124 Transactions. — MiseeUaneous. 



A proverb of deep meaning to a Maori, grounded on legendary lore. 

 Used of slander. 



63. Aiveawe ana nga korero i runga o Maunga Piivare. 



Eeports and talks are ever floating in the air over Mount Piware. 



I suspect that this place, " Mount Piware," has a highly figurative 

 meaning: — 1. Pt and ivare : jt)i = young downy nestlings, and ware = any 

 thing viscous or sticky, as gum, etc. 2. Maunga has, besides its common 

 meaning of mountain, the meaning of fast to, adhering to ; so that the full 

 meaning may be, reports floating in the air are light and downy, and are 

 easily caught and held by soft viscid surfaces. 



Meaning : Don't believe all you hear. 



64. Tangaroa j^iri u'hare ! 



Tangaroa is hiding in the house. 

 Tangaroa is one of the great Polynesian gods, and particularly of the 

 sea and fishes ; is invisible, and hears all ; be careful. " Walls have 

 ears." 



65. Tangaroa pu-kanohi nui ! 



Large-eyed Tangaroa can see all you do, or say. 



66. Kei ivJiauhati noa mai te rau o te raataa ! 



Don't pluck and fling about to no purpose the blossoms of the raataa 

 tree 1 

 The raataa tree [Metrosideros rohusta), produces myriads of re^i flowers ; 

 the small parts of these when blown off by the winds fill the air around : 

 so, — Don't become ashamed when your lying is detected. 



67. Ko Maui ivhare kino ! 



Yes, Maui with the evil house ! or, Just like Maui of the house of 



ill-fame ! 



Schemes and cunning stratagems were planned in Maui's house, or by 



Maui wherever staying ; he was truly the coming deviser of schemes ; in 



this respect much after the fashion of Mercury, the son of Maia ;* and of 



Proteus. 



68. Ko Maui tini hang a ! 



Yes, Maui of many devices ! 

 These last two proverbs were often used in speaking of a scheming, 

 cunning person. 



69. Ko horua pea ko Tama-arero i haere tahi mai ? 



Perhaps thou and False-tonguef travelled hither together ? 



70. Korua pea ko Te Arahori, i haere tahi mai ? 



Perhaps thou and False-road came here together ? 



* Sophocles ; PMIoctetes. — Abistophanes ; Plutus. — Hokace ; Odes, lib. I., 10. 

 t Son-of-the-tongne, or, Master-of-the-tongue, would be more literal, but I have given 

 the meaning. 



