They could be quite noisy indeed, and this was because some priests liked to hang a long row of shells from the kite.
毛利風箏可以發出很大的噪音,因為一些牧師喜歡在風箏后懸掛一長串貝殼。
You can imagine how they'd rattle and clatter in the wind — how they might completely capture your attention.
你們能想象一下,這些貝殼在風中會發出怎樣吵鬧的聲音,它們可能會吸引你的全部注意力。
As I said before, the most common image was probably a bird, and that's the same for other kite-making cultures,
正如我之前所說,最常見的風箏形象是鳥,其它制作風箏的文化也一樣,
but the kites were designed in particular shapes, so there were kites that were triangular, rectangular and also shaped like a diamond.
但毛利風箏是設計成某些特殊形狀的,有三角形,矩形,還有鉆石型。
And some of them were so large, it would actually require several men to operate them.
一些風箏非常大,需要好幾個人來操作。
Um, some of the kites were also covered in patterns, and to make these patterns, the Maori used different pigments of red and black,
有些風箏上布滿圖案,為了制作這些圖案,毛利人用不同的紅黑顏料。
and these were either made from a charcoal base or from red-brown clay which had been combined with oil obtained from a local species of shark.
這些顏料的基本成分是炭或紅褐色黏土,與從某種鯊魚身上提取的魚油混合而成。
Now, before I forget, if you have a chance, do visit the Auckland Museum, because they have the last surviving birdman kite on display.
在我忘記之前,如果你們有機會,請參觀一下奧克蘭博物館,因為那兒有展出最后僅存的“鳥人”風箏。
This is the kind of kite that has a wooden mask at the top of the frame, it's a mask of a human head and you can clearly see it has a tattoo and also a set of teeth.
這種風箏的框架上有一個木制的人頭面具,你們也能看見上面有個圖騰,還有一排牙齒。
Quite impressive! And a good example at Maori craftsmanship and symbolism.
真震撼!這也是毛利人的手工藝和象征主義的絕佳范例。
Right, turning to the purpose and function the kites, they certainly had multiple uses.
好了,說到風箏的用途,它們都很多用。
Primarily, the flying of kites was a way of communicating with the gods and when the kites rose into the air,
最開始,放飛風箏是和神靈交流的一種方式。當風箏升空,
the Maori used them to deliver messages, perhaps requesting a good harvest, good fortune in war, a successful hunting expedition.
毛利人會用它們來傳達信息,可能是求豐收,戰爭中的好運氣,一次成功的狩獵遠征。
So, these kites were incredibly valuable to a community-treasured objects that one generation would pass to the next.
這些風箏對人們來說極其珍貴,都是一代傳一代的珍貴寶物。
People would also fly kites for other reasons, for example, to attract the attention of a neighboring village.
人們放風箏也有其它原因,比如吸引鄰村注意。
This was done when a meeting was required between Maori elders-a convenient method, indeed.
每當毛利族的長老們需要開會時,人們就會用這個方法,確實很方便。
And finally, when it comes to war, there are traditional stories that describe how when a Maori warrior found himself surrounded by his enemies, a kite would actually provide the possibility of escape.
最后,在戰爭時,有傳統故事描述,一個毛利戰士發現自己被敵人包圍時,一個風箏能為他提供逃生的可能。
The kites were powerful enough to take a man up into the air, and for this reason, they could also be used to lower him into enemy fortifications so that an attack could begin from the inside.
這些風箏承重力非常強,能將一個人升到空中。因此,這名戰士還能用風箏將自己降落到敵方防御工事中,就能從內部開始發動攻擊。
Well, I'm happy to say there seems to be a revival and growing interest in kite-making, and...
我很高興,看上去風箏制作開始復興了,人們又對此感興趣了…