316 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Lit. Famine can be overtaken, sharp feeling of bitter cold can not be 

 overtaken. 



N.B. — Here, bear in mind, that all the garments of the New Zealanders, 

 whether made from their flax fibres, or the skins of their dogs, took them a 

 very long time to make ; and the majority were but poorly clothed. 



9. He toa taua, mate taua ; he toa piki jjari, mate pari ; he tea ngaki kai, ma 



te huhii tena. 



The warrior is killed in war ; the fearless scaler of lofty cHffs (in 

 search of sea-fowl) is dashed to pieces ; the industrious hus- 

 bandman hves long and dies peacefully of old age. 

 Lit. The hero dies in fight ; the climber of precipices by a fall ; the 

 cultivator of food by worms — meaning old age, or gradual decay. 



N.B, — This bears out Cook's statement: Vol. III., pp. 460,461. Here 

 is another of similar meaning : — 



10. He toa paheke te toa taua ; tena ko te toa mahi kai ekore e paheke. 



The warrior stands on insecure footing {or slippery is the fame of 

 the warrior) ; biit the industrious cultivator of land will never 

 slip or fall. 



11. Ma pango ma where ka oti. 



Through chief and slave working together with a will the work will 

 be done. 

 Lit. By black (and) by red finished. 



The slaves and plebeians, naked and unwashed, were black enough; the 

 chiefs used red pigment to anoint themselves. 



12. Maramara nui a Mahi ka riro i a Noho. 



The big chips are hewn off by Worker, but the food is taken and 

 eaten by Looker-on, or Do-nothing, or Idler. 



Lit. Worker (has) big chips gone with Squatter ! 



This proverb is so cleverly constructed as not to give offence to a highly- 

 sensitive race, with whom a cross word, or gesture, or look, respecting 

 food, was quite enough to cause serious disturbance : here, however, so 

 much has to be inferred — "If the cap fits wear it." This is used when 

 men are hard at work hewing timber for a canoe, house, etc. ; at which 

 time some are sure to be idly squatting-by looking-on ; and when the 

 cooked food for the workmen is brought in baskets, those squatters are 

 often the first to fall-to ; and to this, also, no exception can be taken ! 



13. Kahore he tarainga tahere i te ara ! 



You cannot hew a bird-spear by the way. 

 Meaning : Without timely preparation you may die for want of food. 

 Birds were formerly speared in great numbers in the woods ; but to make a 

 proper bird-spear took a long time, and (to me) was one of the wonders of 

 old! . 



