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The Pa Maori

Gateways and Entrance Passages

Gateways and Entrance Passages.

The entrance or entrances to a fortified village were always of small dimensions, that in the outermost defence sometimes smaller than inner ones. The largest would be that in the main line of defence. Such entrances were of several different forms and protected in different ways. The actual entrance or gateway was termed a waha ngutu or kuwaha. The ngutu was a short line of defence covering the entrance, a narrow passage formed by erecting a stockade or rampart running parallel with the outer defence of the fort. This ngutu might be either inside or outside the kuwaha. The waharoa (syn. araroa, riuroa, etc.) was a narrow lane passage inside the gateway, through which persons entering the place had to pass. In some cases it seems to have run directly from the outer entrance or gateway to the centre of the village; in others a short ngutu passage extended from the gateway to the waharoa. The latter term was not applied to the actual gateway. The ara whakatara was a zigzag entrance passage which, on passing through one line of defence, did not proceed directly through the next, but traversed the space between the two defences for some distance ere passing through the second line. This method might be continued until the innermost area was reached, or it might be discontinued before that. Occasionally a subway or tunnel entrance was formed under a line of defence. An old form of entrance passage to surmount a terrace was a sunk way excavated out of the brow of such terrace; this is not infrequently noted in old hill forts. The outer gateway was sometimes covered by a short detached outer rampart termed a takurua, or by a semidetached rampart connected at one end with the line of defence containing the gateway. This formed a ngutu or pukoro; these forms might be situated inside instead of outside the outer defence of a fort. In hill forts the approaches to gateways were of all imaginable forms, according to the nature of the ground and the ingenuity of the people.

In Fig. 37, p. 118, we have in No. 1 an illustration of the detached covering wall, a form of ravelin to protect the gateway. A. A. represent the outer defence of the fort. B. is the entrance passage, E. the actual gateway, C. is the ravelin or covering rampart, while D. is the ngutu or narrow passage through which persons passed to reach the gateway. In No. 2 we have the pukoro style of defence, in which the covering wall or stockade is connected at one end with the defences of the pa. This form might or might not have an outer gate at B. as well as that at A., and the covering defence might be either an earthwork or a stockade. No. 3 shows the same feature placed within the outer line page 118 Fig. 37—Diagrams illustrating methods of protecting the entrance to a fortified village. (Seep. 117.) of defence. In No. 4 we see a different form in which appears at A the entrance through a defensive rampart, from which a narrow passage skirts the defensive wall and has on its other side a containing rampart B. This passage or waharoa extends right across the defended area to the opposite defence, where it turns sharply to follow it a little way. At its extremity there is another gateway over which is an elevated platform, C. under which all persons entering the inner area must pass. The approach through the outer defences to reach A. might be direct or devious, according to the views of the planners. The Pehikatia pa at Wai-rarapa is said to have had this style of entrance. The gateway at the inner end of a waharoa is said to have been called the waha tieke, the word waha carrying the meaning of opening or orifice. The entrance through each of the defences was so page 119constructed as to be easily and effectively blocked. In the case of an enemy forcing an entrance at A. of No. 4 diagram, he would find himself in a narrow lane between two high earthen ramparts, on the broad summits of which would be stationed the defenders, armed with long spears wherewith to lung downward at the assailants. In their confined situation the attacking force would not have space wherein to manipulate long spears.

A fort might include both a waharoa (Syn. araroa) and an ara whakatara, the former representing a part only of the entrance passage through the various defences, and the balance being in zigzag form. Some notes on entrances are included in our descriptions of other aspects of native forts, and others will be noted in describing the remains of the old earthwork redoubts of former times. It is scarcely necessary to say that gateways were blocked at night whenever enemies were held to be near. Also if any form of bridge lay over an outer ditch it would be withdrawn.

The means of access to the principal stronghold of the Arapawa pa at Te Mimi, Taranaki, was a sunk way or excavated passage from a terrace. Such passages were often provided with flank defences, and sometimes a platform overhead. The defenders, being on a much higher level, held a great advantage at such places.

Subterranean entrances of a tunnel like character, termed ara kutoro, were sometimes formed as a means of passing a line of defence. These might or might not be used in times of peace, but were easily defended in case of an attempted entrance by enemies. These passage ways were formed under a wall at the time the latter was constructed, and sloped upwards to the inner area. The place of exit might have a covering wall or stockade so as to form a pukoro. The covering wall itself was called a takurua. In some cases such a passage was used only in war time, when the gateway generally used was kept blocked.

In Mr. S. P. Smith's Peopling of the North at p. 78, is an account of the escape of a garrison of an Auckland Isthmus pa by means of following one of the subterranean lava flow tunnels so common in that area. The writer has examined one of these natural tunnels near One Tree Hill that was followed for half a mile without coming to the end of it.

In rare instances a tunnel has been excavated so as to lead from the interior of a fort under all defences and outwards to a forest gulch or other cover, and used by scouts during a siege, or as a means of escape. Such a tunnel was a feature of the Hui-te-rangiora pa at Ruatoki, and the pa of the chief Nuku at Wai-rarapa, also another at Omamari. (See Journal of the Polynesian Society, vol XX., p. 115.)

page 120

We have already noted the Rev. Mr. Yate's remarks on the entrances to forts as being in time of war-'through small loopholes which a full grown man has great difficulty in creeping through.' The following account by another very early sojourner in New Zealand, the Rev. Mr. Wade, gives in addition other interesting notes on the aspect of native fortified villages in the fourth decade of last century:—

"In notes from a journal published in a Madras periodical, which has just come to hand, I find the following description of a pa, by an individual who visited the island at the commencement of 1835. It will serve as a good general representation: 'As all the pa are alike in their general plan, I will describe that of Waka-tiwai, which may be considered one of the best in this part of the island. Waka-tiwai consists of a quadrangular enclosure of about four hundred feet along the front, by about two hundred in depth; the fence composed of stakes of all sorts and sizes, varying in height from ten to twenty feet, driven into the ground about a couple of inches apart, and having, at intervals, large posts of which the upper part is rudely shaped in the semblance of a human figure, in as impressive an attitude of contempt and defiance as New Zealand ingenuity can achieve: usually representing the head thrust forward, with fierce staring eyes and protruding tongue. Some of these, at a distance, really look like very valorous fellows standing upon the top of the fence. Outside, in all directions, are large mounds of cockle shells. The entrance is by an opening about two feet from the ground, just wide enough for one person; a block of wood driven into the earth serving as a step. Within the enclosure, without the slightest attention to order or plan of any kind, are scattered about a hundred rush huts and hovels, some with fenced enclosures and some without, with occasionally a small patch of potatoe ground. In all the enclosures, and elsewhere about the pa, are store houses, consisting of a platform raised upon stakes ten or fifteen feet high, on which are deposited the potatoes, etc., and here and there are poles on which are hung bundles of dried fish, scattering their fragrance abroad. In all directions the ground is covered with cockle shells, fragments of potatoe baskets, and other remains; whilst its surface is everywhere broken into little pits and hillocks occasioned by the constant formation of ovens for cooking. Pigs are seen wandering about, grubbing up the abandoned ovens, or waiting for their chance at the uncovering of those in present use. Their less industrious masters are squatting in groups, huddled up in their capes and blankets, smoking and chatting; while the women are tending the ovens and page 121 Fig. 38—Massive Carved Pillar containing entrance to fortified village. The upper part of the kuwaha or entrance is just visible, the lower part being concealed by debris. Rotorua district. Fig. 21c shows this huge carved balk, somewhat restored, as it now appears in Auckland Museum. It formerly stood in a stockade near Lake Okataina. A poor sketch of it seen at page 107 of Terry's New Zealand, 1842: its height is 25 ft. The debris concealing the base of the pillar was deposited during the volcanic outbreak at Tarawera in 1886. (See pp. 71, 124) J. McDonald, Photo page 122 Fig. 38a—Carved top of a heavy stockade post such as were erected at entrance to Pa and elsewhere. Drawing by J. McDonald page 123 Fig. 39—Old entrance to the Pukeroa Pa at Rotorua; now in Auckland Museum. The pipe proclaims it a post-European product. (See p. 124.) Burton Bros. Photo page 124 preparing fern root: filth and laziness on all sides. … Such is a pa, or fortified enclosure. A kainga is any other place where food is cooked, a single hut, or even a single oven."

The above account describes a village of the period of European occupation, and it is not an alluring picture. The destruction of the social fabric of Maoridom by European influence had a pernicious effect, one that was most marked in the abandonment of the habits of neatness formerly displayed in cultivation of food products and often in the care of villages.

Crozet gives some description of a pa of the Bay of Islands district as seen by him in 1772:—"All the villages are situated on steep cliffs jutting out into the sea, and we noticed that where the inclination of the ground was not great, it had been made steep by hand. We had much difficulty in climbing up, and the savages had often to help us by holding our hands. On arrival at the top, we found first of all a palisade formed of piles, driven straight and deeply into the ground, seven or eight feet high, and the ground well beaten down and grassed at the foot of the palisades. Then followed a ditch about six feet broad, and about five to six feet deep, but this ditch was only placed on the land side, where an enemy might approach. There was then a second palisade, which, like the first, served to enclose the whole village into an oblong shape. The entrance gates are not placed opposite each other. After entering the first circuit one has to go further along a narrow path to look for the entrance through the second palisade. The gates are very small.

"From that side from which they fear attacks they have a sort of outworks, equally well palisaded and surrounded by ditches, and which will hold four hundred to five hundred men. This work is only a palisaded oblong and is placed outside the village to act as a defence to the entrance."

In the Auckland Museum is preserved the carved entrance piece of the former pa at Puke-roa, Roto-rua. See Fig. 39, p. 123. Another, made for the model pa for the Exhibition at Christchurch, is now in the Dominion Museum, Wellington. See Fig. 40, p. 128.

The old entrance of the Okataina pa has been secured by the Auckland Museum. A piece has been split off the lower figure and the whole is naturally much weatherbeaten. This entrance post was set up at the pa near Okataina prior to the Ngapuhi raid on Rotorua, which occurred in May, 1823. It is about 25 feet in height. It is figured in Terry's New Zealand. See Figs. 21c, 38, pp. 71, 121.

Small secondary places of entrance of a diminutive type were often made in stockades, and were called ngutu-ihe and ara piwai.

page 125

No form of swing gate was used by the Maori in pre-European days, though the sliding door like form mentioned by the Rev. Mr. Yate apparently was. In other cases gateways appear to have been blocked by a kind of hurdle, or by a slip-rail arrangement, sometimes with timbers arranged vertically and lashed to cross pieces. In the latter case the palisades were slid up and down in some cases, and secured by bars termed koropi.

The following notes were contributed by Tuta Nihoniho, of the East Coast:—

The ngutu or entrance to a fortified village might be situated at an angle or in a tiaroa (curtain in military parlance), according to the formation of the ground without and within the defences. There might be two, three, or even more entrances, according to the size of the village and the aspect of surrounding ridges, etc. The kuwaha or gateway would, in most cases, have a stout post on either side of it. The space was not more than would just allow a person to pass through, as a rule, though the gateway of the main stockade was somewhat wider and higher. One or more of the stockade rails might be carried across the gateway in order to facilitate the blocking of the space, and to impart stability to such barrier. The outer screen was, of course, discontinued at either side of the entrance. The actual gate was often a hurdle like structure made by lashing short stout rods across uprights. It was sometimes so made as to resemble the stockade in appearance.

The Tuhoe tribe include a narrow passage leading to the gateway in the term ngutu, while Hurae Puketapu of Te Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, applies it merely to the gateway. (Mo te ngutu o te pa, ko te kauwha tena. Ko te waharoa ko te ara ki roto.)

The hurdle-like gate was set up against the inner sides of the rails across the gateway, and lashed to them with the ever useful aka, or stems of climbing plants. These gates were always erected at night when the people were occupying the pa, taken down in the morning, and laid aside for the day.

The term tatau, (door) was sometimes applied to the object, hurdle-like or otherwise, used to block the kuwaha, as seen in the following remark:—"Ka rere nga wahine ki te whakatuwhera i te tatau o te ngutu o te pa." (The women ran to open the door of the ngutu of the pa.)

The spaces between the different stockades of a pa were often alluded to as wa patiki. The gate, in some cases at least, did not represent a part of the stockade, that is it was not so high, but merely a kind of wicket, short palisades being permanently lashed to rails across the upper part of the gateway, and also a short permanent page 126palisading, like a low fence about two feet high, or a block of wood, at the bottom of the opening, over which a person had to step when entering the passage leading into the fort. It was the open space between these upper and lower sets of pickets that was the true entrance, and which was closed by the barrier. On either side of the entrance of the main defence often stood a huge and tall carved post. In some cases a great slab-like carved post, with a wide base, stood at the entrance, and a doorway was cut through the base of such post. See Figs. 38-39-40.

The name kiritai was applied to the ground just outside the outermost defence of a pa.

In the entrance to a fort, the space between the main and inner stockades might, or might not, be closed with timbers. In a few cases the entrance passage extended directly from the outer stockade through to the inside of the earthwork, that is in a straight line, with a bridge over the ditch composed of one or more beams laid across. But, in many cases, the entrance passage turned abruptly inside the inner stockade, and ran along the ditch for some distance, ere passing through the earthwork. The passage through the earthwork might be an ordinary one with palisades and a sort of wicket to pass through, but in many cases on the East Coast it was in the form of a tunnel or passage under the earthwork. This tunnel commenced at the level of the bottom of the moat and inclined upwards, passing under the earthwork and thus emerging on the plaza inside. It was about five feet in height. This passage tunnel was not formed after the earthwork was completed, but was made at the same time. An upward sloping channel was formed from the moat bottom, then the rampart built up on either side of it until the desired passage height of about five feet was reached, then timbers were laid horizontally across the space, on the top of the wall, and the building of the wall continued on those timbers. At the inner mouth of this tunnel within the central area were heavy timbers that could, at any time, be utilised for blocking passage by the tunnel.

Whenever an entrance passage encountered a trench, a rude bridge composed of one or two stout rickers, flatted on their upper surface, was laid across, the same being easily removed if desirable. Such a bridge is termed an arawhata.

Where the entrance passage did not run along the trench parallel to the inner stockade, the pukoro method (see Fig. 37, p. 118) would probably be adopted, and some pa had two such covering defences. The formation of the ground greatly influenced the form of entrance passages.

page 127

Taiepa kotikoti were lighter fences erected to enclose sub-divisions of the residential area of a pa, each of which would be occupied by a whanau or family group. Earthworks were sometimes constructed in place of such palisade fences.

The principal chiefs of a hill fort would reside in the uppermost area, the tihi or toi, which would be the scene of the last stand in case of a successful attack by enemies.

Any tapu place where ceremonies were performed within the fort would be fenced in to prevent trespass.

Chiefs often took a pride in keeping the pa clean, the plaza and alleyways clear of rubbish, etc. Hence such men often engaged in such work, or were the initiators of the task, whereupon persons of lower rank would come forward and assist. Wooden spades were much used in such operations.