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The Pa Maori

[contents]

page 139

Contents

Selection of site for a fortified village. Site, work and workers all under tapu. Ceremonial raising of first post. Human sacrifice. Tawhiti-nui pa at Opotiki. The mauri or talisman of a village. Ceremonial burying of the mauri. Ceremonial opening of a new pa. Girl employed in tapu removing ceremony. Why women were so employed. Ritual formulae. Use of left hand in rites. Girl crosses threshold of new house in pa. Village site deserted. Ceremonial release of birds during above function. Defence of fortified villages. Watchmen. Methods of attack. How pa were burned. Stockade pulled down. Garrison reduced by starvation. Long sieges. Sapping and tunnelling occasionally practised. Clay eating. Circumvallation. Besieged folk exchange their children for food. Women defend a fort. Escalading. The forlorn hope at Awatoto. The alarm and its effect. The attack on Karewa. The Quixotic defence of Te Tumu. The gun fighters appear.