and Polynesian
pp. 48-49 · Read in the full issue
Honoured By European and Polynesian Makea Ariki, of Rarotonga, Goes To His Rest
By a Special Correspondent.
Rarotonga, Feb. 10.
THE death of their paramount chief, Makea nui Tinirau Ariki, 0.8. E., a man respected and loved by both the European and Polynesian com munities, was a great shock to the Rarotongans. The funeral ceremonies were notable.
The body of the Makea was brought from his residence at Pokoinu to the ancient, sacred tribal marae of Tapu tapuatea on January 26, and lay in state at the Palace until the 27th.
The Mataiapos and Rangatiras as sembled and directed the native cus toms pertaining to the death of an Ariki. The same evening, the other Arikis of Rarotonga came to the marae, with their people, to mourn
and to pay tribute to their departed friend.
The Fotikitaua (High Priest) of the Ngati Makea received and welcomed them in traditional fashion.
In accordance with native custom, the people of the different districts, under their arikis and chiefs, as sembled in some thousands to pay their tribute in song to the departed.
The singing also conveys a comfort to the hearts of the sorrowing family; and, as each district ceases its song, the leader pays a special tribute to the departed ariki and sympathy to the mourning family. After the speech, he presents gifts from the dis trict to the widow and family.
The songs and speeches continued throughout the night, until 9.30 a.m. on Friday, when Makea nui Tinirau Ariki was borne to his last resting place.
The coffin was carried, first, by the members of the Ariki family, from the palace. As a mark of respect and appreciation to Makea nui, who had played a great and important part in creating the friendship and brother hood at present existing between the two races, the Europeans then carried the bier, on which the coffin was placed, to the people representing the Islands of Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro.
These people, the Enuamanu, carried the bier to the Palace gates, where the Puaikura (Arorangi people) re ceived and carried it to the London Missionary churchyard entrance.
Here, the Takitumu representatives —who, in accordance with native custom, prepare the grave for the arikis, and chiefs of the Makea nui family—bore the bier to the church entrance, where it was once again taken charge of by the members of the Makea family, who carried it into the church.
After the funeral service, which was conducted in English and Maori by the Revs. Cater and Challis, the late Makea was carried to his grave to lie beside the Tupuna, or ancestors, of this famous and noble family.
After the burial service the people, in accordance with native custom, took part in singing and native danc ing. Later in the day, the division of food from the family to the other tribes was made.
In the evening, singing and native dancing continued; and this was pro longed for seven days and nights.
A Polynesian Noble.
Makea nui Tinirau Ariki succeeded to the Ariki title in 1921. Ftom the time of his accession until his death he was staunch, loyal and outstand ing in his support for his Government and his King. He always had the wel fare of his people at heart, and the memory of his kindly hospitality to all, both Maoris and Europeans, will remain as a monument to his great ness. He was a strong supporter of the London Missionary Society Church.
He received the Jubilee and Corona tion Medals, in addition to the 0.8. E. (1933).
Makea nui was a descendant of Queen Makea, who was chief of the
Federal Government when the island was annexed in 1900. Through this line, he traced his ancestry back through the famed Karika Ariki of Manua. Samoa, who, according to tradition, settled in Rarotonga with Tangiia, of Tahiti. He also was a descendant of Tinomana Rurutini, whose elder daughter, Vainu, married Pepehia, the first missionary to Raro tonga, who landed from the ship when John Williams, in 1823, found the long : looked-for island of Tumu-te varo-varo (the ancient name of Raro tonga).