Maori Religion and Mythology: Illustrated by Translations of Traditions, Karakia, &c., to Which Are Added Notes on Maori Tenure of Land — John Shaqi
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
Ihenga paddled along the shores of the lake giving names to many places
as he went—Weriweri, Kopu, Te Awahou, Puhirua—which last he so named
because the bunch of feathers fastened to his _paiaka_ fell off. At
another place the _inanga_ leaped out of the water, and some fell into
his canoe, so he named it Tane-whiti. Another place he named from a
boastful thought in his mind, Tu-pakaria-a-Ihenga (Ihenga’s boasting).
He passed by the river Ohau. He had named this river before, when he
first came to the lake, from the name of his dog. As the dog was
swimming across it was drawn in by a whirlpool, and so was drowned. Next
he came to the land-slip on the mountain which he had made Tu believe to
be a net. He named it Te Tawa, because he left there a pole used for
pushing the canoe, which was made of the wood _tawa_. The pole stuck so
fast in the ground that he could not pull it out, so he left it there.
After passing the point Tuara-hiwi-roa he came in sight of his
companions. The shout resounds, “Oh! it is Ihenga. Come here, come here,
sir—paddle hither.” His wife ran down to the water side as the canoe
touched the beach.
“See what food you have lying there,” said Ihenga. Hine-te-kakara caught
up a bundle of rats, and when she saw their teeth she exclaimed “ē, ē,
_he niho kiore_” (eh! eh! a rat’s tooth). So the place was named Te
Niho-o-te-kiore. Again she made an exclamation of admiration at the heap
of birds, “In truth, in truth, a wonderful heap. Come, sirs, come and
look at it.” So that place was also named “Kahui-kawau,” or Flock of
Shags. Then the birds were cooked, and the next day they all departed to
return to Maketu. They went to fetch Kahu. The food, the shags, the
bundle of rats, the gourd of _inanga_, and the gourd of _porohi_⁵¹—a
tempting bait to make Kahu come.
⁵¹ _Porohi_, a small fish of the lake.
They reached the Hiapo, and rested there the night. Kuiwai and Haungaroa
gave that name, because they left their brother Hiapo there, and he died
there. Hiapo saw the _koko_ hopping about the trees, and remained behind
while his sisters went on to Maketu to carry messages from Hawaiki to
Ngatoroirangi.
The next day they went on, and when they reached Totara-keria they were
seen from the _Pa_ by Tawaki. Then came shouts from the _Pa_, “Come,
heaven-sent guest, brought hither by my child from beyond the sky. Come,
come.” They arrive—the _tangi_ commences—then speeches are made.
Meanwhile food is being prepared. When they had done eating the food,
Tawaki said to Ihenga, “Tell us about your travels. Whence come you,
lost one?”
“I have seen a sea,” said Ihenga, “I found a man there.”
“Who is the man?” asked Tawaki.
“Marupunga-nui, and his son.”
They all knew that the son was Tu-o-rotorua. So Kahu inquired “Where is
your uncle and his father?”
“They remain there,” said Ihenga, “I have made them go to the island.”
“Well done, son-in-law,” said Kahu.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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