66 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



sitting gravely opposite each other, each one trying to make 

 the other laugh. One will take the other by the hand and 

 then draw its other hand down the arm, repeating, " Paki- 

 paki te ivhatitiri, No — e I No — e I " until one of them is fain 

 to laugh. 



I have heard children repeating the genealogies of the 

 village dogs in true orthodox style, learned while listening to 

 the recital of tribal genealogies in the sleeping-houses. 



Small girls will play at imitating the labours of their 

 mothers, and will make little steam-ovens and collect and 

 earth over potatoes in true kojnUu style, or carry appalling 

 swags of firewood weighing several pounds. 



Para-ivhakaivai. 

 The para-ivhakaivai may be termed a " school of arms." 

 It is applied to meetings of young men on the plaza of the 

 village for the purpose of acquiring and practising the use of 

 weapons, such practising being known as " ivhakahorohoro 

 rakau." Such practice, or trial of arms, is carried on under 

 the eyes of veteran warriors, who are known as " Ika-a- 

 tvhiro." Here the young Maori learned to use the arms of 

 old — to guard, parry, thrust, and strike. Wrestling was also 

 indulged in, and women used sometimes to join in this — pro- 

 bably two women opposed to one man. Some of the women 

 were famous wrestlers. 



Whatoto (Wrestling). 



This was a common amusement among young men, and 

 much interest was displayed when two noted wrestlers were 

 pitted against each other. My notes under this head are,, 

 however, meagre in the extreme. The various holds or grips 

 were termed " azvhiaivhi," " uru-tomo," " taha," " tvhiri," 

 and " ivhiu." The rou was the thrusting of the leg 

 between those of the opponent in order to throw him. 



When a man was about to engage in a wrestling bout he 

 would expectorate into his hand, which he would then close 

 and repeat the following charm (karakia) to strengthen 

 him : — 



Taku uaua ko te rangi e tu nei 

 Taku uaua ko papa e takoto nei 

 Whiri kaha, toro kaha te uaua. 



Then, opening his hand, he repeats a second charm to weaken 

 his enemy and render him powerless : — 



Te umu a te ruhi, a te ngenge 



A te paro (?) a tineia kia mate 



Te umu tuku tonu te ika ki te Po 



Te umu tuku tonu, heke tonu te ika ki te Reinga 



Ka mui te rango, totoro te iro 



Kaki whatiia. 



o 



