TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 389 



An Exile's Lament for his Native Land. 

 Afar the tide of Kawhia laps the shore. 

 Alas ! we are parted now. 

 Over the well-known hills 

 The clouds are creeping slowly up to me, 

 To pass over nie, and join me to thee. 



Land of my childhood, 



Here, from afar, I greet thee. 



The Lament of One forsaken in her Old Age by her Hushand. 

 Sink, sun ! Descend to thy cave. 

 And carry tidings there. 



Alas ! Alas ! 

 Like the flood-tide returning ever. 

 The tears rise in my eyelids, 

 But thou repliest not. 



Alas ! Alas ! 

 The smoke is just now rising from the south. 

 'Tis there Ngawhare dwells, the man I love. 

 Why didst thou lead me thus far, 

 To fling me, like rejected food, aside ? 

 'Twas thou, with smooth, deceitful words, 

 Didst lure me from my home. 

 With lightsome step I followed thee. 



Oh ! why did I scorn Te Wheoro, 

 Betrothed in infancy to me ? 



'Tis now the seventh moon. 



The time when 



The white flowers of the " toe " bloom [on me] : 



The eighth month comes, and they are blown away. 



Alas ! Alas ! 

 The rainbow stands above, the lightnings flash, 

 And I depart. 



Alas! Alas! 



A Lover's Lament. 

 The mists still hang on Pukehina. 

 Along its slopes my lover wends his way. 

 Turn, love, once more, 

 That I may pour forth my tears to thee. 

 I was not the first to speak of love. 

 You deceived me, your inferior ; 

 And now my foolish heart 

 Is beside itself 

 When my eyes rest, love, on thee. 



The following translation is taken from Mr. Colenso's paper 

 in Vol. xiii., Trans. N.Z. Inst., p. 75 : — 



A Love Chant. 

 Rain on, thou rain ! Continue to rain down without there. Here 

 am I within the hut deploring my distress, and comparing [this with that] ; 

 for my eyes are as if supplied with water from a flowing spring. It is the 

 great love I bear to the fond one of my affection that causes these fiery, 

 convulsive pains — the dear one, who is so greatly desired and longed-for. 



