This is a word, a thought of mine. There has not been any remarkable sign of late years, from the time of the arrival of the Rongo-pai (=Gospel), like the signs seen in this island when men were _tapu_, when _karakia_ had power. One sign seen in this island was the Ra-kutia (=the closed sun). At mid-day there was darkness, and the stars were seen. After two hours perhaps of darkness, daylight returned. Our fathers saw this sign: but there are now no signs like those of former days. CEREMONY OF TUA. When a male child is born to a Chief, all his tribe rejoice. The mother is separated from the inhabitants of the settlement, to prevent her coming in contact with persons engaged in cultivating the _kumara_, lest anything belonging to the mother should be accidentally touched by them, lest the _kumara_ should be affected by her state of _tapu_; for the sacredness of any _rehu-wahine_ is greatly feared. When the child is about a month old, and strives with its hands to reach its mother’s breast, the ceremony of _Tūa_ takes place. Two fires are kindled; one fire for the _Ariki_, one fire for the _Atua_. The food to be cooked on the fire is fern-root. Then the _tohunga_ takes the child in his arms, and repeats this _karakia_:— Breathe quick thy lung, A healthy lung. Breathe strong thy lung, A firm lung, A brave lung. Severing²⁸ for your bravery, * * tilling food, Severing for wielding the weapon, * * warding off, * * seizing the first man, * * storming the _Pa_. &c. &c. &c. &c. The boy infant is stept²⁹ over, * * * * climbed²⁹ over, * * * * lifted in the arms, The boy infant is free from _tapu_, He runs freely where food is cooked. Cause this _karakia_ to flow gently, To the _Pukenga_, To the _Wananga_, To the _Tauira_. ²⁸ The severing of umbilical cord is here referred to. ²⁹ The female _Ariki_ at these words steps over the child, and then takes it in her arms. When this _karakia_ ends the ceremony of _Poipoi_ (=waving) follows. The _tohunga_ takes up the fern-root cooked for the _Atua_, and waving it over the child repeats these words:—“This is for the _Tipua_, for the _Pukenga_, for the _Wananga_. Eat it. It is the food cooked for you to eat.” The cooked fern-root is then deposited on the sacred place. Afterwards the child is taken in the arms of the female _Ariki_, who waves over it the fern-root cooked on her fire, and touches with it different parts of the child’s body. The _Ariki_ is said then to eat this fern-root, but does not do so in fact. She only spits on it, and throws it on the sacred place.