128 Voyage of the Novara. 



The little child grows, but the little axe remains for ever little (i. e. manhood is 



more valuable than any other possession). 

 Capricious as a salmon in the stream or a girl on shore. 

 The flounder flies back to hide itself in the water it has mudded. ^ 



You can search the dark corner of a house, but not the heart of a man. 

 Bad food will not make a man mean, but a noble man makes mean food re- 

 spectable. 

 Kokowai or red ochre sucks up oil when you mix them. (If a chief visits you, 



he and his followers soon absorb all your property!) 

 A smooth tree you may climb, however tall it is ; but how can you pass over the 



sea, glassy as it looks ? 

 Perhaps, although I am little, you will find me troublesome as a sandfly. 

 Although hidden from us, we know there are plenty of roots of the wild convol- 

 vulus running under the ground there ; so with the evil thoughts of our 



hearts. 

 You won't care to look long at the good food you have before you, but a face you 



love you can often look at (a pretty wife is better worth getting than a rich 



one). 

 A "girl's beauty is Uke a fine day, a storm soon follows it; so old age and ugliness 



follow close upon loveliness. 

 There are a multitude of stars in the heavens, but a very little cloud covers many 



of them (meaning that a small band of resolute men may defeat a large 



number). 

 If he had taken refuge on a mountain-top we could have climbed it ; if he had 



taken refuge amidst ocean's surge our canoes could have contended with it ; 



but having taken shelter under the protection of a mighty chief, who can 



reach him there ? 

 If you have a sperm whale's tooth, you must also have a sperm whale's jaw to 



carry it! 

 Quick in speech, slow to act ; promises are quickly made, the body is slow to move. 

 A fathomless throat, but no industry ; a monster's appetite, but no perseverance in 



labour. 

 He is ascending the snow-capped mountains of Ruahmi (i. e. he is growing old). 

 Rangipo and Raeroa started together on a journey. Rangipo carried his god alone 



with him ; Raeroa carried his god on his back, and food in his hand ; 



Rangipo died, — Raeroa lived. 

 The block of wood has no business to dictate to the artist who carves it. 

 I can scarcely look out eagerly from the hill-top ! 

 A mouth, ready as a salmon, to spring at its prey. 

 He is a descendant of Ki-ki, who was so skilled in magic that his shadow withered 



trees and plants if it fell on them. 



