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The Autobiography of a Maori

Tangi over a Wounded Pigeon

page 151

Tangi over a Wounded Pigeon

In an earlier chapter I stated that when we first came to East Cape in 1908, wild pigeons were plentiful, but as the bush disappeared, so did the birds. Occasionally, however, a few visited the little native bush near our house. They came to feed on the berries of the tawa-a-pou, or the New Zealand olive. There was always a difference of opinion among the members of my family as to whether or not the pretty birds should be left alone. The vandals argued that if the birds were not shot, other people would do so somewhere else. One day, a pigeon alighted on a pohutukawa tree near the house and one of the young boys quietly got his pearifle and brought the bird down. The noise made by the rifle caused the children to rush out of the house and two little girls, Oha and Rewa, came across the wounded pigeon with its wings spread out on the ground as though imploring for mercy. They could not bear the pathetic sight, and they stood over the bird and wept. The culprit sneaked away and swore that he would never shoot another pigeon should any pay us another visit.

On the other hand, we read that the Guthrie-Smith family, of Tutira, tamed and made pets of wild pigeons. The birds became so tame that often they flew from the tall trees right inside the house at meal-time and perched either on the heads or on the shoulders of some members of the family, there waiting to be given the feed which they invariably received. The four pets were often seen feeding with the domestic birds and they were given names, such as Budget, Uncle Harry, and other names which have since slipped my old memory.