CorENso.—On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 141 
The mountain’s summit can be climbed by man; the waves of the 
ocean ean be topped by a canoe; the human mount cannot be 
scaled by man. 
Meaning: If he had sought shelter on the mountain, or at sea, we 
could have followed him ; but being sheltered by a great chief, we cannot 
follow him there. 
N.B.—Note the play on the three debe culo: which are wholly 
lost in translation. 
XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
188. I motu mai i whea ? te rimu o te moana. 
Whence was the drifting sea-weed torn? 
Sometimes used of a stranger. 
184. He rimu pae noa ! 
A sea-weed driven about ! . 
Used by a wanderer concerning himself. I have known this saying used 
in a very melancholy way by a young man, a lover, when discarded by his 
love, and he travelling from place to place to forget his grief. It struck me 
as being very poetical. 
185. I taia to moko ki te aha ? 
To what purpose was your face tattooed ? 
A cutting sarcasm to a finely tattooed man, when he acts cowardly or 
meanly. As only nobles and chiefs were tattooed. 
186. Kapaa ianei he matua whare e hinga ana, ka hangaa ano, kua oti ; ano ko 
te marama kua ngaro, kua ara ano. 
If indeed your father had fallen like a house, then he could be raised 
again and finished anew ; or if he were as the moon and died, 
then he would return again. 
This saying was too often used by the watchers around a dead chief to 
his children, to keep up their incessant wailing for their father. 
187. Ka tata ki a koe nga taru o Tura ! 
The weeds of Tura are near thee ! 
Meaning: Thou art getting grey-haired. Tura was a grey-headed man 
of old; his story is a highly curious one. 
188. Ka ruha te kupenga, ka pae kei te akau. 
When the fishing-net gets old, it is drifted on the shore. 
Said by an old woman to her husband who neglects her. 
Another of similar meaning :— 
189. He kaha ano, ka motumotu ! 
A rope indeed, but become old and broken up ! 
Meaning: My beauty and strength are gone, I can no longer serve you, 
You love a younger wife, 
