George French Angas (Artist), W Hawkins (Lithographer)

Na Horua or Tom Street. (Elder brother of Rauparaha). E Wai, his wife. Tuarua, or Kopai, his son. At Kahotea, near Porirua

Na Horua or Tom Street. (Elder brother of Rauparaha). E Wai, his wife. Tuarua, or Kopai, his son. At Kahotea, near Porirua by George French Angas, W Hawkins

Artwork Detail

Angas's description:

"PLATE XIX.

NA HORUA, OR TOM STREET, WITH HIS WIPE E WAI, AND HIS SON TUARAU OR KOPI.

NA Horua, who is more generally known in Cook's Straits as "Tom Street," is the elder brother of the celebrated Rauparaha, the principal chief of the Nga-ti-toa tribe.

Unlike his brother, Na Horua does not enter into the battles and warlike feuds that are constantly engaging the attention of the subtle and crafty Rauparaha; his occupation is that of a cultivator of the ground, and he is the most celebrated "Tohunga," or priest of the tribe, being consulted on all matters of importance, and regarded with respect by his family, who place unlimited confidence in his sage counsels. The heathen superstitions and the rites of tapu are strongly adhered to by this aged chief, who regards the innovations of European customs and the spread of Christianity with evident dislike. Tuarau or Kopi, is a younger son of Na Houra, and was lately married to E Wai, a portrait of whom is given in plate IX., in his ear is the mako tuniwa, or shark's tooth, and his garment is a blanket of ample dimensions, purchased from the stores at Wellington. E Wai, the wife of Na Horua, was recovering from illness at the time of my visit, and had therefore been placed under a tapu so strict, that every spot of ground whereon she sat was rendered sacred for a certain number of days; one of these tapued places is represented in the accompanying plate, fenced round with twigs that its sanctity may not be infringed upon.

The scene lies in a potato ground, or clearing from the forest; in the distance is a cooking shed, thatched with nikau leaves. The chief is seated by the trunk of a tree-fern, and the bird sporting near the depending stems of the smilax is that elegant little species, the fan-tailed fly catcher."

Title
Na Horua or Tom Street. (Elder brother of Rauparaha). E Wai, his wife. Tuarua, or Kopai, his son. At Kahotea, near Porirua
Artist/creator
George French Angas, W Hawkins
Production date
circa 1847
Medium
hand coloured lithograph
Dimensions
543 x 365 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 2009
Accession no
2009/16/7/1
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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