Best. — Maori Voyagers and their Vessels. 455 



The Coming of Maruiwi. 



Settlement of the North Island hy an Unknown People. 



Subsequent to the discovery of New Zealand by Kupe, the North Island 

 was settled in many parts by a dark-skinned folk of inferior culture, whose 

 origin is unknown. They are said to have been a people of spare build, 

 thin-shanked, with flat noses, distended nostrils, and generally unpleasant 

 appearance. Their eyes were peculiarly restless, their hair upstanding. 

 They lived in rude huts, wore little clothing, and were an indolent people, 

 fond of hugging the fireside. Their ancestors had come from a very warm 

 far-away land — a much warmer land than New Zealand. They arrived 

 here in three canoes, named " Kahu-tara," " Tai-koria," and " Okoki." 

 These vessels had been driven from their home-land by a westerly -^dnd, 

 and, after a long drift, reached the Taranaki coast, where these folk settled. 

 As time went on they occupied many parts of the North Island, and were 

 most numerous at Taranaki, Tamaki, the Bay of Plenty, and Hawke's 

 Bay, when the voyager Toi arrived. 



A 8ea-fog brings Eastern Polynesians to New Zealand. 



The Voyages of Toi and Whatonga to Aotearoa. 



Sea-mists, ocean currents, and winds have caused many drift voyages 

 in Pacific waters, have settled many lands, and sent many souls down to 

 Rarohenga, the spirit world of the Maori. When the Polynesian voyager 

 became enshrouded by a dense mist, such as occur during easterly winds 

 in that region, he was compelled, lacking a compass, to trust to the regular 

 roll of the waves in the guidance of his vessel. A change of wind under 

 such circumstances often utterly confused him, as noted by Mariner when 

 sailing with some Tongans. Mariner's native companions were actually 

 sailing away from their island home when lie induced them to trust to his 

 despised compass. 



It was a sea-fog that brought about the second settlement of New 

 Zealand, this time by men from eastern Polynesia, the home of Kupe. 

 This event occurred three centuries before Columbus saw the world of life. 



On the waters of Pikopiko-i-whiti, on which in after - generations 

 " Takitumu " was to float, a canoe-race was being held by the folk of the 

 Isles of Hawaiki and Tuhua (after which Tuhua, or Mayor Isle, in the Bay 

 of Plenty, was named). These competing canoes left the sheltered waters 

 and went out to sea in their enthusiasm. Here they were caught in a storm, 

 and some were carried away by it, while others regained the land. Among 

 the drift canoes was that of Whatonga and Tu-rahui. When the 

 storm died out these hapless folk found themselves enveloped in a mist, 

 and unable to return home. Eventually they landed at Rangiatea, where 

 they remained some time. Meanwhile Toi, the grandfather of Whatonga, 

 had set forth in search of the ocean-waifs, proceeding westward. Some 

 castaways were found at Samoa, but not his grandson. Hence Toi visited 

 the islands as far south as Rarotonga, still without success. He then deter- 

 mined to sail across the Southern Ocean to the strange land — the great land 

 — discovered by Kupe in past times, to see if the waifs had perchance 

 been carried there. And so, ever seeking his grandson, the old sea-rover 

 boldly sailed out into the vast trackless expanse that rolls between Raro- 

 tonga and Aotearoa. And his final word to the folk of Rarotonga was, 

 " I go to seek my child in strange lands, in the moist land discovered by 



