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CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS OF THE MAORI. 769 
interesting matter be obtained anent the customs and strange 
observances of that ancient people who, for unknown centuries, 
have wandered “on from island unto island at the gateways of 
the day.” 
From the unknown Hawaikian fatherland, the ancestors of the 
Maori came in the dim past to seek their fortune on the many- 
isled sea. With dauntless courage they sailed forth in rude 
vessels to explore the ocean world, making voyages of astonishing 
length and settling in many lands, often driving out, or at least 
conquering, the original inhabitants of such lands. But ever as 
they wandered on, they bore with them the strange customs and 
sacred knowledge of their fathers. Though the loved Hawaiki 
had long since sunk down below the far horizon, yet did the hearts 
of the old sea-rovers turn to the west as of yore; albeit,as time 
passed by, the name of the shadowy fatherland was transferred to 
newer and known lands. 
The Maori was in nowise belhindhand in conserving the rights 
and records of the past. Though isolated in these isles for 
centuries, cut off from his northern brethren by a great stretch 
of ocean, yet has he preserved by oral tradition the legends, 
songs, genealogies, and sacred lore of the old-time people who 
roved to and fro on the vast Pacific in the days of the long ago. 
One of the most interesting examples of the sur vival of an 
ancient Eastern ceremony was recently described to me by a 
native of the Ngati-Awa tribe, of the Bay of Plenty District. 
This was the wondrous fire-w alking feat—the strange, unexplained 
power, held by members of different races from India to Fiji and 
Tahiti, of being able to pass through fire, or walk barefooted over 
red- hot stones, without sustaining any injuries therefrom. This 
singular power was doubtless brought from the East in by-gone 
times by the pioneer ancestors of the Polynesian or Melanesian 
people, possibly by both, inasmuch as it obtains among both races 
at the present time. 
STORY OF TE HAHAE, THE FIRE-WALKER. 
In the time of Te Hahae and of Tikitu—that is to say, five 
generations ago—the Ngamaike people were living at Tauranga. 
And it fell-upon a certain day that Te Rangi-kaku, of Te Awa-o- 
te-atua, went forth in his canoe for the purpose of fishing. And 
the winds arose, so that the ocean became violent, so much so 
that the canoe was upsetand Rangi was drowned. His body was 
cast ashore at the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, where it was 
found by Ngai-te-rangi, who cooked and ate it. Te Hahae heard 
of this act, and calling his daughter Rere-wairua to him, he said, 
“Alas! my grandson has been eaten by Ngai-te-rangi. Go you 
to Puketapu, to your brothers, to Ouenuku and Rehe and Tikitu 
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