Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 449 



hi te tuahu, a Tea whangaia ki nua atua. Ko te tikanga a tenet mahi, kia pai 

 te tufu o nga kai, a koi pa mai he mate ki aua kai." 



Tuputuputu, mentioned in the above invocation, is the name of one 

 of the Magellan Clouds. Atutahi is Canopus, Takurua is Sirius, and 

 Whanui is Vega. 



First-fruits of Birds. 



The first-fruits of the bird season — i.e., the first birds taken — are offered 

 to the gods — to Maru, Tunui-a-te-ika, and others — as also are the first 

 fish taken. First-fruits are sometimes termed whakaaweawe, a name that 

 applies to anything, animate or otherwise, that may be offered to the gods. 



The rite of first-fruits is performed at a sacred fire known as the ahi 

 taitai {taitai fire), at which many different rites are performed, but not 

 those pertaining to war or death. The word taitai is, in one sense, a sacer- 

 dotal term, and its meaning is by no means easy to define. Williams's 

 Dictionary says, " Taitai, to remove tapu from a new canoe." But Tuhoe 

 were not a seafaring people, and do not seem to know the term in that 

 connection. As a verb, taitai means to perform the taitai rite at a sacred 

 fire (known as the ahi taitai, or taitai fire), to repeat the charm termed 

 taitai which renders that fire tafu, or sacred, by locating therein the gods 

 — i.e., the power of the gods, which is the spiritual power that renders the 

 rite, whatever it may be, effective. The word taitai is also used in con- 

 nection with the providing of food — " Kai te taitai kai a mea ma koutou.'"* 

 This may be said to a company of travellers. Some one has heard that they 

 are coming to or passing his place, and turns to provide a meal for them. 

 If the party have no time or inclination to stay and partake of such food, 

 one at least of the party must stay and eat a portion, however small, thereof, 

 otherwise the act of passing on would be a disregarding of Tahu (the em- 

 blematical name, or tutelary deity, or personification, of food). 



Rites are performed at the ahi taitai that they may be efiective. When, 

 on the opening of the bird season, the snares are made in the whare mata, 

 some of the rau huka are cast into the taitai fire. At the same time certain 

 charms are repeated to insure a good catch of birds, to bring many birds 

 into the snares. We note that Williams gives taitaia as meaning " unlucky 

 in fishing," &c. The ahi taitai is sometimes termed the hau or mauri of a 

 kainga (village), presumably because the rite by which such a mauri is 

 installed, or sanctified, is performed at it, and also other rites conducive 

 to the welfare of the place and people. 



Tamarau Waiari said, " About the ahi taitai : This fire {i.e., rite) is 

 for the purpose of bringing many birds and fish to the tribal lands. First- 

 fruits are offered at this fire. When we are going to perform this rite over 

 certain lands, we kill a bird — a kaka, or koko, or miromiro, or tiwaiwaka — 

 any bird — as an offering. The charm repeated is the following : — 



" E Papa e takoto nei 

 E Rangi e tu nei 

 Homai te toto kai tangata. 

 Kia runikutia, kia herea 

 Kia man te mauri 

 Te mauri o wai ? 

 Te mauri o Tane 

 Tane tuturi, Tane j)epeke 

 Whakamutua ki a Tu-matauenga 

 Whakamutua ki a Paia 

 Nana i toko te raugi 

 Na Tu-matauenga i here te kai. 



* See Addenda. 



1.5— Trans. 



