64 Travsactions. — MisceUan eons. 



covered over with a network formed of saplings, and under this he placed the 

 fifty men armed with spears and thrusting weapons, while he himself as 

 soon as it was light, went out to lure the Pouakai from its nest. He did 

 not go far before that destroyer spied him, and swooped down upon him. 

 Hautere had now to run for his life, and just succeeded in reaching the 

 shelter of the network when the bird pounced upon him, and in its violent 

 efforts to reach its prey, forced its legs through the meshes, and becoming 

 entangled, the fifty men plunged their spears into its body and after a 

 desperate encounter succeeded in killing it.''' 



The Waitaha, after a peaceful occupation of what was then known as the 

 "food-abounding island," were obliged to resign possession of it into the 

 hands of Ngatimamoe, and were ultimately destroyed or absorbed by them. 

 Ngatl ma moe a.d. 1577 to a.d. 1677. 



The origin of the Ngatimamoe is nearly as obscure as that of their 

 predecessors. Like them they came from the North Island, being probably 

 driven down before a stronger tribe. Their pitiless treatment of Waitaha 

 was afterwards repeated upon themselves by the stronger and more warlike 

 Ngai Tahu. Their destruction of the Waitaha and their own subsequent 

 destruction, accounts for the absence of all traditions relating to the visit of 

 Abel Tasman in 1042. Just as the destruction of the tribes inhabiting the 

 shores of the straits by Eauparaha in this century, explains why no account 

 of Captain Cook's visit in 1769 has been preserved amongst the natives now 

 residing in that neiglibomdiood. 



From the natives at the extreme south of the island, I obtained a 

 genealogical table which traces their origin to the ofl'spring of Awatopa. 

 The following legend states the cause of their leaving the other island : — 



Awatopa and Eauru were brothers, sons of Euarangi and Manu tai 

 hapua. They both commenced to build houses for themselves at the same 

 time. Eauru was the first to finish ; and having performed the ceremonies 

 of purification, he announced his intention of going off on a voyage. His 

 elder brother begged him to wait till he had completed his house, but this he 

 refused to do, and, overcome with rage at his refusal, he killed him. The 

 tribe hearing of what had taken place, avenged Eauru by killing Awatojpa. 

 This led to the secession of three families, children of the elder brother, 

 namely — the Puhi kai ariki, Puhi manawanawa, and Matuku herekoti, 

 who came south. The rest of the tribe remained behind. Eelationship is 

 claimed by the descendants of Ngatimamoe with Waikato through a Puhi of 



* Wereta Tainui, of Greymouth, says that near Inangaliua there is a phice called the 

 Pouakai's Nest, and where tradition tells of one being killed. Ii-ai Tihau of Wairewa saw 

 at Poupoiitunoa in Otago, in 1848, near the river Kaeaea, what was said to be a Pouakai's 

 nest. The name may be translated the " old glutton." 



