RE: 1939 New Zealand 3 Pence

[kerrislravenhill]

I recall that Captain Cook didn't get off on a good start the Maori when he totally misunderstood their behavior at the first contact with these warriors.

Comments

[coinjoe]

Thank you for bringing this piece of Māori history up because now I have a rabbit hole to go down tonight if I can’t sleep😀.

Here is what I found:

8 October 1769, James Cook and others landed on the east side of the Tūranganui River, near present-day Gisborne. It appears from later accounts that the local Māori at first took the ship to be a floating island or giant bird. The fertile land surrounding the wide bay Tūranganui-a-Kiwa was home to a large population of Māori at that time, divided into four main tribes.

Cook’s relationship with Māori got off to a disastrous start when a Ngāti Oneone leader, Te Maro, was shot and killed by one of Cook’s men. It seems likely that the local people were undertaking a ceremonial challenge, but the Europeans believed themselves to be under attack.

Source

[thisismylife]

Interesting! I was about to say that they make quite a scary impression while doing that dance so I can totally see why someone unknown to the tribe and their ceremonies would freak out and feel under attack.

Sad story though..

I heard about the dance before as someone (non-tribe) had learned it from the Maori directly and was trying to teach it to others for a tv show. Surely didn't look this impressive!

!PIMP

[coinjoe]

Yes, very intimidating indeed.

I had seen it before too, but never knew what it was called or the people. I think I saw a rugby team do it before a game or something. There is a video of a rugby team on Youtube doing it and it seems famaliar.

[thisismylife]

Yeah but these faces they make, can't blame people from thinking they're out to murder them. But I bet they are continuing this ceremony and won't be interupted by what's happening around them... sad that this happened, I'm intrigued and will read about that tomorrow if I find time..

Hope you had a good week so far @coinjoe !

[coinjoe]

It has been a boring week, but not a bad one. HOpe you have a good one too.