Maori Religion and Mythology: Illustrated by Translations of Traditions, Karakia, &c., to Which Are Added Notes on Maori Tenure of LandShortland, Edward
Religion
Maori Religion and Mythology: Illustrated by Translations of Traditions, Karakia, &c., to Which Are Added Notes on Maori Tenure of Land
Shortland, Edward
Land tenure (Māori law); Mythology, Maori; Māori (New Zealand people) -- Religion
So they went both of them, the father’s spirit leading the way. Starting
from Moehau they passed by Heretaonga, Whangapoua, Tairua, Whangamata,
Katikati, and Matakana. There they rested. After that they went on to
Rangiwaea, where Ihenga embarked in a small sacred canoe, while his
travelling companion went on board a large canoe. Then they crossed over
to Waikoriri. Here Waitara wished to detain him, but he would not stay.
He went straight onwards to Wairakei, and the Houhou. He met a man, and
enquired where Kahu dwelt. The man said, “At the great house you see
yonder.” So Ihenga went on, and having reached the place where the Arawa
was hauled ashore, he looked about him, and then went on to the sacred
place, the Koari, and there left his father’s _ueta_³⁹. He then ascended
the cliff to the Teko, and climbing over Kahu’s doorway, went straight
on to the sacred part of the courtyard, and seated himself on Kahu’s
pillow.
³⁹ The _ueta_ is a whisp of weeds or grass used to wipe the anus of
the corpse. It is afterwards bound to a stick, and is carried as a
talisman.
Meanwhile Kahu was on the beach, where guests were usually entertained,
busied about sending off a canoe with food for the _Atua_ at Hawaiki,
and for Houmaitahiti, food both cooked and uncooked. This canoe was made
of _raupo_ (a species of bulrush). There was no one in the canoe, only
stones to represent men. There Kahu was busied sending off his canoe,
when his wife, Kuiwai, shouted to him, “Kahu, Kahu, there is a man on
your resting place.” Then Kahu cried out, “Take him; shove him down
here.” The woman replied, “Who will dare to approach your pillow; the
man is _tapu_.” Then Kahu shouted, “Is he seated on my pillow?” “Yes.”
“I am mad with anger,” said Kahu; “his head shall pay for it.”
Ihenga was dressed in two dog-skin cloaks, under which were two
_kahakaha_ cloaks. As Kahu went up towards the _Pa_ he asked, “Which way
did the man come.” The woman replied, “He climbed over your gate.”
By this time Kahu had reached the fence, and caught sight of the young
man.
He no sooner saw him than he recognised his likeness to his brother,
Tuhoro, and straightway welcomed him—“Oh! It is my nephew. Welcome, my
child, welcome.” He then began lamenting, and murmuring words of
affection over him; so the tribe knew that it was the young son of
Tuhoro.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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