98 
CUSTOMS RELATING TO THE DEAD. 
made known; a loud howl or wail brought all the neighbours 
together, who joined in the doleful cry. Since the introduc¬ 
tion of fire arms, the custom of firing off guns has been adopted, 
as a powerful aid to the human voice, in testifying sorrow for 
the dead. A native has no idea of silent grief. The greater 
the noise, the greater the sorrow ; and the longer it is kept up, 
the greater the honor paid. Every friend or relative shows 
his respect for the dead, by the number of guns discharged ; 
this is called he maimai, aroha. 
One of the first things was to make the kaheru, or spade, 
which was required for the digging of the grave ; when such 
was needed, this was rendered sacred by the karakias which 
were repeated.* Whilst it was being made, and until the inter¬ 
ment, the body laid in state, dressed out in the finest mats, and 
ornamented with feathers ; the mere, the gun, and spear being 
placed by its side. The grave was then dug in the house of the 
deceased, in which the body was placed in a sitting posture, 
the limbs being retained in that position by bandages. The 
body still being dressed in the best garments, adorned with the 
family ornaments of green-stone and shark’s teeth ; it was then 
wrapped up in a fine sleeping mat, the grave was covered over 
with planks and a little soil. It is still usual to inter the 
property of the chief with him, especially all things which have 
touched his person during his illness, such as garments, &c. 
* The karakia used on this 
the commencement: — 
Ko pi ko pa hua te ata, 
Ka kai e i nga, 
Kainga ngaki o te 
Matua, i waiho 
I te ao nei, 
Ko pi ko pa hua te 
Ata, ka kai-e-, 
E hinu ra, he taro ra, 
Ko te kai, kai namu 
Ai, kia wangai ia, 
Kai namu ki pai-rau ru, 
&c., &c. 
occasion, is a very long one ; the following is 
Closed up, closed up, 
(In the womb of night.) 
With the early dawn, 
Eat the sacrifice of the dead. 
From the cultivation of your father. 
Which is left in the world. 
Closed up, closed up, 
In early dawn, 
Eat the spirit of the fat, the taro, 
Your food to feed you is the fly, 
Eat it in Pairau your abode. 
Even Christian natives regard the spade used in digging a grave as being 
tapu, and do not like to use it again, except for the same purpose. 
