Best. — Food Products of Tuhoeland. 103 



i a Tahu" — i.e., Do not disregard Tahu. This remark is 

 made when a person refuses proffered food. In Sir G. Grey's 

 " Maori Proverbs," page 85, we find the expression, " Te inati 

 o TaJm" as applied to woman, whereas men were the sons of 

 Tu, the war-god. 



Hakari (Feasts). 



In former times these hakari, or feasts, were important 

 features of the domestic life of the Maori, and formed one of 

 their most striking social customs. At these functions the 

 different tribal divisions met together and topics affecting the 

 welfare of the tribe were discussed, thus helping, to a certain 

 extent, to bind together the various family groups of these 

 jealous communities. Outside tribes were also invited some- 

 times to these feasts, and probably the only bad effect of these 

 meetings was the scarcity of food which usually followed 

 them. A feast was held when the kumara (sweet potato) crop 

 was taken up and stored, and among the mountaineers of 

 Tuhoeland a like function was observed when certain rites 

 were performed over the first fruits of the season — i.e., of 

 birds and fresh- water fish. Feasts were also held on the 

 occasion of the marriage of important people, and on many 

 other occasions. Names were given to feasts of importance, 

 such as Hiwanawana, a feast held at Otairi, near Te Whaiti, 

 where the Ngati-Eongo and Tuhoe Tribes were guests of the 

 Patu-heuheu people. 



When arrangements had been made for giving a feast 

 messengers were despatched to invite the guests. These mes- 

 sengers were called whakareka, and consisted of a ti ngahuru, 

 or party of ten persons, or some such number. 



Meanwhile the givers of the feast have been busily engaged 

 in preparing food and accommodation for the coming visitors. 

 Huge stages were constructed on a scaffolding of poles, and 

 sometimes having several floors or stages. On these food was 

 piled and hung. Also long rows of food in baskets were 

 stacked on the ground, and at intervals poles were set up in 

 these rows. I have seen such poles bedecked with one-pound 

 and even five-pound notes, all of which, together with the 

 stacks of food, were handed over to the guests. That was at 

 Turanga, about the middle " seventies." 



The stages for stacking food on were termed ivhata, 

 and were sometimes of great size. Kumara, taro, berries, 

 birds, fish, and other foods would be provided in abundance. 

 Calabashes full of birds and rats, preserved as already ex- 

 plained, occupied an important position. They were the 

 centre-pieces of the feast, and were ornamented after the 

 manner of the Maori. Mounted on carved wooden legs, and 

 covered with a piece of woven matting adorned with bunches 



