1920.] 
Andersen.—Maori String Games. 
81 
MAORI STRING GAMES. 
Bv Johannes C. Andersen. 
With Illustrations by J. McDonald. 
WHAI (CAT’S-CRADLE). 
This pastime of the Maori was much more widely known in pre-European 
times than at the present day. It is generally termed whai; in full, te 
whai wawewawe a Maui; occasionally, maui and huhi. Its origin is, in 
myth, accredited to Maui, one of the old heroes, demigods, or personifica¬ 
tions so well loved by uncultured man ; and hence it is sometimes called 
by his name. The forming of the many varied patterns provided amuse¬ 
ment during the long winter nights, and in former times the game was 
practised by both young and old. 
There are but few references to the game in New Zealand literature, and 
these references are only to the patterns produced, no details whatever 
being given of the methods of producing them. A few of these references 
follow — 
From Dieffenbach ( Travels in New Zealand, vol. 2, p. 32): “ In the game 
of Maui they are great proficients. This is a game like that called cat’s- 
cradle in Europe, and consists of very complicated and perplexing puzzles 
with a cord tied together at the ends. It seems to be intimately connected 
with their.ancient traditions, and in the different figures which the cord is 
made to assume whilst held on both hands the outlines of their different 
varieties of houses, canoes, or figures of men and women are imagined to 
be represented. Maui, the Adam of New Zealand, left this amusement 
to them as an inheritance.” 
From Thomson ( Story of New Zealand, vol. 1, p. 196) : “ Maui is a game 
played exactly like what in England children call cat’s-cradle. Two 
parties play at it, and in the shapes assumed by the strings the players 
detect houses, canoes, and men. Maui is mentioned in ancient songs, and 
was invented by the deified man whose name it bears.” 
From Taylor (Te Ika a Maui, p. 172) : “ He whai, or maui. —The cat’s- 
cradles is a game very similar to our own, but the cord is made to assume 
many more forms, and these are said to be different scenes in their mythology, 
such as Hine-nui-te-po, mother night bringing forth her progeny, Maru and 
the gods, and Maui fishing up the land. Men, canoes, houses, &c., are also 
represented. Some state that Maui invented this game.” 
S. Percy Smith (in Journal of the Polynesian Society, vol. 7, p. 61, note) : 
“ The terms ti, miri, and kuna are all used in the games of whai, or cat’s- 
cradle, which were wonderfully complicated as used by the Polynesians, 
and had stories and songs connected with them. Another legend says 
that it was from the 4 Realms of Miru ’ that the knowledge of these games 
was obtained.” 
From Tregear (The Maori Race, p. 58) : “ Cat’s-cradle (whai, huhi, or 
maui) was known to the Maoris, as to almost all the inhabitants of the 
Malay Archipelago and South Seas. It was played with the two hands 
and a piece of string, assuming very complicated forms ; sometimes a whole 
drama was played by means of the changing shapes. Two of the favourites 
were the ascent of Tawhaki the Lightning god, to heaven, and the fishing-up 
of the land by the hero Maui. There were proper songs chanted as accom¬ 
paniments to the movements of the player’s hands.” 
6—Science. 
