T. H. Smith. — On Maori Implements and Weapons. 439 



dashed him to the earth. Tama half rose, and was again 

 dashed down ; once more he ahnost rose, and was thrown 

 again. Still Tama fiercely struggled to rise and renew the 

 fight. For the fourth time he almost rose up; then Eua, 

 overcome with rage, took a heap of vermin (this he had pre- 

 pared for the purpose, to cover Tama with insult and shame), 

 and rubbed them on Tama-te-Kapua's head and ear, and they 

 adhered so fast that Tama tried in vain to get them out. 

 Then Eua said, ' There, I've beaten you. Now, keep the 

 woman as a payment for the insults I've heaped upon you, 

 and for having been beaten by me.' But Tama did not hear 

 a word he said; he was almost driven mad with pain and 

 itching, and could do nothing but stand scratching and rub- 

 bing his head, whilst Eua departed with his 140 men to seek 

 some other dwelling-place for themselves. If they had turned 

 against Tama and his people, to fight against them, they 

 would have slain them all. These men were giants : Tama-te- 

 Kapua was 9ft. high, Eua vras lift. high. There have been 

 no men since that time so tall as those heroes." 



Mr. C. 0. Davis, in his " Maori Mementos," gives a story 

 which, epitomized, may be rendered thus in English : — 



Tuteamoamo and Waihuka were brothers. The younger, 

 Waihuka, had a very beautiful wife, Hineitekakara. The elder 

 brother was envious, and plotted to destroy the younger and 

 appropriate his beautiful wife. He persuaded Waihuka to go 

 out fishing with him, and managed to leave him in the sea, 

 out of sight of land, to perish. Waihuka, however, after a long 

 struggle, aided by a whale, succeeded in reaching the shore, 

 where he was found by his faithful wife, who had gone to look 

 for his body, supposing him drowned. The reunited pair 

 return to their house unseen by Tuteamoamo, and, by way of 

 preparation for a hostile meeting with his brother, Waihuka 

 essays practice with various weapons. Donning his kahukkvi 

 (kiwi -feather garment), with hair dressed and ornamented with 

 feathers, he seizes his taiaha, and, making passes, appeals to 

 his wife, " Do I handle this well?" She replies, "Very well." 

 He then lays down the taiaha and takes the meremere, and 

 asks, "Do I look well with this?" His wife replies, "Put 

 that weapon down." He then takes the kotiate with the same 

 question, to which Hineitekakara replies, " Nay, it is ill with 

 thee." He tries the hnata, the paraoa poto, and all the other 

 pat2i, repeating his question. His wife answers, " No, thou 

 ' wilt be beaten." Waihuka then grasps his taiaha again, and 

 as it strikes the earth the blade quivers, and Hineitekakara 

 exclaims, " Ha, now thou hast it ! Handle thy weapon so, 

 and thy brother shall fall before thee." In the evening Tute- 

 amoamo came and called to his brother's wife, " Hineiteka- 

 kara ! slide back the door!" "Enter, Tuteamoamo !" said 



