248 Transactions. 



This is the tumutumu-whenua fire (or rite). The chip is burned, 

 in this fire. This rite and chip are for the gods. The man non- 

 returns to his companion ; the chopping continues, until main- 

 chips are collected, when another fire is kindled by friction near 

 the base of the tree. This is the ahi purakau (purakau fire). 

 The chips are burned in that fire. Food is cooked. This is to 

 take the tapu off, that the proceedings may be freed from tapu. 

 This rite is to (placate) Tane. The other, the tumutumu whenua 

 was to the gods. Now the officiating person recites a karakia 

 (incantation, &c). This is the karakia of the ahi purakau : — 



Hika ra taku alii, e Tane 



Hika ra taku alii, e Tane 



He ahi puraka'.i, e Tane 



Ka hika i to ihi o Tane 



Ka hika i te mana o Tane 



Ka hika i te niavutuna o Tane 



Ka hika i te maruwehi o Tane 



Ka hika i te pukapuki o Tane 



Ka hika i te mahamaha o Tane. 



Ka kai koe, © Tane 



Ka kai hoki au, e Tane 



Ka mama nga pukeaga 



Ka mama nga wananga 



Ka mama hoki ahau 



Tenei tauira. 



This rite takes the tapu off Tane (i.e., off trees, the offspring of 

 Tane), to prevent him punishing the tree-fellers — to prevent 

 the axe being broken, or the workmen being cut by an axe. 

 The closing lines mean that offerings (placatory ?) are made to 

 the pukenga and wananga. When the food (ritual or sacerdotal 

 feast) is cooked, then the taumaha rite is performed. The offi- 

 ciating priest takes a small portion of the food, and repeats over 

 it the charm termed a taumaha, as you Europeans say a prayer 

 before a meal. This not only completes the lifting of the tapu 

 from the food, the work and workmen, but is also a pou (it 

 strengthens or supports the workmen), and it wards off evil in- 

 fluences and sickness from the workers, and prevents them from 

 becoming unduly wearied. It makes them intelligent and clear- 

 minded at their work, and pertains to Tane. Here is the tau- 

 maha : — 



Tenei to pou ka eke 



To pou kai a koe 



Ko to pou o tenei mahi 



Tiaho i roto 



Wananga i roto 



Korero i roto 



Tens be umu 



To umu ka eke 



Ko te umu o tenei whaihanga 



Ka ma taku hau tu 



Ka ma taku hau mahi 



