1922.1 
Best.—T i Rakau, an Old Maori Pastime. 
307 
Rotorua have resuscitated this old-time game, the knowledge of which 
had been almost lost. 
It is an interesting fact that the Maori of yore ever encouraged such 
games as the above—any amusement, though apparently a mere pastime, 
that demanded the exercise of certain faculties, as quick judgment, manual 
dexterity, agility, &c. Such games were looked upon as being desirable 
exercises, excellent training for lads who would soon need such qualities 
in the use of arms. Girls were thought to acquire grace of action in 
playing such games, and so became fitted to join ceremonial dances 
performed before visitors. 
DIVINATORY RITES OF THE MAORI. 
By Elsdon Best, Dominion Museum. 
With illustrations by J. McDonald. 
In pre-European days the tohunga matakite , or divination expert, possessed 
a remarkable budget of charms and ceremonial performances whereby he 
was enabled, in native belief, to peer into the future, and even to con¬ 
trol natural phenomena. Some of the divinatory practices, of the Maori 
were of an exceedingly puerile nature. We often marvel as to how any 
people, however backward and ignorant, could place faith in such absurd 
acts. But those who have told us of these childish practices have never 
explained to us the cause of the faith displayed in them by performers and 
the people generally. That cause may be explained as follows : The faith 
in the gods, their powers and far-reaching influence, felt by the Maori, was 
deep and strong. Their influence is seen in the most trivial occurrences : 
no leaf falls earthward but feels the powers of the gods. This belief it was 
that provided much employment for the priestly experts, shamanistic 
mediums, augurers, and thaumaturgists of Maoridom. "When these gentry 
performed any act or simple rite in connection with which the powers and 
influence of the gods was a necessary factor, such ceremonies were invariably 
preceded or accompanied by charms. It was the power of these charms, 
albeit an indirect influence, that induced the gods to assist the petitioner. 
Given the complacent attitude of the gods, then the dicta of those gods 
might be manifested in any trivial occurrence. When it is believed that 
a common-place occurrence emanates from the gods, that it is a manifesta¬ 
tion of their will and power, then it ceases to be common-place. Such, then, 
was the viewpoint of the Maori, and this fact should be borne in mind by 
those who make any study of such ceremonial performances as that described 
below. 
The Raurau Divinatory Rite. 
This curious performance serves as an illustration of artificial divination, 
as distinct from natural divination, in which oracular utterances are issued 
by human mediums possessed of the divine afflatus. The raurau rite, 
as performed among the Matatua tribes, was explained to me by the late 
Hamiora Pio, of Te Teko, a man who possessed great faith in divination 
and many strange omens. This old warlock it was who explained to me 
