DowNES. — Early History of Rangitikei. 



75 



The history of the old-time Maori wars — i.e., of Maori with Maori — is 

 a subject comparatively unknown, for, apart from the " Journal of the Poly- 

 nesian Society," little has been published regarding it, and of this particular 

 tribe we have no printed records at all. This paper is little more than a 

 collection of scattered fragments, gathered^ with much labour and patience. 

 Everything pertaining to the olden days — " the good old Maori days " — has 

 become most difficult to learn, and soon all opportunity will be lost, for 

 the old men with their stores of knowledge are almost gone, and in a few 

 more years at most will have passed through Reinga's gate. 



I had hoped that the task of delving into the old history of this dis- 

 trict might be midertaken by others who, I am confident, have a deeper 

 knowledge of Maori lore, and are therefore better qualified to handle a 

 -difficult subject. However, I trust the following notes will prove inter- 

 esting to some at least who, like the author, have lived all their days in 

 Maoriland, this " sea-girt Eldorado of the south." 



The district inhabited in former times, and to some extent even yet, 

 by the Ngati Apa tribes was roughly all the country drained by the Wha- 

 nga-ehu, Turakina. and Rangi-tikei Rivers, extending as far south as 

 Manawa-tu, and bounded on the north-east by the Ruahine Mountains. 

 A large tract of open and broken forest country about the Moa-whango 

 district called Mokai-Patea was their chief inland home, and Parewa-nui, 

 near the Rangi-tikei River, some eight miles from the sea, was their largest 

 pa. They claim to be descended chiefly from Ruatea, who came to New 

 Zealand in the Kura-haupo canoe about 1350 ; but all inquiries concerning 

 this ancestor and his great canoe have yielded but little information. 



Table 1. 



Ruatea 



Apa-hapai-taketake 



I 

 Hapa-lua-rangi 



I 

 Taha 



1 

 Po-whenua 



1 

 Te Rangi-whawhaia 



I 

 Papa 



I 



Turi 



8. Tcvu-whira 



I 



9. Papa-whenua 



I 



10. Rangi-Y owhatu 



I 



11. WhakaiULii 



I 



12. Rangi-mawake 



I 



13. Putanga 



I I 



14. Ria = Rangi-waho 



I 



15. Ngana-rangi 



I 



16. Te Ara-moana 



I 



17. Ngo:o 



I 



18. Hura = Mehi 



19. 



I 

 Ria = Hamuera of Parewa-nui (80). 



