104 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



of feathers, and topped with a hollow top or mouthpiece of 

 carved wood, they presented quite a brave show. To the top 

 part of the netting covering the calabash were attached six or 

 eight loops of cord, which were drawn up over the lid and 

 secured. 



But the invited guests have lifted the trail of Tahu, and 

 we must prepare for them. When the party is within a day's 

 march of the village a party meets them, bearing a present of 

 food. They will meet the visitors at their last camping-place 

 before arriving at the place where the feast is to be. This is 

 termed a tu-mahana or pongaihu. 



When the party arrives at the village they do not at once 

 come right up to the ground where the liakari is to be held, 

 but halt some little distance away. One person then ad- 

 vances from among them, and, walking up to the first pole, 

 set up at the head of the row of food, he stamps his foot at 

 the base of the pole and repeats to himself the following in- 

 cantation, but not so as to be beard :— 



Ka takahi ki runga, 

 Ka takahi ki raro 

 Ka takahi ki uta 

 Ka takahi ki tai 

 Ka takahi ki raro 

 Ki te po wherikoriko 

 Ngaro ki uta 

 Ngaro ki tai 

 Ngaro ki tupua 

 Ngaro ki tawhito 

 Mau ka oti atu, 

 Oti atu. 



This singular act is termed a ivhakarori (ka takahi i te 

 ujjoko o te kai, hai whakarori i te kai kia rori ; ara, he 

 wliakanoa) ; it lifts the tapu from the food, and, were it ne- 

 glected, the omission would be a kopare (an evil omen) — that 

 is to say, if the visiting party did not halt to perform this act, 

 but marched right on to the reception-ground. The saying 

 " Ko Tahu kia roria" is applied to the above ceremony, for 

 Tahu is, as we have seen, the personification of food. 



The above incantation is directed against the food sup- 

 plied for the feast, and the food products generally of the 

 place (hai tvhakareica i te kai). The priest of the village 

 community will then proceed to recite the following charm 

 or invocation, termed a lohakararau, and which is intended 

 to paralyse the effects of the first spell and retain the 

 food products of the place, their vitality, &c. : — 



Puritia 



Puritia a uta 



Puritia a tai 



Koia puritia, koia tawhia 



Tawhia ki tarnoremore nui no Papa 



He aio tua raharaha. 



