Wohlers. — Mythology and Tradition* of th* Maori. : *1 



KO NGA KORERO TAWHITO A NGA TOHUKGA MAORI O MUEIHTKU J HE 



ME 



A KOHIKOHI NA REV. J. F. H. "WoiILERS. 



This paper is a copy of the Maori Mythology in the same words as dictated to 

 me by some old Maori wise men; out of which text I translated the paper into 

 English, which has been read before the Oi ago Institute. In that paper I left 

 out several names and passages in which I could not iind a meaning, but they 

 are all here in the Maori text. The language is in the Murihiku dialect, but 

 in the pronunciation I have mostly kept to the general Maori orthography, 

 because that is better for the understanding of the meaning of the words. 



I must also mention here that about the time I was collecting the tales I 

 sent a few specimens of the same to Sir George Grey, and that part of them 

 have been printed in his book in the Maori language. I only mention this, 

 because some, when they see a few passages in that book and in this paper 

 exactly alike, might think I had copied them. It will bo also observed that in 

 Sir George Grey's book those few passages which arc alike are in the 

 Murihiku dialect. All that is here has been collected by myself here in the 



south. 



The old Maori tales, as originally collected by me— written down word by 



word out of the mouths of several old Maori— are bulky, incoherent and 

 rambling, and few readers would have the patience to wade through them. 

 I undertook the labour of collecting and studying them chiefly for the purpose 

 to learn the Maori language and way of thinking. In the following Maori 

 text I have tried to order the narration, and have left out tiresome and useless 

 repetitions, but have retained the essential passages and expressions of the 

 untutored old Maori, as spoken in this diidect, even if the grammar does not 

 seem what it ought to be. This is, I presume, what the Society wishes, namely, 

 a Maori text by the old Maori, and not a modernised Pakeha-Maori text. 

 I have still several old tales which would form a third part. 



I. Tangaroa. 



I noho a Tangaroa i a Papatuanuku.— Ka haere a Tangaroa ki waho, ki te 

 Kahuipuakiaki, ki nga taonga o AYhakitau. Ko hold tera, hoki rawa mai, 

 kua noho te wahine, a Papatuanuku, i a Rangi. Ka hemo mai a Tangaroa ki 

 te huata ; ka hemo mai a Rangi ki te huata. Ka tata mai. Werohia e Rangi 

 ki a Tangaroa, ka ngaro a Tangaroa, ko taha te huata a Rangi. Ka werohia 

 e Tangaroa ki a Rangi, ka whiti te tao te papa o te iramutu, tana rua o ng 

 papa Ttakoto tou a Rangi. Ka tukua te wahine ki a Rangi. 



Inaianei, ka kitea te atua uira, e tu ana i runga o te ngaru o te moana, ko 



Tangaroa ten? 



