124 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
A proverb of deep meaning to a Maori, grounded on legendary lore. 
Used of slander. 
63. Aweawe ana nga korero i runga o Maunga Piware. 
Reports and talks are ever floating in the air over Mount Piware. 
I suspect that this place, ‘‘ Mount Piware," has a highly figurative 
meaning :—1. Pi and ware: pi — young downy nestlings, and ware — any 
thing viscous or sticky, as gum, etc. 2. Maunga has, besides its common 
meaning of mountain, the meaning of fast to, adhering to; so that the full 
meaning may be, reports floating in the air are light and downy, and are 
easily caught and held by soft viscid surfaces. 
Meaning : Don’t believe all you hear. 
64. Tangaroa piri whare ! 
Tangaroa is hiding in the house. 
Tangaroa is one of the great Polynesian gods, and particularly of the 
sea and fishes; is invisible, and hears all; be careful.  ** Walls have 
ears.” 
65. Tangaroa pu-kanohi nui! 
Large-eyed Tangaroa can see all you do, or say. 
66. Kei whawhati noa mai te rau o te raataa ! 
Don’t pluck and fling about to no purpose the blossoms of the raataa 
tree ! 
The raataa tree (Metrosideros ies: produces myriads of red flowers ; 
the small parts of these when blown off by the winds fill the air around : 
so,—Don’t become ashamed when your lying is detected. 
67. Ko Maui whare kino ! 
Yes, Maui with the evil house! or, Just like Maui of the house of 
ill-fame ! 
Schemes and cunning stratagems were planned in Maui’s house, or by 
Maui wherever staying; he was truly the coming deviser of schemes; in 
this respect much after the fashion of Mercury, the son of Maia;* and of 
Proteus. 
68. Ko Maui tini hanga ! 
Yes, Maui of many devices ! 
These last two proverbs were often used in speaking of a scheming, 
cunning person. 
69. Ko korua pea ko Tama-arero i haere tahi mai ? 
Perhaps thou and False-tongue! travelled hither together ? 
70. Korua pea ko Te Arahori, i haere tahi mai ? 
Perhaps thou and False-road came here together? 
* SOPHOCLES ; Philoctetes.—ARisSTOPHANES ; Plutus. —Horace ; Odes, lib. I., 10. 
t Son-of-the-tongue, or, Master-of-the-tongue, would be more literal, but I have given 
the meaning, 
