26 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
In some other old legends which I have heard, Ruatapu is said to have 
foretold to Paikea, at their parting, of a great approaching flood, which 
would cover all the low-lying lands of the North Island of New Zealand ; 
and that when its signs should appear, the people were to flee to the 
mountain, Hikurangi, near the East Cape. But this, in my opinion, is 
merely a straining and embellishing (after the usual manner) of what 
Ruatapu had said about his own returning (in spirit) to land from the sea 
in the summer seasons ;—immensely strengthened, also, from his high rank, 
and from the fact of those sayings having been his last parting words, which 
always had great weight with the Maori people. 
III. Tue Srory or Houmza. 
In bringing this paper before you to-night, perhaps I should state, in a few 
words, my reasons for selecting this story of Houmea out of many such. 
1. Because that the name and doings of Houmea are often mentioned, 
or alluded to, in old Maori poetry, and that, too, in connection with the 
name of Paikea. Her name is also still used as a warning by the Maoris, 
in their current ‘ household words ” and proverbial sayings. 
2. Because that, according to their genealogies, Houmea was a very 
ancient ancestress of Paikea. (See the Genealogy.) 
3. Because of its high antiquity ; for while (as I have already said) the 
time of Uenuku and Paikea goes back to about a.p. 1000, or 25-27 genera- 
tions, the time of Houmea (as derived from their genealogical rolls) goes 
back to nearly 50 generations ! ! | 
4, Because of the very great scarceness of this ancient tale; it met 
think, unique; as with all my endeavours I could only obtain this one 
relation or copy. 
5. Because it contains a few more of their Charms, Wonders, and 
Miracles. 
Tue Srory or Houmea, a Femace Tarer: a very ancrent Tate. 
Part I. 
Herz is the narration concerning a certain female thief; the name of that 
woman was Houmea, and she was a very extraordinary person, a pest. 
The name of her husband was Ute. 
One day her husband went out to sea in his canoe* to catch fish for 
himself and his wife and their two children ; the name of one was Tuta- 
* Here, throughout (as has been before observed, “ Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. XIII, p._), 
only the persons themselves immediately concerned are mentioned ; but it should be 
understood there were plenty of others,—plebeians, etc. A chief, for instance, could not 
go out alone to the deep sea-fishing in a large canoe. 
