Best. — On Maori Magic. 69 



evolve a more complete description of the games and amuse- 

 ments of old. 



'.- V jj< -,; '*,< 



The gleaming row of fires within the tvhare tapere have 

 burned low down, the Children of Toi have dispersed, as we 

 pass out again into the morn of the twentieth century, while 

 the sliding -door closes behind us on the ivhare tapere for 

 ever. 



Art. V. — Maori Magic : Notes upon Witchcraft, Magic 

 Bites, and various Superstitions as practised or believed 

 in by the Old-time Maori. 



By Elsdon Best. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, 7th October, 1901.] 



* 



To the Maori of past days there were practically but three 

 causes of death, as follows : (1) Mate taua, or death on the 

 battlefield ; (2) mate aitu, or mate tara ivhare, death from sick- 

 ness — i.e., a natural death ; (3) mate whaiwhaia, or death caused 

 by witchcraft. 



Deaths from mafaitu, or witchcraft, were, according to 

 Maori ideas, exceedingly numerous in the days of yore, and 

 still occur even in these times of the pakeha. Such deaths 

 need not be the result of an active force, as in the mdtakai, 

 the rua-iti, &c, to be hereinafter described, but may also be 

 brought about by what might be termed a semi-passive or a 

 semi-active medium, which is not dangerous to life until it be 

 interfered with. Of such a nature are the ivaro rahui, rongo- 

 takaivhiu, pa, and trees or places endowed with tapu in order 

 to prevent persons interfering with them, &c. 



There is also a third class or kind of makutu, or witchcraft, 

 which is non-aggressive, and which is merely intended to ward 

 off the magic spells of others, and protect the life, spirit, and 

 physical and intellectual vigour of the performer. Of such a 

 nature are the rites of the matdpuru, ahureiva, ngau-pae- 

 pae, &c. 



Yet another variety is that which not only wards off and 

 nullifies the effect of the magic spells of one's enemy, but also 

 causes such spells to recoil on the performer thereof, and so 

 destroy him or them. Such are the kai-ure and ahi-whakaene 

 rites. These two latter varieties of magic are known by the 

 generic terms of " ripa," " parepare," " momono," " whiti," 

 and " ivhakataha." 



