Best. — Maori Eschatologij. 219 



placing of the remains in the sepulchre, they " stepped over a 

 fire and were sprinkled with water."* Among the followers of 

 Zoroaster water is the great purifier, but the urine of cows is 

 also used for that purpose, and also as a charm against evil 

 spirits. f A similar custom to the latter obtained among the 

 Maori, as we will endeavour to show in the days that lie be- 

 fore. 



A Native woman died recently at Ruatoki. She was, as is 

 usual, placed in a tent to die, hence the cottage of herself and 

 husband did not become tapu. They had another, a rude hut 

 built of trunks of fern-trees, some distance away, where they 

 lived when working in their maize-field, and in which they kept 

 various cooking-utensils. Riding past the spot this day, I noted 

 that the hut had been burned, with its contents. 



Ahi mate (extinguished fire) : This term is applied to a place 

 where all the people have died, or are ill, and so cannot keep their 

 fires going, as a place where an epidemic is raging. It is often 

 used as is the " cold hearthstone " of Keltic peoples. 



Whare ngaro, or whare mate : This expression implies a lost 

 house — i.e., a lost line of descent, where all members of a family 

 die without issue. 



Marua matenga rangatira : The word " marua " is used to 

 denote a land deprived of its protector, safeguard, counsellor, 

 &c. ; as when a head chief dies it is remarked, " Marua ana te 

 whenua " (ara, kua Icore he Vino tangata hai arai i te kino, i te aha, 

 i te aha, i te aha). 



When a Maori dies his children inherit his property. Wea- 

 pons, implements, &c, of ordinary kinds would be shared, or 

 all would use them, also clothing. But any specially prized or 

 valuable weapon or garment (e.g., a dogskin cloak) w r ould be- 

 come the property of the eldest son, who would have the arrang- 

 ing of such matters. Such an article as a canoe would be used 

 by all the children — He waka eke noa (any one can use it). 



When Kahu-tatara was slain by Ruru at Pu-kareao the re- 

 latives of the dead man felled the trees at the spot where he was 

 killed, as a tohu (sign, or memorial) for his death. When Te 

 Ahuru, of Tuhoe, died at Rua-toki he was buried at Te Tawhero 

 pa (fort). A dog burrowed his way into the grave. It was seen, 

 pursued, and killed in crossing the Whakatane River. Hence 

 that river was tapu for some time, the tapu being finally removed 

 by Kereru te Rua-kari-ata, who drank some of the water during 

 the ceremony. 



Among Tuhoe, most ghoulish of cannibals, the body of a 



* " Anthropological Religion," p. 272. 



t " The Story of Religions." by E. D. Price, p. 4<>. 



