462 Transactions. 



lack of daring ; he roamed far and wide over the vast Pacific Ocean, and 

 carried his speech from Nukuoro to the Chathams, from Easter Island to 

 Madagascar. 



For the Maori as a voyager feared not the clangers of the deep, known 

 or unknown. He harnessed his gods to the task of assisting him ; he traced 

 out the ara moana, the sea roads, over two great oceans for western folk 

 to treasure, and western keels to furrow. 



The scene changes. Our Maori voyager has boldly crossed the sullen 

 seas and made his landfall under alien skies. Afar off on the rolling waves 

 of Hine-moana his strained vessel cuts the sky-line. Strained and sea- 

 weary is she, worn and battered from the passage of Tc Moana nui a Kiwa. 

 Her land-hungering crew gaze eagerly on green hills, and brown-skinned 

 experts scan the surging surf. The coast swings in nearer, the roar of 

 breakers strikes upon the ear. For this is no fair landing ; it is the rolling 

 tai maranga, the leaping surge of Hine-moana dashing wildly against Raka- 

 hore, the iron bounds of her realm placed there by the gods of old. 



They call upon the amotaiva, the sea expert, wise with the wisdom of 

 those who brave the wrath of the Ocean Maid. He takes command, and 

 all await his orders. The sails are lowered, the paddles hold the tossing 

 craft, or edge her in in search of Hine-tuakirikiri, the fair landing-beach. 

 The steersmen and paddlers are all attention, for this is the tai maranga ; 

 a single error shall open the gates of death. The expert knows that, in this 

 sea, eleven ngaru wharau, curliag dangerous combers, are followed by the 

 mutu moana, a smooth, rounded, crestless billow, the only one on which 

 the canoe may ride safely to land. He awaits that wave. As it reaches 

 the craft and lifts her, there comes the sharp order, " Kia aronui te Jioe / " 

 and instantly every paddle is held stationary in the water, blade broadside 

 on to the sea run. So is the canoe held on the swell of the wave. The 

 correct position is for the prow to project somewhat in front of the wave- 

 crest ; to allow it to forge ahead or drop behind is to court disaster ; the 

 dreaded tai maranga is following and preceding her. Hence the order to 

 meet and hold her. Should the canoe show signs of slipping back off the 

 wave, the command, ''Kia koretva te hoe!'' brings all paddles turned 

 edgewise on to the sea, whereupon she forges ahead on the wave, and is 

 there held with the paddles. Two steersmen at the stern wield long steer- 

 oars (hoe ivhakatere), two more at the bow manipulate the hoe whakaara. 

 These play an important part in the management of the vessel. 



The canoe is iiow rushing shoreward, poised on the mntu moana, or 

 rounded wave, while every man, vigilant, ready for instant action, watches 

 the swift rush as she leaps to land, and awaits the quick commands of the 

 expert. As the wave grounds, and begins to dissolve, there comes the 

 quick cry, '' Knmea te hoe!'' and the long bow oars are taken in, while 

 every paddle is plied with fierce energy to impart additional impulse that 

 will carrv the canoe well up the beach. As one man, all hands now drop 

 their paddles inboard, leap out, and run her up beyoixl reach of the next 

 •^vave— the Maori voyager has made his landing, and upheld the saying 

 of yore, " He ihu ivaka, he ihu whenua." 



Thus the Maori voyager comes to land, and enters into his rest. But 

 not as you would ! He does not paddle ashore, make fast, and go into 

 camp with careless mien and prosaic mind He steps softly on the flanks 

 of the land, and placates the demons thereof ; he conducts solemn ritual 



