40 Transactions. — Miscellantous. 



Waiho au i konei aue kau ai 



Aue, te tane ra ! 



Aue, te tane ! 



Tee ko mai i te wai para hoanga ki waho 



Aue, te ai — e ! 



Ka whiti nei au kai Rurima, kai Mautoki 



Kai Karewa, te motu o te kuia 



Ka eke nei au te puke huia 



Kai Ruahine au ka taru mate 



Ka hinga au ki te whare — i. 



The following illustration and imaginary conversation was 

 given by a native in explanation of the atahu and sending of 

 the miromiro ; " A man comes to the priest. He says, ' I 

 have come to you because a man has run away with my wife.' 

 It is asked, ' What shall be done ? ' And replied to, ' Do 

 you arrange it as according to ancient custom.' Very well. 

 When the sun sets, then the miromiro bird will be despatched 

 in order to bring back the woman who has been cajoled and 

 carried off by a man. Although she may be in a house when 

 the bird arrives it will go inside and perch upon her head. 

 Then swiftly the woman returns, like the wind which blows 

 beneath her feet. Ere long she has arrived. This was a very 

 effective rite of the Maori." 



The following modern instance of au atahu was related 

 to me by a Whakatane native, who seemed to believe it (the 

 charm recited has already been given) : Himiona, a native now 

 living at Whakatane with his wife Kumara, had left her some 

 years previously in order to visit friends at Poverty Bay. 

 While at the latter place he became attached to a native 

 woman there, and they lived together as man and wife. 

 Kumara heard of this, and at once went to Rangi-taiki in 

 order to consult one Riperata, an old wise woman of that 

 place. She was told by the latter to return in the eveniucr. 

 She did so, and was conducted by Riperata to a stream, who 

 also made her divest herself of her clothing, when the a^ed 

 one sprinkled her with water and repeated the atahu charm 

 over her. Riperata said, " I can see the vairua (spirit) of 

 your husband standing by your side. Return now to your 

 home; in a week your husband will return to you. When he 

 arrives and greets you do not tangi-' (cry) over him, but both 

 of you go to the water and immerse yourselves therein." 

 This immersion in water was to cleanse the twain from the 

 tayu of the rite performed. Riperata then despatched a bird, 

 the miromiro, to bring back the errant husband. The bird 

 flew to the East Coast, and to the village where Himiona was 

 living with his new wife. The couple were seated among 

 others in a house at the time. The bii-d entered the house 

 and alighted upon the head of Himiona. At once he was 



* Friends are welcomed by prolonged weeping among the Maori. 



