TRAILS ROUND TUTIRA LAKE 87 



Conditions of eel-fishing on Tutira were remarkable, perhaps unique. 

 As has been explained, in ancient times the waters of the considerable 

 Papakiri stream never directly reached the lake ; they soaked through a 

 morass of several hundred acres, finally dripping into the creek Tutira, 

 the creek that carries off the surplus water of the lake. The Maoris 

 believe that in this great sponge of peat and root-fibre lived immense 

 numbers of eels which never visited the lake, and which communicated 

 with the creek by means of holes in the banks. They state, in confirma- 

 tion, that although eel-weirs built on the bank require the whole width 

 of the stream Tutira, catches as heavy are obtained in the lowermost as 

 in the uppermost patuna. There were, at any rate, three sorts of eels 

 distinguished : the common lake kind tatarakau ; another, also from 

 the lake, rarely caught, much larger, and bronze in colour riko ; and 

 thirdly, the eel of the creek Tutira pakarara. The bellies of the two 

 kinds of lake eels were, when taken, full of food, chiefly, I gather, a small 

 water-snail ; those of the creek eels were invariably empty. The 

 pakarara, when opened up and sun-dried, would keep for four or five 

 days, the tatarakau and the riko for as many weeks. 



In view of the fact that the pursuit and capture of the tuna was a 

 most important part of the life of old New Zealand, it is further worth 

 mentioning that in one patuna Maheawha, where the waters of the 

 creek Tutira once again begin to run violently, its owner had to watch 

 all night, taking each eel as it arrived, out of the hinaki. In all others 

 an eel once ensnared was secure ; at Maheawha only did eels seem able 

 to find the exit as readily as the entrance. 



Rights to these eel-weirs descended from father to son, but this 

 natural transmission of property could be disturbed by force, as in the 

 case of Tutata, or donated from the common property for deeds of arms, 

 as in the case of Pohaki. These stories, dictated to me by Anaru Kune, 

 are as follows : 



" Two brothers, Rere and Hongi, went down to set their eel-pots. 

 Now in this patuna the waters could spread abroad in flood- time. These 

 brothers selected the best opening and set their pots, spread like a man's 

 fingers facing the stream. They were at work lashing on the purangi or 

 guiding net to the breastwork when a man called Tutata claimed that 

 particular spot for himself. Getting bad words, Tutata leaped into the 

 stream, and seizing Hongi by the neck, held his head down. "When 

 Rere came to help his brother his head was also put under the water till 



