OCR Text |
Show 181 According to Maori legend, a chief of ancient times, named Mataora, visited the underworld of spirits and returned to the world of man bringing with him tattoo designs that were subsenuently passed from generation to generation, and from which Roa would choose. Moana, being the wife of a chieftain, must also pass through the ordeal of having her lies and chin tattooed according to tradition. This ritual came for Roa and Moana the day after Turi's burial. The old tohunga to perform the art upon Roa's face carried the secrets of his trade in his mind and in the skill of his hands. He had learned it from his father who had learned it from his father and on back through the generations. Sometimes he x«;as paid for his service in garments or objects of adornment, but he would contribute this service and be honored because it would live on through the face of a rangatira. The old man and Roa left to be alone in the forest. They would be taou for three days and three nights. Thev could see no one. Special food would be prepared for them in special ovens. When they had walked until their shadows -rev tall unon the earth, the old man said, "We shall |