60 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
is sufficiently near to render the history intelligible, though further 
investigation may lead to some alteration being made here and there in 
the sequence of events. i 
The history may be divided into four periods :— 
lst. Prior to the arrival of Waitaha. 
2nd. Waitaha occupation, 1477 to 1577. 
9rd. Ngatimamoe occupétion, 1577 to 1677. 
4th. Ngai Tahu occupation, 1677 to 1827 (the date of 
Rauparaha’s invasion). 
Fabulous Traditions. 
The Kahui Tipua or ogre band, a mythical race, are said to have been 
the first occupants of this island. They are described as giants, who could 
stride from mountain range to mountain range, swallow rivers, and trans- 
form themselves into anything animate or inanimate that they chose. 
The legend of the ogre of Matau (Molyneux) may be taken as a specimen 
of this class of tradition. 
When Te Rapuwai who dwelt at Matau went in small parties of ten to 
hunt for wekas they never returned. Tens and tens went out and never 
came back. Then every one felt sure something was consuming them, but 
what it was they could not tell. A long time passed, and then it was found 
out how these people perished. It was learnt from a woman—the sole 
survivor of one of these hunting parties. She said that on the hills they 
were met by an ogre, accompanied by ten two-headed dogs. After killing 
all the men he carried her to his cave near the river, where she lived with 
him, and in time became covered all over with scales from the ogre’s body. 
She was very miserable and determined to escape; but this was not easy, 
as the ogre took care to fasten her by a cord, which he kept jerking when- 
ever she was out of his sight. As the cave was close to the river, she crept to 
the entrance where raupo grew thickly, and, having cut a quantity, tied it in 
bundles. The next day when the monster slept, she crept out and formed 
the raupo bundles into a raft, then tying the string to the rushes, which, 
being elastie, would prevent the immediate discovery of her flight when the 
cord was jerked. Getting on to the raft, she dropped down the river, the 
swift current bearing her rapidly towards its mouth where her friends lived. ` 
The ogre did not wake for a long time, when he did he called out, ** Kai 
a mio, E! where are you?" Not receiving an answer, he went to the 
entrance of the cave and searched ; not finding any footprints there he 
smelt the water, and at once discovered how she had escaped. Then in his 
rage he swallowed the river and dried it up from end to end, but not before 
Kai a mio was safely housed in her native village. After cleaning herself 
from the scales which covered her body, the woman told her people all she 
