106 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



the street by the usual rubbing of noses. They 

 carry their babies strung up on their backs as do our 

 Indian squaws their papooses, and indeed, in the 

 Maori, one is constantly reminded of the American 

 Indian. 



On Rotorua Lake, once a year, high carnival is 

 held. From all the villages of the surrounding coun- 

 try come the Maoris with their babies, tents, and 

 pots and pans, and they camp on the shores of the 

 lake and make merry after the fashion of all nations 

 and all ages. There is foot-racing on the beach, 

 yacht-racing on the lake, and horse-racing on the 

 track behind the town ; but what delights the Maori 

 heart above all else is the great race between the 

 representative war-canoes of the various villages 

 which takes place on the last day and as the crown- 

 ing event of the celebration. It is a fine sight to see 

 these great canoes, manned by forty or fifty men, 

 paddled swiftly across the lake for the honor of their 

 respective towns. The captain of the crew stands 

 in the centre, to give the stroke, and the men, all in 

 uniform, keep the pace with a dash and snap worthy 

 of tried athletes, and great is the rejoicing over the 

 winners. Then there is the "Ha Kahaka Tama- 

 hine," which being interpreted means "The Chase 

 for a Maori Bride." The selection of the young 

 maiden, or wahin6, for this event is no easy task, 



