30 BAPTISMAL INCANTATIONS. [PART I. 



words are evidently incorrectly written, and of 

 others I am unacquainted with the meaning. 



As, however, it was stated by a native to be " a 

 piece of nonsense which he did not understand, nor 

 anybody else, for its mystical expressions were known 

 only to a few," it is probable that some words are 

 very ancient and obsolete. I have not attempted 

 to translate those parts of which I could not com- 

 prehend the import. The sentences may be con- 

 sidered to be pronounced alternately by the priest 

 and a party of girls : 



Girls. Tohia te tama nei. 



We wish this child to be immersed. 

 Priest. Kia riri. 



Let it be sprinkled. 

 Girls. Kia nguha ! te tama nei. 



We wish the child to live to womanhood. 

 Priest. Kani o Tu. 



Dance for Atua. 

 Girls. Me ta nganahau. 

 Priest. Ka riri ki tai no tu. 



It is sprinkled in the waters of Atua. 

 Girls. Ka wakataka te watu. 



The mat is spread. 

 Priest. Kania ma taratara, 



Te hihi ma taratara. 



Dance in a circle, 



Thread the dance. 



The remainder is very obscure. 

 Scarcely anything can be said as to the education 

 of children, which is left almost entirely to nature. 



1 Nguha signifies literally the art of tattooing on the lips of 

 women at the age of puberty. 



