There was no course open but to swim, and, with the innate courage of her race, she was equal to the occasion. She took six empty gourds and fastened them to her body, on either side, and then plunged from a rock into the lake. The stars and the moon shone upon her from above, but the waters were wide, and there was no guide save the music of Tutanekai, but with love at the prow she shaped her course bravely until she landed on the shores of Mokoia, at a point where a warm fountain bubbled up amidst the rocks, and which is known even unto this day as "Hinemoa's Bath." A LOVE SONG. Far o'er the lake slept romantic Mokoia, While the pale moon shone bright from above, And on a rock the brave Tutanekai Tootled his flute to the gay song of love. Softly lamenting sings he to his darling, "Come to my arms, O my sweet Hinemoa, Let not the sorrow of anguish divide us; Come, that we never may part any more." Gently the echo sped on the night air, Till spell-like it broke on the glad maiden's ear; Lightly she came to the brink of the water, And swam o'er its surface so limpid and clear; Brightly the stars shone forth from the heavens, Glittering like gems in a mantle of blue, And the strains of the flute seem'd to ripple the water, Wafted on by the wings of the wind as it blew. Swift the dark beauty swept o'er the wavelets Till she kiss'd the white sand of Mokoia's fair shore; When brave Tutanekai, ceasing his music, Cried, "Come to my arms, O my sweet Hinemoa," Lock'd in embraces, the lover and maiden Were wedded by Cupid, who flew from above, And dark Hinemoa and brave Tutanekai, 'Neath the light of the moon sang their anthem of love. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 20: As the natives had no written language, their numerous legends, fables, songs, and proverbs were transmitted by oral tradition.] [Footnote 21: Islands in Cook's Strait.] [Footnote 22: The Middle Island.] [Footnote 23: Translated from the original by Mr. C.O. Davis.] [Footnote 24: The canoes were named the _Aotea_, _Arawa_, _Tainui_, _Mata-Atua_, _Takitumu_, _Tokomaru_, and _Kurahaupo_. According to tradition, the _kumara_, sweet potato, the _taro_, the _karaka_ tree, the rat, _kiore_, and the green parrot, _kakariki_, were brought in them from Hawaiki. The _Aotea_ canoe was the first to reach the land, hence the Maori name Aotearoa was applied to New Zealand. The list of canoes, as here cited, was given to the author by Topia Turoa, head chief of the Whanganui tribes.] [Footnote 25: When a noun in the Maori language has the prefix _nga_ it refers to the plural number.] [Footnote 26: The Maoris divide their genealogical history, both before and after their migration from Hawaiki, into various generations, the duration of each of which, however, appears to be uncertain, consequently the period of their arrival in New Zealand, even by their own traditions, cannot be fixed with any degree of accuracy.]