Maori word for food; used alsoin the South Sea islands. Kai-kai is an Englishadaptation for feasting.
1807. J. Savage, `Some Account of New Zealand,' Vocab.p. 75:
«Kiki . . . food.» [The i has the English not the Italian sound.]
1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'(Church Missionary Society), p. 157:
«Kai, s. victuals, support, etc.; a. eatable.»
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.p. 29:
«He explained to us that every one would cry very much, andthen there would be very much kai-kai or feasting.»
1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 95:
«Kai, the general word for food, is not used at Rotorua,because it was the name of a great chief, and the word tamihas been substituted for it.»
1895. Louis Becke and J. D. Fitzgerald, `The Maori inPolitics,' `Review of Reviews,' June 20, p. 621:
«We saw some thirty men and women coming towards us, singingin chorus and keeping step to the music. In their hands theycarried small baskets woven of raupo reeds, containing kai,or food. This was the `kai' dance.»