106 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



evil omens, and other danger to which the superstitious Maori 

 was ever exposed, or believed himself so to be. I have heard 

 of another local custom in which the first rourou, or basket of 

 cooked food, brought by the food-bearers is placed before the 

 priest of the local people, who places himself at the upoko, or 

 head of the feast — at the head of the table, in fact — albeit the 

 table is, and was ever, the broad bosom of Mother Earth. 



We will now give a few of the songs as sung by the food- 

 bearers above mentioned : — 



He Pulia Heriheri Kai (a Food-carrying Chaunt). 



He kumara kai hamuhamu 



Ko te ehu o te kupu uei na 



Kia hoki kau atu ina 



Te tina ki taia mai 



Ka mate taia mai 



Kakorehore ! 



Kahorekore ! 



Ka mate te puke e tu iko nei 



Kakorekore ! 



Kakorekore ! 



He kotaki te kete 



I kirnikia ki te kore 



Kore rawa aku iwi ki te maki kai — e. 



This song contains a good example of the difficulties which 

 are encountered by those who attempt to translate Maori 

 songs, incantations, &c. The word ehu, in the second line, 

 might well puzzle a pundit ; but it is used for ahua on ac- 

 count of its being more euphonious to the Maori ear in that 

 place. If ahua was used it would spoil the euphony (ara, 

 kua huatau). Here is another of the songs : — 



Wkakatutu kau au i taku kete 



Pakao kau au i taku kete 



Te mareretanga o te tui 



Kokopu ki te wai 



Pao(poku) poteke 



Poteke te kai ki raro 



Ki te wkenua 



Poteke ! 

 He Waiata Makamaka Kaihaukai (Na Ruru, he karakia kia kore e 

 kaha tana hoa makamaka kaihaukai, kia hinga i a ia. Com- 

 posed and sung by Ruru. An Incantation to destroy tke- Powers, 

 Agility, &c, of kis Companion in bearing Food). 



Korokoro wkiti ! 



Korokoro wkiti ! 



Tu ana te manu i runga i nga puke ra 



Tenei koki te kame ka wkakairi 



Te kame ka wkakarere 



Te kame i pokaia noatia 



I runga i a Tu-ka-riri 



I a Tu kaniwka, 



I a Tu-ka-ritarita 



E kaere ana a Rita 



He tangata kamenga kore 



Ka pau te ki kanga maka 



