred a person had touched.
The term _karakia_ is applicable to all forms of prayer to the _Atua_:
but there are a variety of names or titles to denote _karakia_ having
special objects. The translations of those now presented to the reader
will, it is believed, speak for themselves as to the nature of _Maori_
worship, and carry with them a more clear and full conviction as to what
it really was than any mere statements however faithful. It will be seen
that a _karakia_ is in some cases very like a prayer,—in other cases for
the most part an invocation of spirits of ancestors in genealogical
order,—in other cases a combination of prayer and invocation.
_The Karakia of Hineteiwaiwa_.
Said to have been used at the birth of her son Tuhuruhuru. It is of
great antiquity, dating from a time long anterior to the migration to
New Zealand.
Weave, weave the mat,
Couch for my unborn child,
Qui lectus aquâ inundabitur:
Rupe, et Manumea inundabuntur:
Lectus meus, et mei fetûs inundabitur:
Inundabor aquâ, inundabor;
Maritus meus inundabitur.¹⁸
Now I step upon (the mat).
The _Matitikura_¹⁹ to Rupe above,
* * * Toroa *
* * * Takapu *
* * * to cause to be born,
My child now one with myself.
Stand firm _turuturu_²⁰ of Hine-rauwharangi,
* * * * Hine-teiwaiwa,
Stand by your _tia_,²¹ Ihuwareware,
Stand by your _kona_,²¹ Ihuatamai,
Chide me not in my trouble,
Me Hine-teiwaiwa, O Rupe.²²
Release from above your hair,²³
Your head, your shoulders,
Your breast, your liver,
Your knees, your feet,
Let them come forth.
The old lady²⁴ with night-dark visage,
She will make you stretch,
She will make you rise up.
Let go _ewe_,²⁵ let go _take_,²⁵
Let go _parapara_.²⁵ Come forth.*
¹⁸ Hæc ad effusionem aquarum sub tempus partûs spectant.
¹⁹ The name of a powerful _karakia_.
²⁰ _Turuturu_, a sharp pointed prop, two of which are fixed in the
floor to serve as a frame for weaving mats—also used by women in
child-birth to hold by.
²¹ Names of lower parts of abdomen.
²² Rupe or Maui-mua, brother-in-law of Hine-teiwaiwa.
²³ Addressed to the unborn child.
²⁴ The old lady referred to was Hine-nui-te-po, the mother of the
female ancestress of mankind.
²⁵ Names of different parts of the decidua.
[*] For tradition as to Tuhuruhuru and other names here mentioned vid.
Sir Geo. Grey’s “Mythology and Traditions of New Zealand,” p. 39
et seq.
This _karakia_ is still in use with the Arawa tribe in cases of
difficult parturition. When such cases occur, it is concluded that the
woman has committed some fault—some breach of the _tapu_, which is to be
discovered by the _matakite_ (=seer). The father of the child then
plunges in the river, while the _karakia_ is being repeated, and the
child will generally be born ere ever he returns.
The following form of _karakia_ is also used by members of the same
tribe in similar cases:—
O! Hine-teiwaiwa, release Tuhuruhuru,
O! Rupe, release your nephew.
The ancestors of the father of the child are then invoked by name. First
the elder male line of ancestors, commencing with an ancestor who lived
in Hawaiki and terminating with the living representative of that line.
Then follows a repetition of the ancestral line next in succession, and
the third in succession, if the child be not born.²⁶ After which the
_tohunga_ addressing the unborn child says, “Come forth. The fault rests
with me. Come forth.” The _tohunga_ continues thus—
²⁶ In the _Maori_ MS., of which the above is a translation, the names
of the ancestors of the chief of the tribe referred to are given
in genealogical order, but are omitted here.
Unravel the tangle, unravel the crime,
Untie _manuka_, let it be loosed.
Distant though Rangi,
He is reached.
If the child be not now born, Tiki is invoked thus—
Tiki of the heap of earth,
Tiki scraped together,
When hands and feet were formed,
First produced at Hawaiki.
If the child be a male, it will be born—if a female, the mother’s line
of ancestors must be invoked.
Intimately connected with the superstition respecting things _tapu_ is
the belief as to the cause of disease, namely, that a spirit has taken
possession of the body of the sufferer. The belief is that any neglect
of the law of _tapu_, either wilful, or accidental, or even brought
about by the act of another person, causes the anger of the _Atua_ of
the family who punishes the offender by sending some infant spirit to
feed on a part of his body—infant spirits being generally selected for
this office on account of their love of mischief, and because not having
lived long enough on earth to form attachments to their living
relatives, they are less likely to show them mercy. When, therefore, a
person falls sick, and cannot remember that he has himself broken any
law of the _tapu_, he has to consult a _matakite_ (seer) and a _tohunga_
to discover the crime, and use the proper ceremonies to appease the
_Atua_; for there is in practice a method of making a person offend
against the laws of _tapu_ without his being aware of it. This method is
a secret one called _makutu_. It is sufficient for a person who knows
this art, if he can obtain a portion of the spittle of his enemy, or
some leavings from his food, in order that he may treat it in a manner
sure to bring down the resentment of his family _Atua_. For this reason
a person would not dare to spit when in the presence of anyone he feared
might be disposed to injure him, if he had a reputation for skill in
this evil art.
With such a belief as to the cause of all disease it will not be
wondered at that the treatment of it was confined to the _karakia_ of a
_tohunga_ or wise man. One or two examples of such cases will be
sufficient to explain this as well as to show the in-rooted superstition
of the _Maori_.
When anyone becomes _porangi_ or insane, as not unfrequently happens, he
is taken to a _tohunga_, who first makes an examination as to the cause
of the disease. He and the sick man then go to the water-side, and the
_tohunga_, stripping off his own clothes, takes in his hand an obsidian
flint. First he cuts a lock of hair from the left side of the sick man’s
head, and afterwards a lock of hair from the top of his head. The
obsidian flint is then placed on the ground, and upon it the lock of
hair which had been cut from the left side of the head. The lock of hair
cut from the top of the head is held aloft in the left hand of the
_tohunga_, while in his right hand he holds a common stone, which is
also raised aloft, while the following _karakia_ is being repeated by
him.
Tu, divide, Tu, split,
This is the _waiapu_ flint,
Now about to cry aloud
To the Moon of ill-omen.
Then the _tohunga_ breathes on the flint, and smashes it with the stone
held in his right hand. After this he selects a shoot of the plant
_toetoe_, and pulls it up, and then fastens to it both the locks of
hair. Then diving in the river, he lets go the _toetoe_ and locks of
hair, and when they float on the surface of the water, he commences his
great _karakia_ thus—
This is the _Tiri_ of Tu-i-rawea,
This is the _Tiri_ of Uenuku.
Where lies your fault?
Was eating a _kutu_ your fault?
Was sitting on _tapu_ ground your fault?
Unravel the tangle,
Unravel, untie.
Take away the fault from the head
Of the _Atua_ who afflicts this man.
Take away the disease,
And the _mana_ of the curser.
Turn your _mana_ against your _tohunga_,
And your _whaiwhaia_.²⁷
Give me the curse
To make as cooked food.
Your _Atua_ desecrated,
Your _tapu_, your curse,
Your sacred-place-dwelling _Atua_,
Your house-dwelling _Atua_,
Give me to cook for food.
Your _tapu_ is desecrated by me.
The rays of the sun,
The brave of the world,
The _mana_, give me.
Let your _Atua_, and your _tapu_
Be food for me to eat.
Let the head of the curser
Be baked in the oven,
Served up for food for me
Dead, and gone to Night.
²⁷ A _karakia_ so called.
The latter part of this _karakia_ is a curse directed against some
_tohunga_ supposed to have caused the disease by his art of _makutu_.
_Makutu_ was the weapon of the weak, who had no other mode of obtaining
redress. There is no doubt but that it exercised a restraining
influence, in a society where no law but that of force generally
prevailed, as a check to theft and unjust dealing generally; for there
is among the _Maori_ a firm belief in and dread of its power. This is
very evident from the following account given by one of themselves of
the mode employed to detect and punish a petty theft.
A woman is much vexed when any of the flax scraped by her is stolen, and
she consults a _tohunga_, in order to discover the thief. Whether the
flax has been stolen from her house or from the water, the woman’s house
must be _tapu_. No one must be allowed to enter it. This is necessary,
that the _makutu_ may take effect, and the person who stole the flax be
discovered. So when the woman comes to the _tohunga_ he first asks her
“Has any one entered your house?” She replies “No.” Then the _tohunga_
bids her return home, saying “I will come to you at night.” The woman
returns home, and at night the _tohunga_ comes to her. He bids her point
out her house, and then goes with her to the water side. Having taken
off his clothes, he strikes the water with a stick or wand, brought with
him for that purpose, and immediately the form of the thief stands
before them. The _tohunga_ thus curses it—
May your eyes look at the moon—
Eyes of flax be yours,
Hands of flax be yours,
Feet of flax be yours.
Let your hands snatch
At the rays of the Sun.
Let your hands snatch at Whiro,
Whiro in vast heaven,
Whiro born of Papa.
Snatch, snatch at your own head,
Perishing in the Night of Darkness,
In the Night of Death—Death.
_Whakahokitu_
Is the name given to forms of _makutu_ employed to counteract the curse
of some other _tohunga_, or wise-man; for whoever practises _makutu_,
even though he be skilled in the art, may have to yield to the _mana_ of
some other wise-man who can command the assistance of a more powerful
_Atua_. The following is a specimen of this kind of _makutu_—
Great curse, long curse,
Great curse, binding curse,
Binding your sacredness
To the tide of destruction.
Come hither, sacred spell,
To be looked on by me.
Cause the curser to lie low
In gloomy Night, in dark Night,
In the Night of ill-omen.
Great wind, lasting wind,
Changing wind of _Rangi_ above.
He falls. He perishes.
Cause to waste away the curser _tohunga_.
Let him bite the oven-stones.
Be food for me,
The _tapu_ and the _mana_,
Of your _Atua_,
Of your _karakia_,
Of your _tohunga_.
Among the _Atua_ much held in awe by the _Maori_ were the _Atua
noho-whare_, or house-dwelling gods—spirits of the germs of unborn
infants. They are also known by the name _kahukahu_, the meaning of
which word was explained in a former publication.
The _Maori_ has also a firm belief in omens derived from dreams, and
from any sudden movements of the body or limbs during sleep, all which
signs are believed to be warnings from the _Atua_.
There is a class of dreams called _moe-papa_, which are very unlucky:
and if any one has one of these dreams, he will avoid going on a
projected journey; for it is firmly believed that should he persist in
going he will fall into an enemy’s ambush, or meet with some other
misfortune. Hence the proverbial remark, if a person has neglected such
a warning, and has fallen in with a war-party, “He was warned by a
_moe-papa_, and yet went.” The kind of sleep denoted by this word is
described to be the climbing a precipice, the wandering astray in a
forest, entering a house, climbing a tree. Such dreams are death
warnings. They appear to be such as we term night-mare.
The startings of the limbs or body during sleep are called _takiri_,
some of which are lucky, and some unlucky, each kind being distinguished
by a special name.
The lucky _takiri_ are—
The _hokai_, or starting of the leg or foot in a forward direction. It
denotes the repulse of the enemy.
The _tauaro_, or starting of the arm towards the body.
The _whakaara_, when in sleep the head starts upwards. It signifies that
ere long the _Ariki_ or his father will arrive.
The _kapo_, a very lucky sign. While a man sleeps with his right arm for
a pillow, if the arm starts so as to strike his head, on awaking he will
not mention it to his companions; for he knows by this omen that in the
next battle which takes place it will be his good fortune to kill the
first man of the enemy.
The unlucky _takiri_ are—
The _kohera_, a starting of the arm and leg of one side of the body in
an outward direction.
The _peke_, a starting of the arm outwards from the body.
The _whawhati_, a sleep in which the legs, the neck, and the head are
bent doubled up towards the belly. This is very unlucky. The evil will
not come to another person, but attends the man himself.
The former _takiri_ do not necessarily denote evil to the individual
sleeper, but to any of his companions.