TRAILS FROM THE COAST TO TUTIRA 65 



ing a steep northerly spur, the other proceeding along the Pae-a-Huru 

 for half a mile, when it also turned north ; on the first-mentioned path 

 there are no signs of use, but forty years ago scattered peach-trees 

 and grape-vines survived along the second trail. In early days these, 

 and more rarely other foreign fruits, were planted by travellers as acts 

 of good citizenship. The seeds thus dibbled in flourished extraordin- 

 arily ; blights were unknown, there were no sheep to nibble, no cattle 

 to break down and destroy. 



Leaving the stream-bed when it became a gorge, the last-mentioned 

 track rose by steep gradients up the Te Ngakau-o-Takoto spur, and fol- 

 lowed several leading ranges of the interior of the Tangoio run in a 

 north-westerly direction to " Dolbel's boundary gate," Kai-arero, where 

 the two branches conjoined. Later the track descended from the range 

 CJrumai by precipitous ridges into the valley of the Waikoau. Near 

 that river flourished in the 'eighties a couple of small peach -groves, 

 marking as elsewhere during the second period the unfenced cultiva- 

 tions of outliers, sometimes aged couples whose children had grown 

 up, sometimes solitary individuals. This locality was called Tara-rere. 

 A few yards down-stream from the site of the present bridge our track 

 crossed from the Kaiwaka run to Tutira. It climbed the steep spur 

 Tutae-o-Whenako, and continued along the western side of the limestone 

 streamlet Te Hu-o-Manu. Where this rill joins the main river is situ- 

 ated the cave Oruamano. 



On the right below the high top called Pou-nui-a-Hine is another 

 small cave beneath a limestone projection, in ancient times the home 

 of a kumi. The story is still related by the Ngai-Tatara of a visit by 

 a Waikato chief to Tutira. He had heard of the Jcumi at Pou-nui-a- 

 Hine, but derided the tales that were told concerning its powers. 

 Maybe, however, he was less of a disbeliever than he posed to be. 

 At any rate, he was persuaded by one of the tohungas wizards or 

 priests who had power over the kumi, to visit the spot. They climbed 

 the heights, and eventually reached the projecting ledge beneath which 

 the creature lived, in the likeness, I am given to understand, of a tio 

 a bivalve of some sort. The tohunga then recited the necessary 

 incantations, with the result that the shell gradually opened, revealing 

 a small lizard-like reptile, moko-parae. The Waikato man was interested 

 but still unconvinced. The tohunga recited further incantations, which 

 had the effect of making the kumi visibly grow. The attitude of the 



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