SrAck.— Traditional History of the South Island Maoris. 75 
caught a white crane, which kicked him in the chest while vainly struggling 
to get free. Interpreting this dream to mean that he was destined to over- 
come some famous Ngai Tahu warrior, he went to a neighbouring stream 
to bind the omen, and then eager to distinguish himself summoned his 
followers and took his departure for the seat of war. In the crisis of the 
battle when Rakai tauwheke was slaying those to the right and left of him 
with his taiaha, Kana te pu, watching his opportunity, sprang upon his 
shoulders, and held him so firmly that he could not draw his arms 
back again. He tried in vain to shake him off, but by a sudden movement 
of his hands he jerked the point of his weapon against the head of his 
opponent, and then, by a violent contortion of the body, succeeded in inflict. 
ing a mortal wound, and the white crane fell dead at his feet. 
After the defeat of Ngatimamoe at Te Whae, or battle of the ray-barbed 
spears, peace was restored for some years, and Ngai Tahu were permanently 
settled at Wairau. 
But trouble was brewing for Ngatimamoe in a quarter whence it was 
least expected. 
For many years two Ngai Tahu chiefs had lived amongst them, and 
having married their women were regarded as being thoroughly identified 
with them. One appears to have been of a moody sullen disposition whilst 
the other was quite the reverse, and made hithself so popular that he was 
elected chief of the hapu with whom he lived. Apoka lived a solitary life 
with his two wives and a few slaves while Tu te uretira ruled a pa contain- 
ing three hundred Ngatimamoe. Apoka’s ground was too poor to cultivate 
and game rarely frequented the woods in his neigbourhood. He was forced 
to depend for subsistence on fern root. He bore his privations cheerfully 
till his suspicions were aroused that his wives partook of better fare than 
they chose to set before him. He daily noticed that their breath gave 
evidence of their having eaten some savoury food. He remarked that 
although they paid frequent visits to their relatives who resided at a place 
celebrated for the variety and plenty of its supplies, they never brought 
anything to vary the sameness of his diet. He was convinced these visits 
were made to replenish secret stores concealed from him by his wives at the 
suggestion of their people, who perhaps thought that if he once tasted the 
good things of Waipapa he might advise his tribe to take possession of it by 
force. His wives when questioned indignantly denied that they ate any- 
thing better than the food given to their lord. Convinced, however, that 
they deceived him, and brooding over his wrong, he resolved to seek his 
cousin’s advice. On drawing near the settlement he found Tu te uretira in 
the midst of a large kumera plantation urging on the labours of a hundred 
men. His cousin asked whether he should cause the men to desist from 
