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Chapter VI. The Maori Village.

When a man turns his back upon civilisation and seeks adventures in the wilds of an unexplored land, he may be said to take his life in his hands. To voluntarily leave the comforts of social life, and go forth into the fastnesses and solitudes as we had done, required some degree of courage. Filled with hope, and animated by a strong desire to extend our experience, we had started out on our journey.

By the way, we had time and again discussed the chances of our meeting with various anticipated adventures and making certain expected discoveries. Basing our conjectures on the Maori legend as to the flight of a portion of the Ngatimamoe tribe, we had wondered if we should meet with any natives. With a boldness begotten of our feeling that there were faint chances of any such experience, we had declared how we should act if we came across any Maoris and be attacked by them. In the most romantic of our speculations, however, we had none of us really thought it possible that we should see Maoris. Now that we had them near us all our intentions had been turned aside. The appearance of the natives had been so sudden: to wake and find them standing by us had given us no time for thought or action, and we had without page 54debate allowed ourselves to be taken in charge, as it were, by them.

What surprised me very much about the proceeding was the aptness with which the Maori who now sat in our boat had expressed his meaning by signs. Gordon knew something of the Maori language, but evidently the startling nature of the meeting had dispelled from his mind all inclination to venture the use of even the most common phrase. Now that we had some time to contemplate our position, and had realised the extent to which we had placed ourselves in the power of these savage men, Gordon saw the necessity for learning if possible something of the intentions of the Maoris, and where we were being taken.

"Ask him his name, and how many of his tribe there are," I whispered, forgetting that there was no need of precautions of that nature where my words could not be understood.

Gordon then addressed himself to our companion in Maori, and enquired who he was.

I will never forget the look of surprise which overspread the dusky face of the Maori as he heard the words of his own language from Gordon's lips.

When he had gazed at us for some moments in astonishment, he tapped his chest firmly several times, turning to Gordon as if in doubt if we meant the question to apply to him.

Gordon nodded and repeated his question.

"Te Kahu! Te Kahu! Te Kahu!" replied the Maori, again tapping his chest, and nodding his head proudly.

"A hawk!" interpreted Gordon to me, at the same time turning to the Maori and asking if that was what it meant.

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The reply was made by Te Kahu drawing from under his mantle something evidently meant to represent a bird, and which had a roll of beautiful string made from flax attached to it.

"A kite!" ventured Gordon, on seeing this. "I'll ask him."

He then addressed Te Kahu, but had some difficulty in getting the Maori to understand his question. Gordon had to illustrate his meaning by gesture. This he did successfully, however, for the other soon demonstrated that the name had some connection with his kite.

We afterwards learned that Te Kahu was the name for a kite, in the flying of which the natives take great pleasure. Te Kahu was one of the most expert kite-flyers of the tribe, but he did not inform us if this fact had anything to do with his name. I imagined, however, that possibly the name had suggested to him that practice in the art which quickly led him to excel.

Of Te Kahu's skill with his kite we soon had some evidence. Pointing to a hill many miles in advance of where we were, he indicated by his speech and gestures that he would send the kite there. Taking some broad flax-leaf tablets from a receptacle in his toga, or mantle, he marked something of the nature of writing on one of them and placed it in the centre of a few short pieces of heavy wood he had with the kite. Adjusting the wings of this bird-like structure, he held it up to catch the wind, whereupon it rose with the breeze and floated slowly away until he had played out nearly all his twine. Te Kahu then fastened the wood upon the end of the string, and page 56balancing this over his band, appeared to be ascertaining the strength of the wind. He added farther pieces of wood, until he seemed satisfied that proper weight had been applied; then he drew down the kite and altered the position of the wings, after which he let it go, and away it floated, carrying the weight just a certain height from the ground, neither rising nor falling to any appreciable extent. We watched the kite slowly growing smaller and smaller, as it floated off in the direction of the hill Te Kahu had pointed out, and saw that the weight would certainly strike on this, and thus arrest the flight of the aërial messenger. Gordon and I could not help applauding the skill of the Maori in so wonderful an adjustment of his kite. The construction of the kite itself was certainly unique, and may have been the secret of his skill. It was unlike anything of the sort we had ever seen, and was flown without the tail we as boyish kite-flyers had been accustomed to. We had never dreamed of utilising kites as messengers to a distance, and could not conceal our surprise at this evidence of native intelligence. We were yet to marvel much at the lessons to be learned from the despised savages.

Te Kahu managed to explain to Gordon that the message he had sent was to inform the rest of the people of our coming.

After the despatch of the kite the Maori rowers again broke out into a chant more musical than the first, but not of such suitable time to the action of rowing. Every now and again Te Kahu joined in with what seemed to be a kind of chorus. Afterwards I obtained a translation of the chant, which ran as follows:—

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The kite floats gently on the breeze,
Floats away o'er plain and trees,
Carries news to friends afar,
Tells then truly where we are;
Te Kahu flies the kite.

Native poetry does not rhyme

Fly the kite from hill to hill,
Over stream and over rill;
Send our tidings far away,
Send our tidings every day;
Te Kahu sends the kite.

Send your message with the wind,
Thought speeds fast from mind to mind;
If you'd send your words with ease
Speak not then against the breeze;
Te Kahu speeds the kite.

The effect of this from the fresh, musical voices of the Maoris was very pleasing, and as it floated away over the water of the river we almost forgot our surroundings in the delight of listening to the sounds. The refrain in which Te Kahu joined at the end of each verse was delivered with an intensity which almost became a shout.

We were still making rapid progress through the water, and presently the Maori village came into view. It was situated at the foot of a range of rocky hills past which the river flowed. There did not appear to be more than one means of access to the village, for behind it rose a high, rocky mountain, on the sides of which passage would be impossible. As we drew near we saw that the front of the hill was studded with defensive walls and turrets, as if to resist siege; and nearer observation disclosed that these were in reality strong fortifications, capable of resisting a very fierce attack, and that the page 58different turrets were protected points from which the warriors of the defending party could pour destruction upon the besiegers at every attempt to approach the walls.

A road had been constructed up to the wall giving entrance to the village, but elsewhere on the incline of the hill large stones had been placed so as to render the approach more difficult. An attacking force, therefore, would not have been able to rush the walls at any point other than by the roadway, and the defence of this would be a simple matter. A stream of water flowed down the hillside, forming a raging cataract. This had been led round the fortifications in a deep ditch, and added to the impregnability of the fortress. Seen from the river, this stronghold seemed secure from attack. The houses within the walls all presented a square, symmetrical, and systematic order of erection, and we naturally thought that something more than native architecture must be credited with the constructive skill displayed. This thought led Gordon to ask Te Kahu if the Maoris had any help in building their houses. It was some time before Gordon, with his limited Maori vocabulary, could get our companion to understand him; but when he did so, we learned that there was a greyheaded pakeha living with the tribe. Gordon endeavoured to find if the Maori knew what language the white man spoke, but had to give up the attempt.

We were now approaching the village, and became convinced that Te Kahu's message had been received by the tribe, as the different points of outlook on the wall carried a number of Maoris watching our coming. Presently some page 59of them made signs to the natives with us, and Te Kahu answered them. Then it was that we experienced misgivings as to the future. What was to be the result of our coming amongst the natives? Was the peaceful attitude of our discoverers simply a blind to lull our suspicions and have us brought captive without trouble or risk? We had quietly allowed ourselves to accompany these men without thinking of the probable result. It often happens that decisive steps in our lives are taken without thought, and a turning made from the proper path which alters the whole course of our future life, when a few moments of calm reflection would have averted a catastrophe. As these thoughts crossed my mind, I gazed enquiringly into the face of the Maori who sat opposite me. There was nothing in his countenance to suggest distrust. A kindly smile greeted me as he caught my eye. The knowledge I had of the Maori character was limited, and I was without experience, but at that moment I could not recall anything suggesting treachery as a leading characteristic. Come what would, it was too late to alter the situation: there was nothing for it but to proceed.

A moment later and our boat touched the bank. A number of Maoris were at the landing, and greeted our companions noisily and effusively, while they regarded us with evident interest and curiosity.