116 Transactions.— Miscellaneous, 
Lit. Famine can be overtaken, sharp feeling of bitter cold can not be 
overtaken. 
N.B.—Here, bear in mind, that all the garments of the New Zealanders, 
whether made from their flax fibres, or the skins of their dogs, took them a 
very long time to make; and the majority were but poorly clothed. 
9. He toa taua, mate taua ; he toa piki pari, mate pari ; he toa ngaki kai, ma 
te huhu tena. 
The warrior is killed in war; the fearless scaler of lofty cliffs (in 
search of sea-fowl) is dashed to pieces; the industrious hus- 
bandman lives long and dies peacefully of old age. 
Lit. The hero dies in fight; the climber of precipices by a fall; the 
cultivator of food by worms—meaning old age, or gradual decay. 
N.B.—This bears out Cook's statement: Vol. IIL, pp. 460,461. Here 
is another of similar meaning :— : 
10. He.toa paheke te toa taua ; lena ko te toa mahi kai ekore e paheke. 
The warrior stands on insecure footing (or slippery is the fame of 
. the warrior); but the industrious cultivator of land will never 
slip or fall. 
11. Ma pango ma whero ka oti. 
Through chief and slave working together with a will the work will 
be done. 
Lit. By black (and) by red finished. 
The slaves and plebeians, naked and unwashed, were black enough; the 
chiefs used red pigment to anoint themselves. 
12. Maramara nui a Mahi ka riro i a Noho. 
The big chips are hewn off by Worker, but the food is taken and 
eaten by Looker-on, or Do-nothing, or Idler. 
Lit. Worker (has) big chips gone with Squatter ! 
This proverb is so cleverly constructed as not to give offence to a highly- 
sensitive race, with whom a cross word, or gesture, or look, respecting 
food, was quite enough to cause serious disturbance: here, however, so 
much has to be inferred—“ If the cap fits wear it.” This is used when 
men are hard at work hewing timber for a canoe, house, etc. ; at which 
time some are sure to be idly squatting-by looking-on ; and when the 
cooked food for the workmen is brought in baskets, those squatters are 
often the first to fall-to; and to this, also, no exception can be taken ! 
18. Kahore he tarainga tahere i te ara! 
You eannot hew a bird-spear by the way. 
Meaning: Without timely preparation you may die for want of food. 
Birds were formerly speared in great numbers in the woods; but to make a 
proper bird-spear took a long time, and (to me) was one of the wonders of 
old ! 
