Best. — Maori Eschatology. 215 



flesh of the Native dog. Rats were often preserved in fat and 

 so eaten. 



Among the Tuhoe Tribe there were six different ovens pre- 

 pared for the pure function— i.e., for the general feast. The 

 function itself was often termed " ahi pure " (pure fire), sacred 

 fires being used in many Maori rites, which often are termed 

 " fires," as " ahi taitai " (the taitai fire or rite), " ahi roJda," &c. 

 The term " umu " (oven, steam-oven) is often used in the same 

 manner, as also is its variant form u imu"— e.g., umu pera, 

 umu pongipongi, imu kirihau, imu wa-haroa, &c. The ordinary 

 term for a steam-oven is " hangi," which, however, Tuhoe never 

 apply to these sacred ovens, or ovens used in connection with 

 their numerous religious rites. Such ovens they invariably 

 term " umu." The Ngati-Awa Tribe often use the form " imu." 

 The following are the ovens used formerly among Tuhoe : 

 (1.) Tuakaha (umu tuakaha) : A small oven : it contains food for 

 high priests only. (2.) Potaka (umu potaka) : Contains food for 

 the priests of lower standing. (3.) Whangai (umu whangai) : 

 For the ariki or high chief of the tribe, the first-born of the prin- 

 cipal family, a very tapu individual. The most highly tapu of 

 all the ovens : even the priests could not approach it. (4.) Rua- 

 hine (umu ruahine) : Contained food for the ruahine only, an 

 elderly woman who was employed in whakanoa, or tapu-liitmg 

 rites. " (5.) Pera (umu pera) : Contained food for the warriors, 

 fighting-men who had been proved in battle, and termed " toa," 

 " arero-whero," " iha-a-whiro." This was a large oven, 10 ft. to 

 20 ft. in diameter. No women were allowed near it. (6.) Tuku- 

 para (umu tukupara) : This was a very large oven (or ovens) in 

 which was cooked food for the ordinary people — i.e., the bulk 

 of the people. 



A portion of the sacred food was eaten by the priests, and 

 a portion, as we have seen, was offered to the dead. People 

 had to be very careful in regard to the above-mentioned ovens 

 and the foods they contained. They were tapu, and all rights 

 pertaining thereto were jealously guarded. The last-mentioned 

 (No. 6) alone might be approached or partaken of by any person. 

 Should a person approach the oven (or its contents) of the priests 

 or ariki (matamua), there was trouble toward of a very serious 

 nature. But to take of such a food and eat it, even the scraps 

 from a meal, was an act of impiety dreadful to think of. If a 

 common person, the offender might be slain, or he might die of 

 fright if the act had been done in ignorance. Anyhow, it would 

 need a priestly rite to save him from the anger of the gods. 

 If eaten in ignorance, and a priest were called in, the latter 

 would perform the diagnostic rite in order to ascertain the cause 

 of the patient's illness. He would then say, " He popoa to mate. 



