Cotenso.—Traditions of the Maoris. 7 
kings. His descendants are still residing there, who, also, rest their claims 
to their ancestral estates through their being such. The beginning, however, 
of their genealogical line goes much further back. 
I may also add that this remarkable traditional story I have received in 
two separate narrations from two sources; and, further, that they wonderfully 
agree in all their main points, including, also, the charms, spells, and 
prayers (?) used. 
I. Srorms concerninc Usnovxv. 
Urnvxu was a very great chief of the olden time ; he lived many generations 
back on the East Coast. One of his wives was named Takarita; she was 
the sister of a great chief named Tawheta, who dwelt at large towns (pas) 
of his own, called Matikotai and Porangahau,* also on the East Coast. 
I shall begin my narration with the death of Takarita, the wife of 
Uenuku, who was killed by him because of her great offence ; she having 
committed adultery with two men, named Tumahunuku, and SPE 
Uenuku, being very powerful, not only killed her, but also her two 
paramours. When she was dead, Uenuku cut her open and took out her 
heart, and broiled it on a sacred fire, made at the foot of the carved centre- 
post of his own big house; the name of that house was Te-pokinga-o-te- 
rangi—the overspreading of the sky. While it was cooking at the sacred 
fire, kindled purposely for the solitary bit, namely, at the fire of Takarita, 
Uenuku recited the following spell :— 
. My fire is newly kindled by friction ; 
The land approves of it (or desires it) ; 
Let a fire burn to eat up (a) great chief ; 
Let a fire burn to eat up (a) first-born ; 
Let a fire burn to eat up (a) principal chief (ariki) ; 
Let a fire burn to eat up (a) priest (tohunga) ; 
Let (it) burn ;—but, by whom is the fire? 
= 
PHAN NRX Sp 
a 
i) 
. Let “ ay (throughout) two long ss asblatadtane of the close-quarter-fighting 
an" 
ta is ig ;—on, on, onwards! 
12. My sacred fire is verily kindled by friction. 
13. Above, abroad, (or, on the outside), towards the west ; 
14. Towards the west ; a vengeful desolating principal chief. 
15. Never shall the great chiefs be forgotten by me ; never! 
16. Never shall the firstborns be sae by me; 
17. (An) eater of scraps and leavings ! 
18. The cooking-oven is baking caate 
19, ([ am) roasting away; naked, waiting ! 
* Not, however, the present Porangahau, but a place of the same name north of 
Table Cape, 
