114 Transa<:twus. — Miscellaneous. 



to achieve fame for hospitality, with the results of enerj^x- 

 expended in warlike ])ursuits. But the wisdom enshrined in 

 these proverhs, though unquestioned and generally acknow- 

 ledged, did not suffice to repress the martial spirit of the 

 young men, or to neutralise the attractions of the war-path 

 and the battle-field. These had a charm which was wanting 

 to the quiet life of peaceful industry which the proverb 

 eulogized. Death on the battle-field was regarded as more 

 becon)ing to a man of spirit and in every way preferable to a 

 death from sickness or old age — "mate kongenge," or"koeo"' 

 — meaning worn-out, decayed. The proverb commending 

 peaceful pursuits as preferable to warfare might be upon the 

 lips of the wise old men, and pass current generally, but the 

 desire of the young man was to seek the fierce excitement of 

 the conflict and to taste the 



stern joy which warriors feel 

 In foonien worthy of thsir steel : 



showing that, with the Maori as elsewhere, precept and prac- 

 tice were often at variance. 



The proverb was often used with great effect during dis- 

 cussions of important matters by the chiefs at public meet- 

 ings. A proverb aptly and opportunely brought in would serve 

 to clinch the argument of the speaker, and would carry his 

 audience with him so coinpletely that the matter in debate 

 would be practically settled. Skill in the use of these proverbs, 

 and in references to old traditions and songs — " waiatas " — 

 composed to perpetuate the memory of some event or incident 

 in the past history of the tribe, was one of the most valued 

 accomplishments of the Maori orator. 



As a specimen of a proverb contrasting the fame of the 

 warrior with that of the energetic tiller of the soil : " He toa 

 taua, he toa pahekeheke ; he toa mahi kai, ekore e paheke " 

 (" The fame of the daring leader of war-parties is precarious, 

 slippery ; not so the fame of the energetic cultivator of the 

 soil"). Another: "He toa taua, ma te taua; he toa piki 

 pari, ma te pari; he toa mahi-kai, ma te huhu tena " ("A 

 leader in war will fall in war ; a daring scaler of precipices, a 

 precipice will be his death ; a stout subduer of the soil, the 

 worm will get him " — he will die a natural death). 



Some of the proverbs arc pregnant with deep meaning : 

 " He tao rakau, e taea te karo ; he tao ki, ekore e taea te 

 karo " (" A shaft of wood — spear. — may be parried, but not a 

 shaft of the tongue "). Again : " He kokonga whare, e kitea; 

 he kokonga ngakau, ekore e kitea " (" The corner of the house 

 may be explored and seen, but not the corner of the heart '"). 

 And " He ta kakaho, e kitea ; ko te ta o te ngakau, ekore e 

 kitea " (" The pattern of the reed lining of the house may be 



