CoLENSo. — On the Moa, 87 



times also have had something to do, among such a di-eadfully superstitious 

 race, with sudden and unaccountable loss of appettite. This remark, how- 

 ever, can only be fully appreciated and considered by those who well knew 

 the ancient Maoris in their old times of superstitious fear and dread ; when 

 everything which happened and could not be satisfactorily accounted for, 

 was immediately placed to the malevolence of some fancied supernatural 

 demon (atua), or human sorcerer (kai-makutu). 



III. Poetry. 



1. In a long and ancient poem, or chaunt, caUed "the Lament of 

 Turaukawa" — in the midst of many similar references to the oldest Myths 

 and Legends — occur these lines : — 



" Kua rongo 'no au 



Na Hikuao te Eoroliiko, 



Ko te rakau i tunua ai te Moa 



'A rewa aana hinu."* 



I have indeed heard (from olden times), 

 That the Korohikot (shrub) was by Hikuao 

 The very tree with which the Moa was roasted 

 When all its fat was melted down. 



2. A lament, or dirge, over the slain, concludes with these words : — 



" Mowairokiroki, ko te huna i te Moa, 

 I makere iho ai te tara o te marama."| 

 Very calm and placid now the raging billows have become. 

 Even as (it were) at the total destruction of the Moas, 

 When the cusps of the new moon dropped off and fell down (to earth). 



3. In another song is a very peculiar reference to the Moa, such as I 



have never heard of or met with anywhere else, except in Hawea's relation 



respecting the use of that one feather (ante). The song itself being very 



short, just one stanza, I shall give it in its entirety with an almost literal 



translation : — 



" E ! muri koe ahiahi ra, 



Tango mai te korero, o namata, 



nahe rawa, o nga kahika ; 



E, kei runga riro, 



Kei a Kahungunu ; 



Ko te manu hou nei e, te Moa, 



Hei tia iho mo taku rangi."§ 

 Alas ! afterwards do thou in the evening hours 

 Produce and begin the talk of old, 

 The story of the very earhest times 

 Of the great ancient men ; 

 Thus let it be, begin with the very beginning of all, 



* Sir G-. Grey's " Poetry of the New Zealanders," p. 324. 



t Korohiko is another name for Koromiko = Veronica, sp. 



I " Poetry of the New Zealanders," p. 180. § " Poetry of the New Zeajanders," p. 133. 



