Stack bundles dead body8/8/2023 ![]() The Tohungas, swaying their bodies about, contracted their stomachs with a sudden movement, to quicken the expulsion of the air from their lungs, and add to the shrillness and violence of their cries. After the third repetition of the words, the whole assembly present took them up, and in loud and frantic tones implored the Atua to reveal his presence. When the proper moment arrived the Tohunga said to the Atua, "Kai te haere mai tera pia au ki te patu i tenei pia au"-"That people of yours is coming to kill this people of yours." Three times he repeated these words in a loud voice, swaying about and gradually Patuki having successfully made the knots which were to bind Kahukura to the image for a sufficient time to secure an answer, proceeded to dandle the image in his hand, continuing all the time to repeat the necessary invocations to the Atua to enter the image and reveal his presence. Three loops were made in the manner described, incantations being repeated all the time by the questioner and an assistant Tohunga. If it came up by the root bringing the earth with it, that was a good omen and the Tohunga proceeded to bind the Atua with a mystic knot, made by passing the grass leaf with the left hand over the thumb nail of the right hand (because "e taha maui tia ana te hono te Atua") on forming the knot the projecting part of the grass leaf was pulled tight, and if it broke it was regarded as a bad omen, and the consultation deferred. The first part of the ceremony consisted in drawing a leaf of tussock grass from any plant growing near where the Tohunga sat if it broke, that was a bad omen, and they would not proceed any further, and would defer the consultation. Tohungas sitting in like manner in a semicircle behind him and the general public behind them again. Having removed the image from the box, Patuki squatted on his heels on the ground, the other They moved slowly along and silently till they reached the "pae" at Tuahiwi (S. ![]() Behind them came the rest of the inhabitants, men, women, and children. The sun rose with resplendent glory as the procession headed by Patuki, who was stark naked, issued from the gate of the Pah, followed by the old Tohungas or priests, his equals, whose only covering was a narrow waist-band. The morning chosen for the ceremony seemed propitious. Stephen's Church.Ī hurried summons brought representatives from the outlying villages and food stations to take part in the ceremony of "Toro," and Patuki, a fine tall man in the prime of life, was chosen to "patai" or question the divinity. This sacred place was about half an acre in extent, and was situated close to the cemetery which now adjoins S. The image was kept in a carved wooden box, in the centre of a clump of flax bushes, called the "pae" or resting place of the Atua, and the box was further concealed from observation by a covering of dry grass. The staff used for divination purposes was about eighteen inches in length the upper third representing an elaborately tatooed face and body, the lower end was quite round and smooth. His cultus was introduced by the crew of Takitimu, who were the ancestors of the Kaiapohians. This divinity was classed among theīeneficent Maori Atuas. In their perplexity they resolved to consult the guardian deity of their tribe, Kahukura. The news quite unnerved the people who were totally unprepared. As soon as his fleet were observed off the coast of the South Island, messengers were dispatched to warn the inhabitants of Kaiapoi of his approach, but the warning only reached them a short time in advance of the enemy. ![]() The execution of the scheme for its destruction was hastened by a mata or prophecy uttered by a seer at Kapiti named Kukurarangi, who foretold the success of his plans in words to the following effect:-Ībout a year after his raid on Akaroa, Rauparaha embarked in a fleet of war canoes, a force of six hundred warriors, selected from Ngatitoa, Ngati Raukawa and Ngati awa. Unsatiated by the revenge he had taken on Tamaiharanui, Rauparaha vowed to destroy Kaiapoi, and to mingle the blood of its inhabitants with the blood so dear to him spilt within its walls. ![]() They had yet to learn what tough stuff their enemy was made of, and what seemingly impossible things his unconquerable energy and implacable spirit would drive him to do. The difficulty of transporting a sufficent body of men from Kapiti to make victory secure, would, they hoped, prevent the northern natives from attacking them in force. THE interest awakened by the newly developed trade with white people, kept the minds of the Kaiapoi Maoris occupied, and by diverting their thoughts from the danger of invasion lulled them into a state of a false security. ![]()
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