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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Food Stretchers, Pahata

Food Stretchers, Pahata.

A movable stretcher of light poles was made for carrying food to a feast. Three poles about 8 feet long were laid longitudinally. Cross pieces were laid above them and lashed with hau bark. Above these, poles were tied along each side and across the ends to form a shallow tray. The stretcher, which was also called a pahata, was covered with banana leaves and the special cooked foods for the feast were piled upon it. As it was an occasion for rejoicing, garlands of flowers and shells (hei) were hung round the pahata. The loaded stretcher was carried by several people on their shoulders to make an imposing appearance as well as to relieve the weight.

On lifting from the ground to the shoulders, an appropriate chant was recited to give the time for the movements.

Pehe for lifting food pahata.
Ka tama tiki hia—
Ka tama rangi a—
Ka hapai nuku,
Ka hapai rangi,
Ka hapahapaina a te rangi e.
Ka rutakina.

Solo:

Ka Mimo
Ka Mimo
Ka Mimo

Chorus:

Hui
Hui
Hui o—

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Stretch down to grasp—
Up to the heavens—
Lift the earth,
Lift the heavens,
Lift to the very skies.

Solo:

Mimo
Mimo
Mimo

Chorus:

All together
All together
All together o—

With every line after the second, the stretcher is raised a little higher until with the long drawn hui o, it is placed on the shoulders.

In the legend of Varokura, a pahata plays an important part. The deserted wife, Varopana, on the advice of the blind witch, Kui, prepared a stretcher of choice foods as the only means of enticing her husband, Varokura, back from the underworld or the hidden land of Taki-nuku-akau. On it were placed the choicest bananas of those days.

They were:—

Aha Tuhanga
Tapua Torotea
Kiri mangeo Haumarei
Koputea

The pahata was lowered down the opening leading to the Underworld to the accompaniment of the following charm:—

Charm to entice Varokura.
Ko rua i te tūku
Ko rua i te korei hau e!
Ka tutūku,
Ka tutūku te hata mānga
A mahine Varo-pana
Ki raro ki Haivaiki.
Taviri, taviri, totoia.
Ka hanake e Varo
Ka hanake e Varo
Ki te nguturua i Katurangi
Ka hanake!

It is the hole for lowering down,
It is the hole for the food stretcher.
The lowering commences.
The platform of food is lowered,
(The food) of Mistress Varo-pana,
Down to Havaiki
Twist, twist, lift.
Come up O Varo!
Come up O Varo!
To the hole's mouth in the world above.
Come up!

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Korei hau in the second line literally means "the rods of hibiscus," from which the stretcher was made. Varo-kura, attracted by the scent of food, climbed on to the stretcher and was speedily drawn up into the world of light.

The legend is built round the sea-centipede, which is supposed to be inveigled out of its hole by reciting the above charm.