Tuai: A Traveller in Two Worlds - Alison Jones and Kuni Kaa Jenkins
This book is the life story of Tuai, a now-obscure Māori chief who lived in the era of early European missionary work in New Zealand. As a young man Tuai, along with another young Māori named Tītere, travelled to England, living with missionaries in both London and the district of Madeley and learning much about European culture and beliefs (he often wore European clothing), before returning home and acting as a go-between for his tribe in their dealings with Pakeha. Tuai's ability to speak English made him quite an important and well-known figure in his day, with his death even announced in some English newspapers.
Not a lot is known directly about Tuai; what he did is now mostly determined through reading European letters that happen to mention him in passages. The fact that the authors have managed to reconstruct his life from these is quite impressive, although in order to 'pad out' his life to full book length it has been necessary for them to focus more on the people writing the letters at times - Tuai can occasionally take a back seat in his own book. Still, his life is as interesting one.
Where the book does become a little controversial for me is in its handling of Tuai's faith journey. As a friend of the early missionaries, it is natural that much of what is written about him is in terms of how they saw him progressing (or decreasing) in his understanding of and acceptance of Christianity. There are times that Tuai embraces his own native beliefs, while at other times he seems far more open to Christianity. On the voyage home from England Tuai even calls on Jesus to save him when sick, and promises to serve Him if he does. After arriving home in New Zealand, however, Tuai slowly reverts to his Māori beliefs, particularly when he becomes disillusioned with the lack of Pakeha that the missionaries make available for his tribe.
This faith journey is an interesting one, and to me reflects the journey of many 'seekers' - dipping their toes into an understanding of Christianity, but battling to reconcile it with the troubles of life and the influence of those around them. In fact, this is absolutely something that scripture talks about in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13). Looking back from our modern perspective, it is of course hard to tell how much Tuai did or didn't understand about this faith journey, but if we were to take what is written about him at face value, it seems that his discussions with missionaries led him to a fledgling faith, only to have his life at home draw him away from it.
The authors of the book, however, do not take the letters at face value. Instead, they cast doubt on any change in Tuai, often suggesting the ulterior motives Tuai may have had for choosing to 'placate' the missionaries. Sure, he may have had doubts (which the letters show) and even have said things to gain the advantage of European friends at times (which the letters also suggest) but to argue so strongly that Tuai somehow couldn't have entertained actually considering Christianity in spite of what is written in the only contemporary sources we have on his life seems quite unwarranted. At one point, reflecting on missionary Francis Hall's disappointment in the 'backsliding' of his Māori friends, the authors write: "Hall, still clinging desperately to his fantasy that kindness and lessons in scripture could persuade Tuai and Tītere to somehow stop being Māori, prayed for them and grieved about their 'lack of gratitude'." (page 202). What I find fascinating about this quote is that it seems to hold "being Māori" and "being Christian" as somehow mutually incompatible. I find this especially strange after having finished reading Huia Come Home so recently, which argues the opposite.
Anyway, considering how little Tuai is remembered today, authors Jones and Jenkins have done a fantastic job at painting a picture of his life. I learned a lot, and am impressed anew with yet another example of an incredible rangatira from that era. I love learning about New Zealand history.
I may not agree with all of the conclusions Jones and Jenkins came to, but this is still worth a read.
Completed 4 February 2024.
Comments
Post a Comment