Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 455 



** Ka hai te haka i te wai kaihua, ka Mia he rarangi taki." When the kaka 

 are seen feeding on the wai kaihua, it is said to be the rarangi tahi. This 

 latter term was applied to the last great rallying or gathering of birds, 

 principally kaka, on the hill-growing rata when it blossoms. The rata 

 trees growing on the ranges bloom later than those situated in the valleys. 

 The kaka in former times gathered in great numbers on these mountain 

 rata to partake of the wai kaihua. They were very fat at this time, and 

 <!0uld not be lured by a decoy, or taken either by the mutu or pae methods. 

 Hence they were taken by spear alone at such a time. Kereru, koko, and 

 other birds also flocked to these trees, and many species would be seen on 

 a single tree. This general gathering of birds is termed rarangi tahi. It is 

 an expression often heard, as, " / mua, i te wa o te rarangi tahi " (In former 

 times, in the time of the rarangi tahi). For it is now practically no more, 

 so scarce have birds become. This period occurred abovit January. That 

 was the spearing-time. Prior to that the kaka was taken by the mutu 

 method. In giving evidence in a Native Land Court, a local Native said, 

 " Kaore he toromiro o tenei taha o te poraka, he rarangi tahi tenei " (There 

 are no toromiro trees on this side of the block ; this is a rarangi tahi). 

 He meant that rata were the principal bird-trees on this side. 



We have four different names applied to trees on which birds are taken, 

 which names refer to the methods employed for taking the birds : — 



(1.) Tutu. — Any tree on which birds are taken by the mutu method 



is so termed. 

 (2.) Taumatua. — Any tree on which birds are taken by the tahei 

 process — i.e., the snares are arranged on the tree-branches, 

 and not on an artificial perch. 

 (3.) Kaihua. — A tree on which birds are speared. An old saying is, 

 " He toka hapuku ki te moana, he kaihua ki uta " (A hapuku 

 fishing-rock at sea equals a kaihua on land). Because both 

 provide an abundance of food. 



By the way, did it ever strike you how poetic similes 

 appeal to the Maori mind, how many a pithy saying is in 

 the form of a distich ? These poetic comparisons are most 

 numerous, are of a rhetorical character, and marvels of con- 

 densation : e.g., Hohonu kaki, papaku uaua (Deep throat, 

 shallow mu.scles) — which explains itself. The triad does not 

 appear to have been so cultivated by the Maori. A triad for 

 the Welshman, a distich for the Maori. 

 (4.) Tipapa, or rahau tipapa.- — This name seems to be applied to a 

 tree much resorted to by pigeons. We have seen that tipapa 

 kereru means " a flock of pigeons." Tipapa is apparently a 

 form of whakapapa. A taumatua is often termed a rakau 

 tipapa. 

 It is a fact that every tree that comes under the above headings — that 

 is, every tree famous as a bird-tree, and on which birds are, or were, taken 

 each season — has its own distinct name. We give a few examples : — 



Wahianoa : A kahikatca tree, a famous taumatua, standing at Hei- 



pipi, Rua-tahuna. 

 Takapari : A hinau tree at Te Rua-kuri, on Te Purenga Block. When 

 this tree bore much fruit it was deemed a sign that a plentiful 

 season was at hand. If it produced little fruit, then a lean 

 season followed. 



