A lull occurs in the yelling, and the dolorous knight inquires ingenuously, "What is this, O my friends? Why do you brandish spear and club as though to point the road to Reinga?" "You killed my brother!" a tall fellow shouts in return. "Now I am going to kill you. Step forward at once to be killed!" With horrid grimaces the bereaved gentleman capers before the doomed one, who divests himself of his mat, flourishes his spear, and replies with great fervour, "Since you so greatly desire to be made mince-meat of, you shall not be disappointed. I am for you!" With that the two fall upon one another with frightful ferocity--or so it seems. Blows are dealt and thrusts exchanged amid the continuous howling of the champion's bodyguard, who, singularly enough, make no offer to rush his antagonist. Why not? Because it is point of honour that no great harm is to be done. A gentleman is to receive punishment at the hands of his peers, but life must be left him, though almost everything which makes it worth the living is to be snatched from him. So, after a few bruises and scratches have been given and taken, the mimic combat ceases. There is a short pause while the champion recovers his breath. Then he shouts at the top of his voice, "_Murua! Murua!_" which, freely translated, means "Loot! Loot!"--advice which is promptly followed. As the sack proceeds the principals chat cheerfully, the plundered taking no notice whatever of the plunderers; for to betray the disgust he feels would be the height of ill-breeding. At last, when every article which their unwilling host has thought it injudicious to conceal has been secured, the "collectors" reappear, laughing and eagerly expectant of an invitation to dinner. It comes. The stricken gentleman courteously expresses his delight at this "unexpected" visit. Had he but known earlier he would have made adequate preparation. As it is--he waves his hand in the direction of the feast--there it is; and he bids his "dear friends" fall to. Gorged and happy, the myrmidons of this queer law depart by and by, having carried out the _muru_, and left behind them a sorrowful gentleman, stripped of worldly gear. However, the unfortunate has the consoling knowledge that he has comported himself under trying circumstances as a man of breeding should, and also that, when opportunity shall arise, he will be entitled to go and do unto others as they have just done unto him. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 42: Shown by the frequency of the prefix _Ngati_, "children of." Thus, Ngati-Porou, Ngati-Awa, etc.] [Footnote 43: New Zealand was one of the first countries--if not the first--to admit women to the franchise and to represent their fellow-citizens in municipal affairs. The first instance of a woman having been elected "mayor" occurred in New Zealand, where, perhaps, the spirit of some old-time Maori is awake and influencing his Pakeha successors.]