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century, states that the outrigger canoes of the Carolines sail eight miles 

 an hour within four points of the wind, and that, in running large, he 

 reckoned they would sail twelve miles an hour. Dampier, who tested the 

 sailing-powers of these craft, gives some astonishing results. If the sailing- 

 rate of the outrigger employed by the Maori voyager be taken at seven miles 

 an hour, aiid fair-weather conditions be granted, he might have made the 

 run from Tahiti to New Zealand in eleven days, or from Earotonga in nine 

 days. He would undoubtedly carry sea stores for a considerably longer 

 period, and thus be prepared for the buffetings of fate. 



It has been said that the " Arawa," one of the vessels that reached 

 these shores from Polynesia about five hundred years ago, was a double 

 canoe, though evidence seems to be lacking. This statement appears to 

 rest on a passage in Grey's " Polynesian Mythology," viz. : " I will climb 

 upon the roof of the house which is built upon the platform joining the 

 two canoes " ; but this passage is not a translation of the original, which 

 contains no reference to a platform and two canoes. In like manner, 

 there is no evidence to show that " Tainui," " Matatua," " Tokomaru," 

 '' Horouta," " Mata-hourua," and " Kura-hau-po " were double canoes, 

 while " Takitumu " is distinctly described as an outrigger vessel. In one 

 tradition only, so far as the v/riter is aware of, are double canoes distinctly 

 mentioned as having made the voyage from Polynesia to New Zealand, 

 and here is the story thereof :— 



Voyage of Manaia and NuJcu to New Zealand. 



About twenty-eight generations ago two chieftains of eastern Polynesia 

 quarrelled and fought in their island home. One of these, Manaia by name, 

 having suffered grievously, resolved to migrate to New Zealand, here to 

 dwell in peace. He therefore manned his vessel, called " Tokomaru," 

 with such trained adept seafarers as were necessary in lifting the rolling 

 sea roads of the Kealm of Kiwa, and quietly left home between two days. 

 His enemy, one Nuku, came to hear of his departure, and resolved to 

 pursue and attack him. He therefore collected a number of warriors and 

 started in pursuit. Tradition asserts that he was careful to select " sea- 

 paddling braves," experts on the ara moana, and he also brought three 

 tohunga, or priestly adepts, to assist him in overcoming the dangers of the 

 deep. These folk came in three vessels, named " Te Houama," " Waimate," 

 and " Tangi-apakura." Now, it is distinctly stated in the legend that 

 the first-named was a single canoe [waha maroJii), and the other two waka 

 unua, or double canoes : " Enei waka, e rua nga tvaka unua, kotahi te waka 

 marohi, ko Te Houama'' (These canoes, two were double canoes, one was 

 a single canoe, Te Houama). 



Both these expeditions touched at Rarotonga, as was usual in making 

 the voyage from the Society Isles to New Zealand. Nuka saw no sign of 

 Manaia's vessel in the run dow^n to Aotearoa, but when he entered Cook 

 Strait and landed on D'Urville Island he found there the smoiddering 

 remains of the camp-fires of Manaia's party. He at once started in 

 pursuit, and caught sight of his enemy o£E Pukerua, near Porirua Harbour. 

 " Te Houama," the single canoe, being the swiftest craft, was the first to 

 come up with " Tokomaru." Of the sea fight that occurred on the waters 

 of Raukawa, and the later Homeric combat on the sands of Pae-kakariki, 

 there is no space here to discuss details, but one statement in the tradition 

 is of much interest. It is said that Nuku, when about to leave on his 

 return to Polynesia, dismantled his two double canoes, and sailed them 

 back across the Southern Ocean as single vessels, doubtless provided with 



