CoLENSo. — On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 125 



71. I haere mai pea koe i te kaainga i a Te Arahori ? 



Perhaps tlion earnest hither from the village of Mr. False-way ? 



72. Korua pea ko Te Tangokorero i haere tahi mai ? 



Perhaps thou and Take-up-talk travelled hither together ? 



73. Xa Tangokorero p)ea koe i tono mai ki konei .<' 



Perhaps thou wert sent hither by Take-up-talk ? 

 Those last five proverbs are very nearly alike in meaning, though used 

 by different tribes. They were made use of when visitors should arrive 

 bringing strange tales, or slanderous ones. I bring them here together to 

 show how largely the ancient New Zealanders dealt with fictitious and 

 figurative characters, to whom they gave highly appropriate names, just 

 as Bunyan, already mentioned. 



74. Ka mahi te tamariki loawahi taahaa ! 



Bravo ! children, smashing youi" (mothers') calabashes ! 

 This saying is often applied to a man who is defaming his own relations, 

 or tribe. 



V. Against Trusting to Promises, Appearances, etc. 



75. Nga korero a era rangi, mahue noa ake I 



Promises of other days, wholly left behind ! 

 " Never trust to fine promises." 



76. He marama koia kia hoki rua ki Taitai 1 



If indeed thou wert like the moon to return a second time to its 

 place of shining ? 

 lAt. A moon indeed ! to return twice to one place (or to Taitai = name 

 of place) ? 



Said to a person who promises to give you something at the next time 

 of meeting; 



77. Poroaki tutata, whakahoro ki tau kee ! 



Last words at parting stand close at hand, deferred by slips to 

 another year ! 

 Said of a person too ready in promising. 



N.B. — The word " whakahoro " — which I have rendered deferred by 

 slips — is here very expressive ; it means to fall by degrees, or to slip, slide, 

 or crumble down, as clayey chffs, etc. ; or to be levelled, as mounds, dykes, 

 etc. 



78. Hohoro i aku ngut^i, e mau ana te tinana. 



My lips were quick (to move), the body being fixed. 

 Meaning : Promises were quickly made, but the body is slow to perform. 

 N.B. — "Body," with the old Maoris, meant more than with us; viz., 

 the whole man, the entirety, the substance, as against the mere lips. Just 



