198 Transactions. 



the rata said his ; the tawa and other trees said the same ; each 

 claimed that he alone might reach unto the heavens. So they 

 all spoke. Then the Mara strove to extend his legs to the sky, 

 but he failed to do so, and Avas so ashamed that he groaned 

 aloud (ha nemo te tou o te Mara). There was great applause. 

 When the wood of the Mara is burned by fire it explodes — a 

 popping sound is heard. That is the sound it made when it 

 failed to reach the sky. The other trees, such as the matai, 

 that failed in a like manner, make a similar sound when burned. 

 The Mara was so ashamed that it retired to the depths of the 

 forest and abode there, where it may still be found, surrounded 

 by trees of other tribes. If, when the wind is blowing hard, a 

 person listens, he will hear a voice calling in the forest — a creak- 

 ing sound it is. The person listening will think that voice is 

 saying ' W he ! Whe ! Whe ! Whe ! ' but it is not so. It is really 

 saying ' Tou hemo ! Tou hemo ! ' " 



The above is a sample of the more absurd folk-tales of the 

 Maori people pertaining to the forest. Such fables as this are 

 much more puerile than the primitive conception of the cosmo- 

 gonic tree, or that of the descent of animals and trees, &c, from 

 a common source. 



Tree burial was practised to a considerable extent bv the 

 Maoris in former times. After exhumation the bones were 

 deposited in hollow trees, or among the masses of Astelia growing 

 on the branches. 



Having no beasts of burden or draught, the Maori had but 

 two methods of travelling — walking, and travelling bv canoe. 

 The primitive tracks which he formed through forest country 

 generally ran along the ridges of hilly country, and sometimes 

 along the beds of streams. Such tracks were very narrow, and 

 were kept open by traffic and by passers-by breaking off any 

 branch which encroached upon the trail. These tracks often 

 bore distinctive names. In hilly country the Natives always 

 had special spots used as resting-places, termed tmnnata. These 

 were situated on a ridge, or knoll, usually in a situation from 

 which a good view was obtainable. In the forests of Tuhoelaud 



one often comes upon these little clear spots — albeit but EeV 

 foot-men are now seen on the trails. Tn some cases a track 

 might be closed to all traliic for some time by being made ixfpU 

 by a chief. For instance, were a chief to become aware that 

 a chief of a neighbouring district had used some insulting ex- 

 pression towards him, he might tapu the track leading to that 

 district, which would cause, much inconvenience until it was 

 reopened. That peculiar kind of insult known as a tapatapa 

 nii^ht cause such an action. 



In crossing wide rivers where no canoe was obtainable, or 



