70 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Do not tlioia lament. 

 Untie the string of the garments ; 



Be rough, be strong, the string of the garments of j-ou Uyo. 

 Embrace the rimu pine tree, 

 Embrace the totara pine tree, 

 Embrace the tangled fern. 

 There the post stands ; 

 The post indeed of the separation ; 

 The post of the Sky above : — 

 Be thou made all aglow. 

 For a version of this see Grey's " Poetry," p. 296. 



(1.) According to the Maori cosmogony the Sky and the Earth were 

 anciently man and wife, and Hved conjoined ; but they were forcibly sepa- 

 rated, and that for ever, for the good of man. 



(2.) The last line here (as in that of the first poetical piece, ante) must 

 be taken to mean its direct opposite. 



(5.) 



A soothing Charm, to be recited when the young ivomen are having their lips 



and chins tattooed, — punctured and stained with black Jigtires. 



(Part only, as a specimen ; the whole containing 13 stanzas.) 



Lay thyself quietly down, daughter ! 



(Soon it is done !) 

 That thy lips may be well tattooed ; 



('Tis quickly performed !) 

 For thy going to visit the young men's houses ; — 

 Lest it shoiUd be said, — 

 " Whither, indeed, is this ugly woman going ? 

 Now coming hitherward." 

 Keep thyself still, lying down, young lady 1 



(Round the tap goes !) 

 That thy lips may be well tattooed. 



Also thy chin ; 

 That thou mayest be beautiful ! 



(Thus it goes fast !) 

 For thy going to visit the houses of courtship ; — 

 Lest it should be said of thee, — 

 " Whither does this woman think of going with her red lips. 

 Who is walking this way ? " 

 (Still it is revolving !) 

 Give thyself willingly here to be tattooed 



(Briefly 'tis over !) 

 For thy going to the houses of amusement ; 



(Or) thou wilt be spoken of, — 

 " Whither goes this woman with her bare* lips ; 

 Hastening hither indeed (in that state)." 



Lit. — plain, unadorned, without ornament or covering ; applied sneeringly. 



