105: An Unusual Patu (Miti)

References have been made various publications of a ridged patu used by the Maori in prehistoric days. The name they call it was a 'miti'. They said that very few have been found, and it is agreed that their manufacture and use were confined principally to the tribes of the South Island. The name only exists now in old journals.

The accompanying illustration shows an extremely rare example of this class, and of unusual form, found by Mr. Evan James Jones, of Kongahu, on the edge of the mudflat about halfway between Kongahu and Karamea (West Coast of the South Island). A rata tree had been uprooted in a gale, exposing the weapon and with it, a hoanga (sharpening-stone).

The club, which is 15 inches in length and 3 lbs. in weight, is made of greenstone, which, however, has lost some of its original colour through having been overheated, probably in the warm ashes of a camp fire. On the broad side, it is 1¼ inches wide at the butt, with an increasing width to 2 inches at the opposite end. This shape gives it a wonderful 'fall', making it capable of dealing a deadly blow in close combat.

In section, it is hexagonal, though flattened. On the broad side a median ridge extends the whole length, dividing symmetrically-bevelled surfaces. The narrow sides are finished in plane surfaces of even width of ⅞ of an inch, extending from the lower part of the grip to the end. The hand-grip of about 5 inches in length, is neatly rounded on the narrow sides.

Its symmetrical form and careful finish was evidently the work of a skilled craftsman. Mr. Evan Jones has deposited the implement in the writer's private collection, and it is to be ultimately placed in a public museum.

*****

This item is called a patu miti. The miti was a type where both the handle and the blade were elongated (the primary distinction). Miti, are usually only found in the south of NZ, often having a ridge down its length to provide strength. It's not referred to often as it's a South Island native word and modern Maori don't like the southern variations as they were. As for the terminology, it is an old term (which does not mean lick, and not commonly used - las with the English language, Maori words sometimes lost common use and 'miti' is one of them). Miti in the southern dialect can mean 'good'. In this case it was a very 'good' weapon by which to kill. However, as elsewhere in the world, this type of design is more likely used as a ceremonial item. The name miti also means 'beautiful'. These miti, and some produced in America, had romboid angular design. The Miti style usually have four sides although flattened considerably in form. (Everywhere else a patu was flat or curved or a combination of both - two examples even being found in Washington State and Oregon if we are to believe that).

Below is an example of a quad-bladed club from Yakima Valley (USA).

And below is one from Long Beach, in Otago NZ (you can make out the angular blade of 6 sides).

There is no other public record in NZ of any similar type of hexagonal patu and neither does the miti shown in the old black and white photo appear in any catalogue of any museum that we can find. That is not unusual as it is different enough to be kept hidden. But there are some things we wish to point out that keep occurring with unusual items that are not of the accepted 'Maori' style. They are as highlighted in red above...

1. Found in the northern or remote parts of the South Island or (West Coast of North Island between Taranaki and Northland)

2. Found at the base of a tree, or buried

3. Sometimes damaged by fire (we keep hinting that objects not Polynesian in nature were often burned by Maori who would not touch them with their hands for fear of spirits of the unknown.)

4. Unusual shapes, form or materials

This is not a Polynesian patu, yet it is of greenstone and formed in a style unlike anything in Polynesia or even copied by those that arrived here. It was buried under a tree to hide it (just as the Kaiatia lintel, the Korotangi, and many other relics were) and was burned in an attempt to purge it of it's tapu or destroy it (as with the Pouto pou, the Okia artifact and the large pou Te Uenuku)

But where is this very important artifact now?