Stack. — Traditional History of the South Island Maoris. 85 



Taking Possession of the Land. 



These young chiefs having ascertained from persons famihar with the 

 physical features of the coiintry the names of tlie various locahties, pro- 

 ceeded to divide the unallotted loart of the country amongst themselves. 

 And their procedure on this occasion is of particular interest, as it serves 

 to illustrate one method by which the Maoris acquu'ed title to land. 



Kakapo skins were at that time highly prized, and every one of the party 

 was desirous to secure a preserve for himself. As they approached the 

 mountain known as Whata arama, they each claimed a peak of the range. 

 " That is mine," cried Moki, " that my daughter, Te ao tukia, may possess 

 a kilt of kakapo skins to make her fragrant and beautiful." " Mine," cried 

 Tane tilii, " that the kakapo skins may form a kilt for my daughter Hine 

 milii." "Mine," cried Hikatutae, "that the kakapo skins may form a 

 gu'dle for my daughter Kaiata." Moki, one of the party, had his servant 

 with him, who whispered in his ear, "Wait, do not claim anything yet;" 

 and then the man climbed up into a tree. " What are you doing ?" said 

 the rest of the party. ' ' Only breaking off the dry branches to light our fire 

 with ;" — but he was in reality looking out for the mountain Turakautahi 

 had told his master was the place where the kakapo were most abundant. 

 Presently he espied the far-famed peak, "My mountain Kura tawhiti!" 

 he cried. "Ours!" said Moki. The claim was at once recognized by the 

 other members of the exploring expedition, and Moki's descendants have 

 ever since enjoyed the exclusive right to hunt kakapo on Kura tawhiti. 



Hostilities against Ngatimamoe were renewed on the arrival of these 

 young chiefs and the infusion of new blood into the Ngai Tahu war counsels. 

 An expedition under the command of Moki w^as sent in the canoe Makawhiua 

 against Parakakariki on the south-eastern side of the peninsula. After 

 destroying that pa Moki returned to Koukourarata, where he landed and 

 proceeded over the hills to Waikakahi, where Tu te kawa, who killed his 

 grandfather's wives, was still living, though now a very old man. This 

 chief, whose flight south has already been mentioned, settled first at 

 Okohana because eels were plentiful there, but finding those of Waihora 

 were of a better quality, he removed to the shores of that lake, and built a 

 pa at Waikakahi, while his son Te Eangitamau buUt another at Taumutu. 

 Surrounded by his allies and at such a great distance from his enemies, 

 Tu te kawa thought himself quite safe ; but the avenger of blood was already 

 on his track, and he was doomed to die a violent death. The shadow of 

 Moki's form across his threshold was the first intimation of immediate 

 danger which the Waikakahi people had. The old chief, infirm and helpless, 

 was found coiled up in his mats in a corner of his house, and a natural 

 impulse prompted Moki and his brothers at the last moment to shield their 



