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The Maori Canoe

The Single Canoe having no Outrigger

The Single Canoe having no Outrigger

We now come to the ordinary type of Maori canoe, the only one that has survived to our time, and concerning which we can give a detailed description. In the first place it should be mentioned that this type may be subdivided into three classes, as follows:—

A.The waka taua, or war-canoe. The finest specimens of native canoes were of this class. Of large size and elaborately ornamented; provided with top-strakes and highly carved prow and stern-piece.

B.The waka tete. A smaller canoe, used for travelling and fishing purposes. Fitted with top-strakes and inferior prow and stern-pieces, but no elaborate ornamentation.

C.The waka tiwai. Smaller than, and inferior to, the B class. A plain dugout hull with no top-strakes, prow, or stern-piece, or any form of ornament. Hull generally in one piece, whereas in A and B classes it might be composed of two or even three pieces. Used in harbours and rivers, occasionally in sea-fishing near the coast, but not in deep-sea fishing.

Of type C also were diminutive canoes that might contain one, two, or three persons, and were used in calm waters, harbours, lakes, and rivers. These are known as korea, kopapa, and koku They were much used in former times for the conveyance of supplies in tranquil waters, and for other ordinary purposes.

In the Waiapu district the term kopapa is applied not only to a small canoe, but also to a short plank or board used in surf-riding. William's Maori Dictionary gives—"Konia, a canoe. Pinaku, a war-canoe; same as pitau (waka taua class). Waka tokau, or totokau, a eanoe with top-strakes, but no prow or stern-piece. Waka koporo, a square-sterned canoe." Canoes were not, apparently, made in this form, but an end, if broken, might be cut off and so the craft became a koporo.

Mr. S. P. Smith speaks of reti or retireti as an obsolete term for a canoe.

Pora: Concerning this word Williams gives "Pora =a ship. Tangata pora=a man from shipboard, a foreigner." The Moriori folk of the Chatham Isles also called a ship pora. The writer cannot say as to what type of canoe was termed a pora by the Maori in former times. From Tregeafs Dictionary we get—"Samoan: Pola-pola—a flat-built canoe (?); pola vaka—mat used to cover a canoe. page 47Hawaiian: Pola—the high seat between the canoes of a double canoe. Tahitian: Farepora—small house on a double canoe."

It is not clear as to what is meant by a "flat-built canoe"—possibly a shallow craft of wide beam. Of the pola vaka Colenso remarks: "Which, I suppose, is extended horizontally over them [canoes], as was formerly the case in New Zealand." Apparently he had heard some tradition of canoe-awnings having been used here. Such awnings do not seem to have been quoted by any other early writer except Sir Joseph Banks (1769), who speaks of having seen near the East Cape "many very large canoes upon the beach, some hundreds I may safely say, some of which either had or appeared to have awnings." Possibly these awnings were canoe-sheds. As to the whare pora, this term was applied by the Maori to a flat-roofed house—that is, presumably, to a low-pitched roof. Pora, as applied to a European ship, was employed principally in the South Island and the southern part of the North Island. There is nothing to show which form of canoe it was applied to, or why our vessels were so termed. Colenso thought that the latter were so called "on account of the flatness of the ceilings below decks"—which does not seem very convincing.

The following notes on native canoes were contributed by Mohi Turei, of the Ngati-Porou Tribe of the east coast, to the Pipiwharau-roa, a Maori paper published at Gisborne. Mohi was a man who possessed a considerable amount of knowledge concerning the customs, industries, and traditions of his ancestors:—

Mo te tete waka, ara mo te tauihu tete. E wha nga waka nei: (1) He waka toiera; (2) he waka pitau; (3) he waka pakako (4) he waka tete.

1.Te toiera [?=toiere] he waka nui, me ona ingoa waka nui ano,—he waka taua, he waka puhi potae, he waka taroro, he tuki, he parata. Ko te parata kei runga tonu i te matatara o te tinana ake o te waka, e hara i te mea hoatu; ka whakairoa, ka pukana nga kanohi, ka hamama te waha, ka tarewa te arero, ka tete nga niho, pani rawa ki te karamea. I kiia ai te parata he ika kai te moana, he parata te ingoa, he taniwha… Kei runga tonu i te tauihu nei te tara [? tetahi] whakairo e kiia ana he toiera. Ko ona huruhuru kereru, me etahi atu manu, ka mahia ki runga ki nga rakau pai e rua, ka herea nga pito o aua rakau ki tetahi taha o te tauihu, ki tetahi taha; puhi rawa nga pito o waho ki te puhi kereru, ka kiia he taroro. Ko te puhi potae kei te taurapa, he mahinga nui to tera, ka kiia he puhi potae; hei reira ano tetahi whakairo kei te taurapa, he toiera.

2.Ko te pitau he waka nui; ko tona ingoa whakanui, he waka taua, he pitau whakareia, ringawhiu. He whakairo te pitau, kei te tauihu, kei te taurapa, me te whakarei. Ko te ringa-whiu, ko nga ringaringa o te tauihu i whiua ki muri. Kei reira ano te upoko, nga kanohi, me te waha e hamama ana, te arero e whatero ana, nga niho e te tete ana, me te puku, me nga waewae, pani rawa ki te karamea, ruku tonu atu ki toto o te ngaru.

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3.Ko te tuatoru o nga waka nei, he waka pakoko te ingoa, he waka nui. Ko te upoko o te tauihu i anga ke mai ki te riu o te waka te kanohi, whakairo rawa nga moko katoa, ano he tangata ora, pani rawa ki te hinu hei whakawahi. Ka tuhia ano nga moko kua haehaetia ra ki te kauri pango, poha rawa ki te kapia toera. Ko nga kanohi i moe, me te waha i kumu, kihai i hamama. No konei te ingoa nei a te pakoko, no te moenga o nga kanohi, no te kumunga o te waha. Ko te puhi kereru i runga i te upoko, ko te kopako i parea atu hei patukitanga mai ma te ngaru. Ka mate te rangatira, ka tapahia te upoko, ka whakapakokotia; maha atu nga tau e tangihia ai. Ahakoa nui te waka, roa, ka mau taua tauihu ki runga, ka kiia he waka pakoko, na te moenga o nga kanohi, na te kumunga o te waha. Pera hoki te ahua o te tupapaku e whakapakokotia ana, he mea whakamoe nga kanohi, he mea kuku te waha.

4.Te waka tete, kei te rae tetahi whakairo he tete te ingoa; kei raro i te kauae he tete; ka mau ki runga ki te waka, ka kiia he tete.

Ko enei waka, ko te tete, ko te waka pakoko, he waka whai kai, tona ingoa he waka tuku koura, hi ika.

Ko te toiere, me te pitau, takoto tonu ai i uta i rote i nga tawharau, ma nga haere nunui anake ka manu ai ki te moana. Ka haere ano nga waka pakoko, tete, ki nga haere nunui, ope taua, tapakuwha, kaihaukai, tangihanga tupapaku. Tona ingoa nui mo aua waka i enei haere, mo te waka pakoko, mo te waka tete—he waka mau o. Me whakamarama ake te waka tete nei i te haerenga ki te tangihanga tupapaki, i kiia rawatia ai te waka tete nei he waka mau o.

This article is of much interest, but unfortunately was so badly printed that some parts are doubtful. It also contains a few expressions that are unknown to us. Here follows a rude translation of the matter:—

Regarding the tete of a canoe—that is, the tete figurehead: Now, there are four types of canoes—(1) Waka toiera; (2) wakapitau; (3) wakapakoko; (4) waka tete.

1.The toiera is a large canoe, having its appropriate names, as "warcanoe," "feather-decked canoe," "taroro canoe," "tuki" and "parata" The parata is [situated] on the matatara of the body of the canoe, it is not an attached item; [it was] carved with distorted eyes, open mouth, pro truding tongue, exposed teeth, and painted with red ochre. It was said that the parata is a sea-fish, an ocean monster… On the tauihu is a certain carved design called a toiera. Feathers of pigeons and other birds were arranged on two suitable rods. The ends of those rods were tied on either side of the tauihu [figurehead], their outer ends were adorned with pigeonfeathers, and it was then known as a taroro. The puhi potae pertained to the taurapa [stern-piece] and involved much work, being known as a puhi potae. At that place also, on the taurapa, is a certain carved design, a toiera.

2.The pitau is a large canoe, dignified by the names "war-canoe," "pitau whakareia" and "ringa-whiu." The pitau was carved as to the tauihu, the taurapa, and the whakarei. In the ringa-whiu the arms of the figurehead extended backwards. There also is the head, the eyes, the open mouth, the protruding tongue, the exposed teeth, the stomach, the legs, all painted with red ochre, and in the act of cleaving the waves.

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3.The third canoe, styled a "waka pakoko," was a large vessel. The head of the tauihu [figurehead] was turned so as to face the hold of the canoe, and had all tattooing-devices carved on it so that it resembled a living person; then it was anointed with oil. The incised tattoo-lines were marked with black pigment… The eyes were closed, and the mouth was closed, not open. From this fact—from the closed eyes and the closed mouth—is derived the name pakoko. The ornaments of pigeon-feathers were on the head; the back of the head was turned [reversed] to serve as a striking-place for the waves. (When a chief died, his head was cut off and dried; this would be wailed over for many years.) Though the canoe be a large one, and long, if that form of figurehead was affixed to it, then it was called a waka pakoko, on account of the closed eyes and closed mouth. Of that aspect also was a dead person when preserved by drying—the eyes and mouth were closed.

4.As to the waka tete, on the rae[? forehead of figurehead] is a certain design called a tete, and on the the chin is a tete; when such are on a canoe it is styled a tete.

These canoes, the tete and the pakoko, were employed in obtaining food, in fishing, and the setting of lobster-pots.

The toiere and the pitau were kept in sheds ashore; for important occasions only were they launched. The pakoko and tete canoes also accompanied important expeditions connected with war, marriage, ceremonial feasts, and mourning for the dead. The general name for these canoes on such journeys—that is, for the pakoko and tete canoes—was "provision-canoes." It must be explained that the waka tete, when used in proceeding to mourning functions, was certainly alluded to as a provision-carrying vessel.

In the above notes Mohi uses the term toiera where Waikato and other tribes employ toiere; while taroro seems to be connected with the ihiihi or projecting rods at the prow. In one case he uses toiere; thus toiera is probably a variant form. Matatara, an unknown word to the writer in this connection, seems to be applied to the forward extremity of the hull of a canoe; it is clearly stated that the parata design was carved on this part, and was not detachable. It was on this part that the carved head-piece or prow, the tauihu, was secured. What monster of the ocean the name parata is applied to we cannot say, but in Maori myth the tides are caused by a sea-monster of that name. The name pitau is probably derived from the scrolls of the carved attachments. The inward-facing figure of the figurehead of the waka pakoko is also known as a whakaanga. Apparently the carved head showing closed eyes and mouth was named pakoko because it resembled a preserved (dried) human head which had the eyelids and lips sewn together. The tete design may be seen carved on a figurehead in the Dominion Museum. The waka tete had a figurehead lacking limbs.

Of the Maori canoes Wilkes wrote in 1840, "They are without an outrigger, and differ in this respect from the boats of all other page 50Polynesians south of the Equator. They have also adopted the square sail (which generally consists of a blanket) in place of the triangular one common to all Polynesia." The square sail was, of course, never used in pre-European times.