226 Transactions. 



Expressions, Proverbs, Aphorisms, etc., pertaining to 



Decay and Death. 



" Nga mate i Kawerau, me tangi mai i Whakatane ; nga 

 mate i Whakatane, me tangi atu i Kawerau " (The deaths at 

 Kawerau, mourn for them from Whakatane ; those who die at 

 Whakatane, mourn for them from Kawerau). This saying is 

 applied when persons are too busy or are disinclined to attend 

 funeral obsequies at a distant place. 



" Ka mate he tete kura, ka ora he tete kura " (When a chief dies 

 another is ready to take his place). 



" Wairoa tapoko ran " (Wairoa engulfs hundreds). Applied 

 to the Wairoa district, Hawke's Bay, on account of so many 

 people being slain there — by witchcraft, according to surrounding 

 tribes. 



" Tauarai o te Po, titoko o te ao marama " (Screen from Hades, 

 prolonger of life). Applied to those who succour persons in 

 danger. 



" Mohaka whanaunga kore " (Mohaka the relationless). Ap- 

 plied to the Mohaka River, on account of so many persons 

 having been drowned therein. 



" Ka pu te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi " (The old net is laid 

 aside, the new net takes up the work). When men become old, 

 feeble, and near to death, young men take up their work. 



" Puritia to kauri hai o matenga mou " (Keep your kauri as 

 food for your death journey). Kauri= the soot from resinous 

 wood, used for tattooing-pigment. This remark is said to a 

 mean person who will not give something he has been asked for. 



" Whatu ngarongaro he tangata, toitu he whenua " (Man passes 

 away, but the land remains for ever). 



" Kua tau nga Taru o Turn " (The weeds of Tura — grey 

 hairs — have appeared, death is approaching). 



" Kati te tangi, apopo tatau ka tangi ano, apa ko te tangi i te 

 tai, e tangi roa, e ngunguru tonu" (Cease wailing, to-morrow we 

 shall mourn again. We are not like the sea, which ever mur- 

 murs, ever rumbles). Said at funeral obsequies when the crying 

 and wailing is prolonged. 



" Matua pou whare, rokohia ana ; matua tangata, e kore e 

 rokohia " (You can always seek and gain shelter in your house, 

 but not always so with a friend — death may take him). 



" Kei mate a tarakihi koe" (Be careful lest you perish, or 

 suffer, through indolence, dilatoriness, &<.). 



" Engari Ida mate a ururoa te tangata " (Rather let man die 

 as does the ururoa shark, strenuous and fighting to the last). 



" Nawai tekokniinika-tu-tara-whare i Mia Liu haere?'''' (Who 

 said that the house - wall - growing Veronica should travel ?). 



