You ask me about the customs of _Maori_ men, and their origin, how men came to learn them. This is the source whence men learnt them. Their knowledge is not from modern times. Papa, Rangi, Tiki were the first to give rules to men for work of all kinds, for killing, for man-eating, for _karakia_. In former days the knowledge of the _Maori_ was great, in all matters, from this teaching, and so men learnt how to set rules for this thing and for that thing. Hence came the ceremony of _Pure_ for the dead, the _karakia_ for the new-born infant, for grown men, for battle, for storming a _Pa_, for eels, for birds, for _makutu_, and a multitude of other _karakia_. Tiki was the source from which they came down to the _tupua_, the _pukenga_, the _wananga_, and the _tauira_. The men of antient days are a source of invocation for the _tauira_. Hence the _karakia_ had its power, and came down from one generation to another ever having power. Formerly their _karakia_ gave men power. From the time when the _Rongo-pai_ (=Gospel) arrived here, and men were no longer _tapu_, disease commenced. The man of former days was not afflicted by disease. He died only when bent by age. He died when he came to the natural end of life. My writing to you begins with the _karakia_ for a mother when her breasts give no milk. After a child is born, if the mother’s breasts have no milk, her husband goes for the _tohunga_. When the _tohunga_ arrives the mother and child are carried to the water-side, and the _tohunga_ dipping a handful of weed in the water, sprinkles it on the mother. The child is taken away from the mother by the _tohunga_, who then repeats this _karakia_:— Water-springs from above give me, To pour on the breast of this woman. Dew of Heaven give me, To cause to trickle the breast of this woman; At the points of the breast of this woman; Breasts flowing with milk, Flowing to the points of the breast of this woman, Milk in plenty yielding. For now the infant cries and moans, In the great night, in the long night. Tu the benefactor, Tu the giver, Tu the bountiful, Come to me, to this _tauira_. After this the child is dipped in the water, and the mother and child are kept apart. One whole night they are kept apart, in order that the _karakia_ may take effect. The mother remains alone in her house, while the _tohunga_ seated outside it repeats his _karakia_. The _tohunga_ also instructs the woman thus—“If the points of your breasts begin to itch, lay open your clothes, and lie naked.” Some time after her breasts begin to itch, and the woman knows that the _karakia_ is taking effect. Afterwards her breasts become painful, and she calls out to the _tohunga_ “my breasts itch and are painful, they are full of milk.” Then the child is brought to the mother. See what power the _karakia_ of the _Maori_ possessed.