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Maori Agriculture

Fences

page 38

Fences

We have already noted that fences were seen surrounding native plantations by Cook and other early visitors to these shores. These, however, were not such fences as we are wont to see, as erected for the purpose of preventing the encroachment of animals, for in Maoriland the animals were not. The so-called fences referred to were light erections to serve one of two purposes, the sheltering of the somewhat tender sweet potato plants from wind, or to protect the crops from the depredations of the pukeko, or swamp hen. The first mentioned were breakwinds made by thrusting branches or brush, often manuka, into the earth. The bird-proof fence was made of closely set reeds or rods thrust into the ground, with a light containing rail lashed to them. In some cases, when no such barrier was employed, persons were stationed at the plantations in order to drive away inquisitive and persistent pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus). Such work often assigned to old men, and certain set forms of words were employed by those who drove away the birds, shouted out by the crop tenders. One such cry was:—

"Hie! Hie!
Haere ki te huhi
Haere ki te repo
Haere ki a Hine-wairua-kokako
Hie! Hie!"

The word hie means "Be off!" while the verb whakahie means "to drive off" or banish. We note this word in a well known East Coast saying—"Ko nga pakura enei a Toko-rakau, kaore e rongo ki te hie." (These are the swamp hens of Toko-rakau, who will not obey the hie.) Pakura is another name for the pukeko. Our bird scarer's cry may be rendered as—"Hie! Hie! Go to the swamp. Depart to the swamp lands. Go to Hine-wairua-kokako. Hie! Hie!" The lady of the long name mentioned is looked upon as the origin and personified form of the red legged swamp hen. In Tahiti the word hie means "Be off!" Sir W. Buller, in his Birds of New Zealand gives an account of the head of an enemy being used by natives of the Turakina district as a scarecrow to protect their crops from the pukeko. It was probably employed as a fructifying symbol.

In some situations, such as exposed hill sides, as also others subject to strong wind, the brush breakwinds were quite necessary, in order to prevent the kumara plants being bruised and damaged. There was, however, no strong or stable fence ever erected round a Maori plantation in olden times, and for the very best of reasons,page 39no such fabric was necessary. The only quadruped the country possessed that was a danger to crops was the rat, against which creature all fences are in vain.

The terms ahau, hoka, pahao, pahauhau, putahui, patakitaki, takitaki, titopa, &c., all denote such frail breakwinds, screens and light fences as were used in cultivation grounds. The words hoka, pahoka, pahokahoka and tihokahoka are all used to describe a breakwind formed by sticking the butts of branches in the earth. Ato, as a verb, denotes the fencing of a plantation with reeds or light sticks. Ahuriri is a low pig-proof fence.

After the introduction of the pig, most persistent of crop ravagers, the Maori soon discovered that he must bestir himself and ring-fence his plantations. In taking up this new task he practised two modes of fencing: the one usually employed was constructed on the lines of his defensive stockades, but of slighter materials. This taiepa, as it was called, was made by inserting stakes, split timber or sapling poles, in the earth in an upright position, and then lashing the same to a horizontal rail placed some three to four feet from the ground. The mode of inserting the upright stakes in the earth was unlike our own, for one end was sharpened and the stake was used as we often use a crowbar for punching a hole; when deep enough it was allowed to remain, and the next one punched down. This form of fence is depicted in Fig. 1 (p. 40).

The other method of fencing consisted of fewer uprights and many horizontal pieces. Two upright stakes were driven into the earth in a similar manner every four feet or so along the line on which the fence was to be erected. Each two stakes were four to five inches apart. In these confined spaces between the stakes, poles or split rail like pieces of timber were laid horizontally, one above another, and lapping endwise, until the fence was as high as desired. At certain intervals each pair of uprights was lashed together with aka, tough stems of climbing plants, thus the uprights could not open out, and also gripped tightly the enclosed timbers. Fig. 2 (p. 40) illustrates this form. These aka were also used for lashing the uprights on the rails of the first described style of fence. The aka-tea (Metrosideros albifiora) is the species usually employed; it is very durable. A running form of binding is employed, the pliable aka being passed twice round stake and rail, then carried on to the next stake. Stiles were made wherever access to a plantation was desired. These stiles (koronae and or a whakatungangi), in the more permanent fences, were occasionally flanked by carved posts. Angas mentions seeing such at Taupo.

page 40

Fig. 1. The takitaki or raihe style offence. See p. 39. Sketch by Miss E. Richardson

Fig. 2. Another style of native fence. The pakorokoro, karapi, or taiepa whakapaepae. See p. 39. Sketch by Miss E. Richardson

page 41

In the Whanganui district the fence consisting of upright stakes secured to a rail is termed a raihe, while that made by placing lengths of timber horizontally between containing vertical stakes is a pakorokoro. At Waiapu the fence of upright stakes is styled a takitaki, while that made by placing timbers horizontally is a karapi or taiepa whakapaepae. A wattled brush fence is rauwiri.

Those familiar with the labours of fencing, and the riving and carriage of the necessary material, will readily grasp the serious addition to the yearly tasks of the Maori agriculturist made by the introduction of the pig, the first introduced animal acquired in numbers by the natives. Cultivated areas are frequently changed by the Maori. A field may be cropped for two years and then abandoned for several years before it is again planted, during which interval the fence decays or gets into serious disrepair, and hence has to be renewed. Moreover the persistent pig calls for a close and strong fence to keep him away from crops. Fences that effectually bar horses, cattle, and sheep may be no protection against free lance pigs left to shift for themselves. Each new plantation calls for a new fence, and in some districts where timber was scarce, the newly acquired pig caused a good deal of trouble. When Earle visited the Taiamai district in 1827, he looked down upon miles of green crops, but observes:—"The greatest deficiency which I observed in the country around me was the total absence of fences, and this defect occasions the natives a great deal of trouble, which might very easily be avoided. Hogs are the principal part of their wealth, with which, at all times, they can traffic with vessels touching at their ports. These animals, consequently, are of the utmost importance to them; but during the growth of their crops, the constant watching the hogs require to keep them out of the plantations, consume more time than would effectually fence in their whole country; but I have no doubt, as they already begin to follow our advice and adopt our plans, they will soon see the utility of fencing in their land." Possibly fencing material was not abundant or handy in that district, for fences were in use long before then. Of another cultivated field Nicholas wrote:—"The nice precision that was observed in setting the plants, and the careful exactness in clearing out the weeds, the neatness of the fences, with the convenience of the stiles and pathways, might all of them have done credit to the most tasteful cultivator in England." It is evident that, as early as 1814, the natives of the Bay of Islands district had found it necessary to fence against the pig.