Maori name for spirits, – – literally, stinking water, from piro, stinking,and wai, water. In New Zealand geography, the word Wai is very common as the first part of many namesof harbours, lakes, etc. Compare North-American Indian Fire-water.
1845. W. Brown, `New Zealand and its Inhabitants,' p. 132:
«Another native keeps a grog-shop, and sells his waipero, as he says, to Hourangi drunkenpakehas.»
1863. F. Maning (Pakeha Maori), `Old New Zealand,' p. 169:
«He would go on shore, in spite of every warning, to get somewater to mix with his waipiro, and was not his canoefound next day floating about with his paddle and two emptycase bottles in it?»
1873. Lt. – col. St. John, `Pakeha Rambles through MaoriLands,' p. 167:
«When we see a chance of getting at waipiro, we don't stick attrifles.»
1887. The Warrigal, `Picturesque New Zealand,' `CanterburyWeekly Press,' March 11:
«The priest was more than epigrammatic when he said that theMaoris' love for `waipiro' (strong waters) was stronger thantheir morals.»