CoLENSO. — On a better Ktwxdedge of the Maori Race. 115 



Once for all, I may say that, in translating those ancient proverbs and 

 proverbial sayings which I now bring before you, I have studied accuracy 

 before elegance, endeavouring also, at the same time (as far as the differing 

 idioms of the two languages will allow), to preserve much of the manner 

 in which the pregnant thought was originally expressed ; such being just 

 as important as the thought itself. In the original, the expressions are 

 arranged for the most part antithetically in distichs, like the Proverbs of 

 Solomon, and, not unfrequently, poetically ; and are truly rich in images 

 borrowed from the whole world of Nature. 



MAOEI PEOVEBBS, etc. 

 I. Relating to Industry. 



1. He tangata viomoe, he tangata mangere, ekore e whiivhi ki te taonga. 



A sleepy-headed lazy fellow will never possess riches. 

 Resembling some in the Proverbs of Solomon. 



2. He kai kei aku ringaringa. 



I can earn my food with my own hands. 

 Lit. I have food in my hands ; or in the use of my hands. 



3. Tama tu, tama or a ; tavia noho, tama matekai. 



The working chief (or son) flourishes ; the idle chief wants food. 

 Lit. Standing chief — living chief ; squatting chief — hungry chief. 



4. He kai tangata, he kai titongitongi kaki ; 



He kai na tona ringa, tino kai tino makona noa. 



Food from another is little and stinging to the throat ; 



Food of a man's own getting, is plentiful and sweet, and satisfying. 



5. He panehe toki ka tu te tangitangi kai. 



A little axe well-used brings heaps of food. 

 This reminds one of the Persian proverb : — " In time the mulberry leaf 

 becomes satin." To have plenty of food for hospitable pm-poses was the 

 greatest of all things with a New Zealand chief, as nothing raised them 

 and their tribe more in the estimation of all. 



6. Takoto kau ana te whanau o Taane ! 



The forest is felled (for planting), the hard work is done. 

 Lit. The children of Taane are lying prostrate. — Taane being the god 

 of woods and forests, the trees were called his children or offspring. 



7. I'ena te ringa tango parahia ! 



Well-done the hand that roots up weeds ! 

 Applied to a steady worker in root-crop plantations. Parahia, a low- 

 spreading weed [C'tenopodiuin pusillum), is particularly plentiful at Taupo. 



8. He mate kai e rokohanga, he mate ami ekore e rokohanga. 



Hunger can be remedied, not so the want of warm clothing. 



