38 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



spring where Tutamure looked on his plain features is called to 

 this day " Te Waiwhakaata a Tutamure " (Tutamure's looking- 

 glass). 



Some time after this Ngaitai quarrelled with the Panenehu, 

 defeating them at Waikura2:)a. The quarrel was about pigeon- 

 preserves in Whitikau and Whakapaupakihi Blocks. Ngaitai 

 again attacked them at Otaitahu and Waireporepo. Then the 

 Panenehu gained a victory at Euruarama. Ngaitai retaliated 

 by murdering two chiefs named Tukuaterangi and Eongo- 

 maiaia. Again they defeated the Panenehu with great 

 slaughter at Waikoni, driving the remnant to Turanga. 

 Eventually they returned, defeating the Ngaitai at Aururangi 

 and at Paripapoa. Ngaitai were obliged to flee to Hauraki, 

 taking with them the body of a Panenehu man called Tara- 

 hamama to eat by the way. They were subsequently ex- 

 pelled from the Thames district for having bewitched the son 

 of Tuterangianini. They were kindly received by the Pane- 

 nehu, who had by this time adopted the name of Te Whaka- 

 tohea. Having murdered a Whakatohea woman named 

 Tohikirangi, they fled to Turanga, but had to leave on 

 account of trouble with the wife of Toroa Apukai. The 

 Whakatohea again gave them shelter, and gave them two 

 women of rank in marriage — Hinepare and Waimarama. 

 After this, and when Taraia was a young man, Tuterangianini, 

 the great chief of Ngatimaru, came to seek payment for the 

 death of his son. He fell upon the Whakatohea at Waiaua, 

 killing many hund)-eds. The fight took place on the beach, 

 and, as the incoming tide rolled the numerous slain about 

 on the sands, the battle was called " Te Paengatoitoi " (the 

 shoal of toitoi-fish cast ashore). The remnant of the Whaka- 

 tohea escaped to Turanga, but, a number having been killed by 

 Ngatikahungunu at Kakaparaoa and Waikohu, they returned 

 to Opotiki to find that Ngaitai had occupied all their country. 



So they were made to suffer for the sin of Ngaitai m 

 bewitching the son of Tuterangianini ; and then these people 

 tried to take their lands. However, they gave battle to 

 Ngaitai, killing many at Awahou, and at Ahitarakihi, where 

 the Town of Opotiki now stands, and so regained possession 

 of their ancestral lands. 



The Panenehu used to deposit their dead in a very large 

 pukateatree called "Te Ahoroa," which stood on the left bank 

 of the Otara Eiver. There was a hole in the top, 50ft. or 60ft. 

 from the ground, and the dead were hoisted up and thrown in.* 



* In 1881 some settlers living up the Opotiki Valley reported having 

 discovered a great quantity of human bones. I immediately visited the 

 spot, and found it was the place described by Maiki Whenua as Te Ahoroa 

 ("the long line "). An enormous pukatea tree, some 22ft;. in girth, had 

 fallen against the hill-side, and, splitting open, disclosed cartloads of 

 skeletons. I counted 397 perfect skulls, but an equal number, probably, 

 had crumbled away, or been broken up by the trampling of cattle. 



