Best. — Maori Eschatology. 175 



are, as a rule, very inferior, or, if they are not so, owe it to the 

 fact that they are composed by wholesale cribbery from ancient 

 songs. 



The higher forms of dirges for the dead are termed " apakura." 

 They may be called laments of a sacerdotal character, and often 

 contain ancient cryptic phraseology of an old-time cult. The 

 ordinary lament (tangi) for the dead is of quite different com- 

 position — in fact, they resemble ordinary songs, and are often so 

 used. 



The term " tangi taukuri " seems to apply to a lament wherein 

 the composer bewails his own evil fortune, or that of his tribe. 

 The tangi tikapa and tangi ivhakakurepe are modes of mourning, 

 lamenting the dead, while going through various motions, such 

 as swaying the bent body from side to side, quivering the hands 

 with arms extended. Sometimes a weapon (patu or mere) is 

 held in the right hand while going through the above genu- 

 flexions. ' E. 



I will now give two specimens of laments forjfthe dead' r as 

 illustration . The first was composed about eighteen genera- 

 tions ago, is a good specimen of ancient Maori composition, and 

 contains many allusions to, and fragments of, old-time myths 

 and history. My readers will regret to hear that it is incomplete, 

 which accounts for its shortness. The second lament given is 

 a modern one, composed about 1901 for a Native^.woman who 

 died at Galatea. 



He Tangi mo Rangi- ttia, na Te Matorohanga. (A Lament for 

 Rangiuia, composed by Te Matorohanga.) 



E moe ana ahau i taku moe reka 



Whakamatatutia 



Ka maranga kai runga i te po roa — e, o 



Hine-matikotai 

 I kukume tonu nei kia ngata te kanolii 

 Tena ra i a Tutapa-kahurangi 

 Puritia mai ra i te apai o te wliare 

 Ka titiro iho koe, ka moe te kanohi 

 Ka tangi mai tona ihu, ka ngongoro tera 

 Ka waiho hai atua; ka tangi mai ki muri 

 Mauria atu ra e te au whakapeke a Tama-tukurangi 

 Ka paoa lei wako ra ki te Kopani — e, 

 Ki Te Kahu-o-te-rangi 

 Ko Te Ata-kaihia, ko Te Ata-hapara 

 Te ata ka pakaru, ka rere mai i te ra 

 Wkiti ana i roto ra hai okomauri hine 

 Ka tu mai te takalii ki a Tama-uru-rangi 

 Tomo atu, e hika ! te tai o nui no rangi 

 I au e wkiwhi — e, i au e nangara 

 Kauaka te rangi tapu taupurua iho 

 Ko te rangi tihore, ko te rangi waruhia 

 Kia marama koe ki te kete a Tane 

 I mauria mai nei hai tohu mo tona matua 



