On arriving one evening at a _Maori_ settlement, I found that a ceremony, in which everyone appeared to take deep interest, was to take place in the morning. The inhabitants were mostly professing Christians, and the old sacred place of the settlement was, from the increase of their numbers, inconveniently near their houses; a part of it was, therefore, required to be added to the _Pa_. I was curious to see in what way the land required would be made _noa_. In the morning when I went to the place I found a numerous assembly, while in the centre of the space was a large native oven, from which women were removing the earth and mat-coverings. When opened it was seen to contain only _kumara_, or sweet potato. One of these was offered to each person present, which was held in the hand while the usual morning service was read, concluding with a short prayer that God’s blessing might rest on the place. After this each person ate his _kumara_, and the place was declared to be _noa_. I could not but think that the native teacher had done wisely in thus adopting so much of old ceremonial as to satisfy the scruples of those of little faith. In this case, every one present, by eating food cooked on the _tapu_ ground, equally incurred the risk of offending the _Atua_ of the family, which risk was believed to be removed by the Christian _karakia_. By neglecting the laws of _tapu_, _Ariki_, chiefs, and other sacred persons are especially liable to the displeasure of their _Atua_, and are therefore afraid to do a great many ordinary acts necessary in private life. For this reason a person of the sacred class was obliged to eat his meals in the open air, at a little distance from his sacred dwelling, and from the place which he and his friends usually occupied; and if he could not eat all that had been placed before him he kept the remainder for his own sole use, in a sacred place appropriated for that purpose: for no one dared to eat what so sacred a person had touched. The term _karakia_ is applicable to all forms of prayer to the _Atua_: but there are a variety of names or titles to denote _karakia_ having special objects. The translations of those now presented to the reader will, it is believed, speak for themselves as to the nature of _Maori_ worship, and carry with them a more clear and full conviction as to what it really was than any mere statements however faithful. It will be seen that a _karakia_ is in some cases very like a prayer,—in other cases for the most part an invocation of spirits of ancestors in genealogical order,—in other cases a combination of prayer and invocation. _The Karakia of Hineteiwaiwa_. Said to have been used at the birth of her son Tuhuruhuru. It is of great antiquity, dating from a time long anterior to the migration to New Zealand.