TRAILS ROUND TUTIRA LAKE 85 



cross the brook Waipara, which used to filter through a small raupo 

 and flax marsh. Some hundred yards farther on we reach the flat 

 Otutepiriao, whereon is built the present homestead. On the north 

 of this flat is a low bluff covered with deposits of kakahi shell ; 

 east of it, in thirty feet of water, projects the snag Karuwaitahi. 



Still following our trail, we reach the deepest indentation on the 

 west the bay Te Kopua or Ngaha. On the southern edge of this 

 bay is another bluff, lower in height, called Pari - karangaranga. Te 

 Kopua was in very ancient days the name of this bay, but later it 

 was renamed after the woman Ngaha. Upon her death she was 

 buried in a cavity high above the lake. From this height the 

 taniwha, whose dwelling was in deep water, carried her in her amo 

 or bier. "It is true ; the cave from which the body of Ngaha 

 was torn is still on the hill - top ; one of the poles of the amo 

 protrudes to this day from the centre of the bay. Her little dog 

 Pakiri, changed into a great stone, lies even now submerged in 

 shallow water." 



As amongst other primitive peoples, strange natural phenomena 

 tend to suggest fabulous tales. In two cases cited, caves have been 

 responsible for legends of magicians and monsters. We have now a 

 chasm on the hill originating the story just given, a snag in the bay and 

 a curious rock fragment substantiating the details of the legend. 



Crossing a small flax swamp our trail bifurcated one path 

 running over low barren hill-tops until, on the far side of the hill 

 Ko - te - pakiata, Maheawha, the ancient ford of the stream draining 

 Tutira lake, was reached ; the other track, closely following the 

 lake edge, passed successively spots or localities of land called 

 Okuraterere, Te Kahika, the peninsula Kaiwaka, Te Karamu, Te 

 Maire, and the water-hole Te Korokoro-o-Hineraki. Finally, the two 

 tracks circling the east and west shores of Tutira reunited at the 

 outflowing stream on the lands named Whakarongo - tuna. From 

 this last - named place the north - westerly extremity of the lake 

 a deep slow-flowing creek, Tutira, runs its lazy course, meander- 

 ing towards the ancient ford, Maheawha. Betwixt this crossing and 

 the mouth of the lake it is probable that in olden times more food 

 was obtained than from the whole of the rest of the station : sixteen 

 patunas, or eel- weirs, were known and named in one short half mile 

 of water. 



