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
Then the food brought by the men was laid in a pile before Tawaki in the
courtyard of Whitingakongako. And Tawaki said to his sister “Give some
for me and your father.” So she gave the bundle of rats, and the shags,
and the gourd of _inanga_, and the other fish. And Tawaki and his father
sent them to their own dwelling-place.
As he was eating the food Kahu exclaimed “Ha! ha! food sent from the
sky, food of Aotea-roa. Why that land of yours is Hawaiki. Food falling
into your mouth.”
“Yes, yes,” said Ihenga, “first kindle the oven. When it is heated you
fetch the food from that sea in baskets full.”
Then said Kahu “Ah! that land is a land for you, and for your wife, and
for your offspring.”
“Let us all go there,” said Ihenga. To which Kahu consented.
Then Ihenga said, “Let the _mana_ of that land go to you. You are the
_Ariki_ of that land—you and your offspring.”
“Yes,” replied Kahu. “Since you, my _Ariki_, are so great a gentleman as
to bid the younger brother’s son dwell on that land of yours. Yes—I
consent that we all go.”
Then the food brought by Hinetekakara was portioned among the whole
tribe.
Ten days afterwards they left Maketu, twenty in number, ten of the rank
of chiefs, and ten men to carry food. When they reached the small lake,
discovered by Ihenga, he said to Kahu “You are the _Ariki_ of this
lake.” Hence the song of Taipari—
By Hakomiti was your path hither
To Pariparitetai, and to that Rotoiti of yours,
Sea discovered by Ihenga,
Thereof Kahu was _Ariki_.
Thence they went on to Ohou-kaka, so named by Kahu from a parrot-feather
_hou-kaka_, which he took from the hair of his head, and stuck in the
ground to become a _taniwha_ or spirit monster for that place. When they
reached the place where their canoes had been left they launched two, a
small sacred canoe for Kahu, and a large canoe for the others. Then they
embarked, and as they paddled along coming near a certain beach, Kahu
threw off his clothes, and leaped ashore, naked. His two grandsons,
Tama-ihu-toroa and Uenuku, laughed and shouted “Ho! ho! see, there go
Kahu’s legs.” So the place was named Kuwha-rua-o-Kahu. In this way they
proceeded, giving names to places not before named, till they reached
Lake Rotorua. They landed at Tuara-hiwi-roa, and remained there several
nights, and built a _whata_, or food-store raised on posts; so that
place was named Te Whata.
Then going on by way of the Hot Springs, they arrived at Te
Pera-o-tangaroa, and Wai-o-hiro, the stream where Tu-o-rotorua formerly
dwelt. Next they came to Ngongotaha, which Kahu named Parawai, after his
garden at Maketu.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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