The Chief’s Funeral

           KAI-KOUMOU,asfrequentlyhappensamongtheMaories,joinedthetitleofarikitothatoftribalchief.Hewasinvestedwiththedignityofpriest,and,assuch,hehadthepowertothrowoverpersonsorthingsthesuperstitiousprotectionofthe"taboo."

           The"taboo,"whichiscommontoallthePolynesianraces,hastheprimaryeffectofisolatingthe"tabooed"personandpreventingtheuseof"tabooed"things.AccordingtotheMaoridoctrine,anyonewholaidsacrilegioushandsonwhathadbeendeclared"taboo,"wouldbepunishedwithdeathbytheinsulteddeity,andevenifthegoddelayedthevindicationofhispower,theprieststookcaretoacceleratehisvengeance.

           Bythechiefs,the"taboo"ismadeapoliticalengine,exceptinsomecases,fordomesticreasons.Forinstance,anativeistabooedforseveraldayswhenhishairiscut;whenheistattooed;whenheisbuildingacanoe,orahouse;whenheisseriouslyill,andwhenheisdead.Ifexcessiveconsumptionthreatenstoexterminatethefishofariver,orruintheearlycropofsweetpotatoes,thesethingsareputundertheprotectionofthetaboo.Ifachiefwishestoclearhishouseofhangers-on,hetaboosit;ifanEnglishtraderdispleaseshimheistabooed.Hisinterdicthastheeffectoftheoldroyal"veto."

           Ifanobjectistabooed,noonecantouchitwithimpunity.Whenanativeisundertheinterdict,certainalimentsaredeniedhimforaprescribedperiod.