Page:Spiritual and Mental Concepts of the Maori.djvu/6

 Photograph by J. McDonald, 7907. FIG. i. STONE MAURI OR MANEA.

The material mauri employed as protective talismans and shrines or abiding-places of supernormal beings (c.iua) under whose care a village, forest, or area of land was placed. (See page 22.)

The stones are natural forms, apparently water- worn ; a scroll design has been incised in one (No. 6). They form part of the Hammond Collection from the Taranaki District.

" He taunga atua te mauri."

(" The mauri is an abiding-place of the gods.")

Nos. i, 3, and 4 are mauri or manea. No. 2 was simply used as a domestic implement. No. 5 is a stone icceptacle for a peculiarly tapu and revered stone called a whatu kura that had an emblematical significance. Nos. 6 and 7 were also employed in ritual performances.

Photograph by J. McDonald, 1921. FIG. 2. THE RAURAU RITE.

A divinatory rite performed by Maori tohunga or priestly experts of former times in order to ascertain what persons and clans will surfer in a coming fight. Each clan is represented by a diminutive mound of earth having a branchlet of karamu (Coprosma) stuck in it. In front of each mound a small stick is placed. By means of the recital of a charm the yriest induces the gods to forecast events. Then the sticks are seen to glide towards the mounds to attack the hau or branch'lets. At the same lime a leaf is seen to fall from each branchlet for each man of that particular clan who will fall in the coming fight. The illustration shows the iohunga in the act of repeating the charm. (See page 31.)

(^~. |l

N95