62 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



and gain momentum by running round the pole on the land 

 side, and then swing off the edge of the bank out over the 

 water, where they would release their hold of the rope and 

 drop feet first into the water below, which same is the Maori 

 form of diving {ruku). This form of diving is done from a 

 height of 40 ft. or 50 ft. sometimes. At some places a running 

 jump is taken from a steep bank into a river or lake, or a 

 pole is secured in a horizontal position over the water, from 

 which the jump is taken. At others, again, a tree growing on 

 a cliff and leaning out over tbe water is used in a like manner. 

 Such an one is a rata-tree just above the Pari-kino Settle- 

 ment, on the Whanga-nui Eiver, and from wbich the jump is 

 some 30 ft. or 40 ft. Some time back a woman was there 

 killed by falling flat on the water, instead of entering the 

 same feet first in the proper manner. It is surprising to see 

 what heights very small children will jump from. 



At settlements where water was not available for jumping 

 into, the moari was erected at any suitable place near by, 

 where it was used as a sort of revolving swing. One such 

 formerly stood at the Ngati-tawhaki village of Kiritahi, at 

 Eua-tahuna, and was known as Tama-te-ngaro. Another 

 stood near Mana-te-pa, a fortified village on the Mana-o- 

 rongo Creek, near Tatahoata. The latter one was named 

 Tara-kai-korukoru. Each of these swings had eight cords. 

 A singular story is attached to these two swings. When my 

 informant had told me of them, he added, " They were 

 erected in order to avenge those of Ngati-tawhaki who were 

 slain at Mana-te-pa." This caused me to make inquiries, 

 believing that I was about to lift the trail of some quaint, 

 barbarous custom. I had heard of the intev-hapit un- 

 pleasantness at that fort, where Te (Jre-wera clan had slain 

 three of Ngati-tawhaki, but the swings were new. 



"Ngati-tawhaki had fallen before the volley of Te Ure- 

 wera. Then our assailants migrated to Eua-toki, lest evil be- 

 fall them. Our people were much troubled over the matter. 

 Then the thought grew : We would avenge that disaster. 

 Tu-kai-rangi, of Tawhaki, rose and caused to be erected those 

 two moari. Tama-te-ngaro was erected just by the cherry 

 grove yonder, and Tara-kai-korukoru was set up by yon 

 kahika- trees on the terrace. Then a song was composed, 

 to be sung by the performers when swinging. And this 

 should be our revenge for the death of our men at Mana- 

 te-pa. No ! Of course, it was not an actual revenge or 

 equivalent for our loss, but it was to dispel the grief and 

 fretting over the death of our friends ; hence it was termed 

 an avenging of their deaths — " Hai xohakangaro i te rawaki- 

 waki mo nga mea i mate, koia i kiia ai he takitaki mate." 

 Here is the song. The eight ropes of the moan would be 



