DowNES. — Early History of Rangitikei. 81 



Suiidon and Awa-huri usually called Mount Stewart), in the bush ; but 

 again he disturbed them, and they flew on to Tauraata-patiti. Next they 

 alighted in the bush called Te Rakau-hou, near Mount Stewart. Ma- 

 tangi went into the bush, but found that the birds did not stay ; and, as 

 the trees were young, he gave the name above mentioned. Again they 

 alighted in the bush, where he slept with his face to the ground ; there- 

 fore he called that place Te Whaka-moe-takapu (near Kaka-riki), (railway- 

 bridge near Greatford). Still following the birds, he arrived at a new 

 country, and, taking a pole, he took a leap with it, calling the place Toko- 

 rangi (a hill between Halcombe and the river on the clif?s above the One- 

 puhi Pa). Still following them,, he reached a stream where he recited 

 larakias ; therefore he called the stream Wai-tapu (near Rata, one of the 

 boundaries of the Manawa-tu Block). Again he followed the birds, and 

 caught the sound of them, and so called the place Paroro-rangi. There 

 are two ranges meeting at an angle — one is Paroro-rangi ; on the other he 

 stood and blew his horn, calling it Puto-rino (between Hunterville and the 

 Rangi-tikei River). Still following the birds, he reached the upper Rangi- 

 tikei, and, seeing that they had taken flight inland, he called the spot Tiro- 

 hanga ; but the place is now called Te Papa-o-Hauiti (Rata). He followed 

 them to the top of the ridge, where he halted and stamped on the ground, 

 and so called the place Tapuae (a trig, shown on most maps). Again he 

 went on, and, seeing them high up in the air above him, he called the 

 place 0-tama-kapua. Then he went along the river and again blew a blast 

 on his horn, and there he called the place Puta-tara. Still on up the river 

 he went till he came to a place where he grounded his stafi, and called it 

 Te Tokotoko-o-Matangi. Then he climbed the range and reached the top, 

 calling it Whaka-ara-waru. From this place he watched the birds cross 

 the river, and saw them alight ; therefore he called the place Rangi-tauria. 

 He was now almost exhausted, and gave up the chase ; but the birds were 

 also tired, and could not fly any further : so he and his children (for his 

 children had followed him all the way) caught and killed them, and there 

 they stayed and settled, and his children are still living at Rangi-tauria 

 to this day. 



" If you ask me," continued the old man who gave the narrative, 

 '' whether I have been there and seen them, I answer Yes. I have seen 

 the place, and have seen his children. They have been changed into 

 * spirits of the brook ' — i.e., taniwhas — because they disobeyed the voice 

 of their father when he told them to bring some water. I have myself 

 seen the posts of his house, for they are still standing (450 years since that 

 house was built). I have seen his children with my own eyes. If we all 

 went up to them it would make no difference. Many attempts have been 

 made to secure them with ropes, but in vain — they can release themselves 

 at once by their magic powers. Their names are Hine-te-iwaiwa and Horo- 

 puta, her brother, and they are still at that place, for there Ma-tangi left 

 them." The lake which Ma-tangi's children still inhabit is near 0-kaha- 

 rau, and is called 0-toea. His house was built at Whiti-anga, near the 

 lake, and it was there that our friend saw the totara posts. It was Ma- 

 tangi who brought to this land the atua Kahu-kura, which came from 

 Hawaiki in the Takitumu canoe. This atua was first taken to Te Awa- 

 rua, but in the time of Te Ngahoa it was removed to Owhioi. All inquiries 

 regarding the shape and power of this atua have yielded but little informa- 

 tion beyond the fact that it was very large, and shone like fire, something 

 after the shape of a comet, and had power of flight or movement. (Other 



