»,' 



2t) Transactions. —Miscellaneous, 



servants came back, the wives asked, "Have vou seen him?" "Yes." 



" Where is he % " " By the wells." " What is he doing there ? " " He is not 

 alone," said Intelligent Owl, "there is some one with him." "I saw no one 

 with him," said Stupid Owl, " he was quite alone." " He was not alone," said 

 Intelligent Ow], "there was some one with him." "No, there was no one 

 with him," said Stupid Owl. Then Intelligent Owl said, as if in desperation, 

 1 I assure you I saw two heads and four feet." That was enough for the wives ; 

 I hey both got up, each armed with a club, and went to the wells. 



When they were seen coming, Tinirau said to Hine, " There come your 

 sisters-in-law ; now defend yourself." Hine replied, " If they come with evil 

 intent, I shall be a match for them." Then she caught up a flint in one hand 

 and a club in the other, and stood on her defence. First, one of the wives 

 aimed a blow at her head, but missed, because Hine jumped aside, and at the 

 same time struck her assailant with the club and killed her. Then the other 

 wife struck at her, but missed also, and was at the same time killed by Him 

 with the flint in her other hand. 



Now the two lived happily together for some time. In due time also a 

 child was born. But their happiness was disturbed by a brother of Hine, 

 called Rupe. In former heathen times Maori brothers could sometimes b 

 cruel to their sisters, their love to them being of such a selfish nature that they 

 disregarded their sisters' happiness. But this brother appears here more like 

 a spirit than a brother of flesh and blood. One day Tinirau and Hine with 

 their child were sitting in the pleasant shade, and were very happy, cleaning 

 each others heads, when all at once there came a cloud of thick mist, shaped 

 like a large owl. This misty apparition contracted and became a man, who 

 sat down by them and began to cry, as was the custom when long separated 

 friends met again. In the cry the stranger sobbed : 



Rupe — Eupe — the — brother ! 

 Hine — Hine — the — sister ! 



Then Hine answered in her cry : 



That — means me — Hme-te-iwaiwa ! 



Thereupon the brother snatched up his sister and her baby and hastened away 

 with them. Tinirau cried after him, " O Rupe ! bring back our sister f but 

 that was of no avail. 



When Tinirau had somewhat recovered from his surprise and sorrow, 1j 

 thought of a way to follow his wife and child. He had a large tame fish, 

 which was one of his ancestors, called Tutunui, on which he occasionally took 

 a ride over the sea, his pet seabirds accompanying him on such excursions. 

 Vow he went to the sea shore and call I for Tutunui, who soon made hi 



