Best. — On Maori Gamrs. 03 



manned, and all the performers and onlookers would sing 

 the first verse (whiti). At the last word thereof they would 

 swing off and fly round the pole. When they stopped the 

 second verse would be sung, and the performers swing off 



again." 



Whiti 1. 

 Tu-kai-rangi — e 

 Hangaa he moari 



Kia rere au i te taura whakawaho* 

 Kai te pehi hiri whakamau 

 Na wai takahia. 



Whiti 2. 



Taku aroha kia Te Haraki — e 

 Nga whaiaipo a te hiri whakamau 

 Na wai takahia. 



Whiti 3. 



He taura ti — e. He taura harakeke 

 Nga taura o te hiri whakamau 

 Na wai takahia. 



A famous moari used to stand at Kirikiri, on the shore of 

 Waikare-moana. 



Pendent aka, or forest creepers, were often used as swings, 

 and from the swing of them the players would gain impetus 

 for a flying trip through the air to Mother Earth. These 

 were termed " tar ere," or " himorimori." A cross-piece of 

 wood was sometimes lashed on to the aka to serve as a seat. 



The kai-rerere, or long jump, was another form of amuse- 

 ment. Te Kai-rerenga-a-te-Rangi-houhiri is the name of a 

 crossing-place of the Whakatane Eiver where, in former 

 times, travellers used to cross by jumping from one stone 

 to another, a feat at which Mr. Rangi-houhiri excelled all 

 others, hence the name. 



Piu (Skijjping). 

 A long cord was used, a child being stationed at either end 

 to swung same. Several players would skip at the same time. 

 As the game commenced the cord-swingers would chaunt : 

 •- E piu — e ! Ka taha te ra ki te rua." 



Pioi. 



The term "pioi" was applied to the seesaw, a pole 

 balanced across a log, as our own children play ; and also 

 the name was applied to a limber branch, usually of a fallen 

 tree, and which players would bestride and cause to swing up 

 aud down. 



Concerning the pioi, let me tell you an anecdote. In the 

 days when Ngati-mahanga, of Te Whaiti, they who slew the 

 Drooping Plume and erstwhile went down to Hades before 



* The outer cord is the most difficult to manipulate. 



