DowNES. — Earhj History of Rangilikei. 95 



learned where Ika-whaka-ariki was hiding, and also his friend Orehu. So 

 a raid was organized, and Ika-whaka-ariki captured without much trouble. 

 When brought face to face with his captors he sang a song, and otherwise 

 .shewed his bravery ; but this availed him but little, for very soon he had 

 to go the way of all flesh, and trod the dim and distant road to Hawaiki. 



It was about this time that Rangi-iki-iki, after the death of his wife 

 Kara, went away to Oroua, and Rangi-tuhaha went to reside at Te Wha- 

 iiu-rongo (near Halcombe). 



The next affair that happened was the bewitching by Rangi-ts-muri, 

 which caused the death of a great number of Rangi-whaka-po's people, 

 also many of the Ika-whaka-ariki and Kauae. They were all living at 

 Paewa, and very often went to the mouth of the Rangi-tikei River fishing, 

 when they would send large supplies of food to their own places, and also 

 to Rangi-iki-iki (at Oroua). Rangi-te-muri noticed this, and set about 

 bewitching the track which they had to pass over. 



" It happened this way," said my informant, when telling of the event : 

 " This man Rangi-te-muri lived on the flat in front of the present Parewa- 

 nui Schoolhouse, and the old track lay between the two swamps, where 

 the road runs at present. Now, Rangi-te-muri looked out daily and saw 

 the people passing and repassing with their loads of eels and fish, and, 

 although they passed his door, they never gave him a present or left any 

 of the fish hanging at his place. Then said Rangi-te-muri to himself, " I'll 

 fix them." And fix them he did, for he bewitched the track, and next 

 time the fishermen passed that way (and they had to go that track, for 

 there was no other) they travelled over it for the last time, and they 

 received the punishment which was always meted out to those who 

 touched bewitched things, and went to join their gTeat ancestress, Hine- 

 nui-te-po. 



When Te Kai-whaka-taha saw so many of his people falling under this 

 potent spell, in fear of his life he fled across the river, where he fell into 

 the hands of a party of Ngati Kahu-ngunu who were on their way to 

 make war with Ngati Apa. They quickly captured him, and, as he 

 was a man of great avoirdupois, they made game by exhibiting him 

 round, on account of his immense size and fatness. He was then duly 

 killed and eaten, and the spot where the feast took place was named, in 

 honour of the event, Tapu-iko-koneke — meaning ** the fat thighs of the 

 quail." 



After this, Rangi-tane came into the Rangi-tikei district, accompanied 

 by Ngati Tauira. They went to Wai - tata - pia (now the homestead 

 paddocks on Mr. Dalrymple's run at Parewa-nui), a pa to the west of 

 Rae-tihi (a sand -ridge on the same farm), and there they fought with Nga- 

 riki and Tupa-taua. They were victorious, and, after having slain the 

 chief Te Umu-o-te-hau, they went on to Te Awa-mate Pa seeking further 

 quarrels. Nga-riki, after the loss of their chief, fled up the river. Then 

 Hori Kingi sent two chiefs across the river, with full instructions to fetch 

 ■some foha tuna (extra fine eels — i.e., the chiefs) home with them from 

 Puke-puke Pa (a fortified pa on one of the lakes lying between the mouth 

 of the Rangi-tikei River and Foxton, known to local residents as Humpy's 

 Lake), held by Ngati Apa ; but warning was sent, and the two chiefs 

 Rangi-hau-tu and Ao-kehu went out with a party and waylaid Rangi- 

 tane, who were one hundred strong, and cut off almost the whole party, 

 as out of that strong taua Te Weta was the only man who escaped. This 



