If there are several female _Ariki_ of the same family of whom one is absent, a figure is made with weeds to represent her. Then part of the fern-root is offered to the figure and is stuck in it. All these ceremonies take place on sacred ground. The part of the ceremony—that of touching the body of the child with the food to be eat by the _Ariki_—is named _kai-katoa_. After this the child is free from _tapu_, so that persons of the family may take it in their arms. No further ceremony takes place till the child arrives at youth, when his hair is cut, and the young person is released from _tapu_. The hair must be cut in the morning in order to insure a strict observance of _tapu_; for it is not only the _tohunga_ who must be _tapu_ on this occasion, but also the whole tribe. This _tapu_ commences in the morning, and no one must eat food while it lasts. Should any one eat during that time it will be discovered; for if the skin of the child’s head be cut while cutting the hair, it is known at once that some one has eat food. This is a sure sign. After the hair is cut the ceremony of _Poipoi_ is again observed, and the _tohunga_ then raising up his hands repeats this _karakia_, and the young person is free— These hands of mine are raised up, And this sacredness here. Tu-i-whiwhia, Tu-i-rawea, Your freedom from _tapu_ Make sure the obtaining. Make sure the freedom. Make it sure to Papa. Give me my _tu_: Lift up the sacredness: Lift it up: it prevails. My hands here are raised³⁰ up, To Tiki there these hands of mine, To Hine-nui-te-po these hands of mine, These now free from _tapu_. Freedom. They are free. ³⁰ As to the custom of raising aloft the hands while praying to the Gods, compare Hom: Il. Lib. 3 273, and other numerous examples. CEREMONIES FOR THE DEAD. When a man dies his body is placed in a sitting posture, and is bound to a stake to keep it in a good position. It is seated with its face towards the sun as it rises from its cave. Then every one comes near to lament. The women in front, the men behind them. Their clothes are girded about their loins. In their hands they hold green leaves and boughs, then the song called _keka_ commences thus:— ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── _Tohunga_ chants It is not a man, All „ { It is Rangi now consigned to earth, { Alas! my friend. _Tohunga_ „ My evil omen, All „ { The lightning glancing on the mountain peak { Te Waharoa doomed to death. ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────