GO Iransactions. — Miscellaneous. 



is sufficiently near to" render the history intelligible, though further 

 investigation may lead to some alteration being made here and there in 

 the sequence of events. 



The history may be divided into four periods : — 

 1st. Prior to the arrival of Waitaha. 

 2nd. Waitaha occupation, 1477 to 1577. 

 3rd. Ngatimamoe occupation, 1677 to 1677. 

 4:th. Ngai Tahu occupation, 1677 to 1827 (the date of 

 Eauparaha's invasion). 



Fabulous Traditions. 



The Kahui Tipua or ogre band, a mythical race, are said to have been 

 the first occupants of this island. They are described as giants, who could 

 stride from mountain range to mountain range, swallow rivers, and trans- 

 form themselves into anything animate or inanimate that they chose. 

 The legend of the ogre of Matau (Molyneux) may be taken as a specimen 

 of this class of tradition. 



When Te Eapuwai v/lio dwelt at Matau went in small parties of ten to 

 hunt for vv'ekas they never returned. Tens and tens went out and never 

 came back. Then every one felt sure something was consuming them, but 

 what it was they could not tell. A long time passed, and then it was found 

 out how these people perished. It w^as learnt from a woman — the sole 

 survivor of one of these hunting parties. She said that on the hills they 

 were met by an ogre, accompanied by ten two-headed dogs. After killmg 

 all the men he carried her to his cave near the river, where she lived with 

 him, and in time became covered all over with scales from the ogre's body. 

 She was very miserable and determined to escape ; but this was not easy, 

 as the ogre took care to fasten her by a cord, which he kept jerking when- 

 ever she was out of his sight. As the cave was close to the river, she crept to 

 the entrance where raupo grew thickly, and, having cut a quantity, tied it in 

 bundles. The next day when the monster slept, she crept out and formed 

 the raxipo bundles into a raft, then tying the string to the rushes, which, 

 being elastic, would prevent the immediate discovery of her flight when the 

 cord was jerked. Getting on to the raft, she dropped down the river, the 

 swift current bearing her rapidly towards its mouth where her friends lived. 



The ogre did not wake for a long time, when he did he called out, " Kai 

 a mio, E ! where are you?" Not receiving an answer, he went to the 

 entrance of the cave and searched ; not finding any footprints there he 

 smelt the water, and at once discovered how she had escaped. Then in his 

 rage he swallowed the river and dried it up from end to end, but not before 

 Kai a mio was safely housed in her native village. After cleaning herself 

 from the scales which covered her body, the woman told her people all she 



