64 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



the stabbing spears of Tuhoe — when the Children of 

 Mahanga, I say, were sore beset by the Hine-uru clan of 

 Tarawera they bethought them of applying to their overlord 

 for armed assistance. A band of Tuhoean mountaineers 

 therefore marched to the Wairoa Fort, on the Upper Whiri- 

 naki. On their arrival, however, instead of having food 

 presented to them, as is usual in such cases, a great nothing- 

 ness prevailed, and no refreshments were forthcoming. Then 

 the heart of the Child of Tamatea became sad within him, for 

 Tuhoe, albeit famous warriors — as we ourselves discovered in 

 later times at Orakau and elsewhere— are a most touchy 

 people, and passing rich in dignity and sense of affront. They 

 therefore, with intent and malice aforethought, and doubtless 

 being possessed of the divine afflatus, did proceed to compose 

 a most virulent ngeri, or jeering-song, as a scathing rebuke to 

 their churlish hosts. Hard, by the fort of Te Wairoa was 

 a famous pioi, a swinging tree-branch of great length and 

 elasticity. On this branch the Children of the Mist ranged 

 themselves, and, swinging high to the spring of the weighted 

 branch, roared forth their incisive song of derision. After 

 which, their anger and hunger being still unappeased, and 

 possibly annoyed at the "innocuous desuetude" of the Sons 

 of Mahanga, they fell upon them, smiting them hip and thigh, 

 with the result that several of them were soon killed, cooked, 



and eaten. 



The above is not necessarily a form of amusement or per- 

 taining to the w hare tapere, nor do I know that Takataka- 

 putea and Co. would countenance such acts. It is merely 

 inserted here as a quiet hint to any luckless wights who may 

 find themselves neglected by their hosts. 



Foot-races. 



Foot-races over long distances were sometimes arranged. 

 A certain place would be agreed upon, where, as soon as 

 one of the runners arrived, he would leave or make some 

 mark, on a tree or elsewhere; and this mark would be pointed 

 out with pride by his descendants. A foot-race of this kind 

 took place from Te Whaiti to Te Teko, a distance of nearly 

 fifty miles. 



Sling (Kotaha). 



I am informed that slings made of flax-fibre, used for sling- 

 ing stones in play, were formerly used, and were termed ko- 

 taha. I am not clear that they were used prior to the advent 

 of Europeans. The term " kotaha 1 ' was also applied to the 

 whip used in casting the spear known as a " tarerarera," 

 which was so cast into besieged places. 



The kakere was an amusement of children, sticking some 



