CoLenso.—On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 43 
them two roots of kumara, which he planted with the proper charms and 
ceremonies, and from these the whole country was in course of time 
supplied, so that both his own son, Kahukura, and all besides were amply 
fed with this good vegetable food. 
(e.) A still more romantic version of this last story is the one held by 
the Urewera tribes living in the mountainous interior, which would be 
hardly worth relating were it not for their isolated situation, shut up far 
away from other tribes among the mountains and forests, and for the fact 
of its containing several of the very special names of the prized varieties of 
kumara formerly cultivated by the Maoris, both North and South: those 
very varieties, too, belonging to the widely different sorts—showing their 
antiquity. They say,—‘ that Pourangahua went after his brothers-in-law 
to ‘ Hawaiki;’ that his canoe being gone, he went thither on two pet birds, 
named Tiurangi and Harorangi, the property of a chief named Ruakapanga, 
who lent them to him for the oceasion. That Pourangahua brought away 
thence from two cliffs, called Pari-nui-te-ra, and Pari-nui-te-rangi,* the 
following seven varieties of kumara, viz., Kawakawatawhiti, Toroamahoe, 
te Tutaanga, te Kiokiorangi, te Tutaetara, te Monenehu, and te Anutai.t 
That the roots brought to New Zealand by Pourangahua lived and flourished ; 
but that those which had been brought by his brothers-in-law did not grow.” 
I remember well, when first travelling in those parts in the interior, 43 
years back, (being the first European visitor among them), the many 
questions respecting the kumara and its first introducers which were put to 
me by the tohungas, ‘‘ as posers to test my knowledge,” (as they subsequently 
informed me), and their great earnestness respecting them. 
(3.) 
A Charm, or Invocation, used at the Planting of the Kumara Roots. 
1. Now (is) the planting-season favourably indicated from the sky (of the) main- 
land ; 
2. Now (is) the season (for) planting favourably indicated from the sky (of the) 
ocean. 
3. Verily, and now it is from (or according to) Raukatauri, together with Rauka- 
tamea, 
4, (And) Maitiiti,t (and) Marekareka :— 
5. Ye sought it out; . 
6. And it was divulged (or caused to creep silently) abroad by thee 
* Great-cliff-(of-the)-sun, and Great-cliff-(of-the)-sky. The name of a high cliff on 
the East Coast, between Tolaga Bay and Poverty Bay, is Pari-nui-te-ra; this is, also, 
Cook’s Gable-end-foreland. 
t See “ Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. XIIL, pp. 34, 35. In the list there given, however, 
there is Anurangi for Anutai; but the root-meaning of both words is the same, 
{ One MS. has it, Mahitibiti, 
