Stack. — Traditional History of the South Island Maoris. 75 



caught a wliite crane, wliicli kicked him in the chest while vainly struggling 

 to get fii-ee. Interpreting this di-eam to mean that he was destined to over- 

 come some famous Ngai Tahu warrior, he went to a neighbouring stream 

 to bind the omen, and then eager to distinguish himself summoned his 

 followers and took his departure for the seat of war. In the crisis of the 

 battle when Eakai tauwheke was slaying those to the right and left of him 

 with his taiaha, Kana te pu, watching his opportunity, sprang upon his 

 shoulders, and held him so firmly that he could not draw his arms 

 back again. He tried in vain to shake him off, but by a sudden movement 

 of his hands he jerked the point of his weapon against the head of his 

 opponent, and then, by a violent contortion of the body, succeeded in inflict, 

 ing a mortal wound, and the white crane fell dead at his feet. 



After the defeat of Ngatimamoe at Te Whae, or battle of the ray-barbed 

 spears, peace was restored for some years, and Ngai Tahu were permanently 

 settled at Wairau. 



But trouble was brewing for Ngatimamoe in a quarter whence it was 

 least expected. 



For many years two Ngai Tahu chiefs had lived amongst them, and 

 having married their women were regarded as being thoroughly identified 

 with them. One appears to have been of a moody sullen disposition whilst 

 the other was quite the reverse, and made himself so popular that he was 

 elected chief of the hapu with whom he lived. Apoka lived a solitary life 

 with his two wives and a few slaves while Tu te uretii-a ruled a X)a contain- 

 ing three hundred Ngatimamoe. Apoka's ground was too poor to cultivate 

 and game rarely frequented the woods in his neigbourhood. He was forced 

 to depend for subsistence on fern root. He bore his privations cheerfully 

 till his suspicions were aroused that his wives partook of better fare than 

 they chose to set before him. He daily noticed that their breath gave 

 evidence of their having eaten some savoury food. He remarked that 

 although they paid frequent visits to their relatives who resided at a place 

 celebrated for the variety and j)lenty of its supiolies, they never brought 

 anything to vary the sameness of his diet. He was convinced these visits 

 were made to re]plenish secret stores concealed from him by his wives at the 

 suggestion of then- people, who perhaps thought that if he once tasted the 

 good things of Waipapa he might advise his tribe to take possession of it by 

 force. His wives when questioned indignantly denied that they ate any- 

 thing better than the food given to their lord. Convinced, however, that 

 they deceived him, and brooding over his wrong, he resolved to seek his 

 cousin's advice. On drawing near the settlement he found Tu te uretira in 

 the midst of a large kumera plantation urging on the labours of a hundred 

 men. Ills cousin asked whether he should cause the men to desist from, 



