CoLBNSo. — On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 143 



at Hawke's Bay. Au old chief, named Te Wereta, who resided at Wharau- 

 rangi, between Castle Point and Cape Palliser, uttered these words, and he 

 got a lion's share of that money — and he lived more than twenty years 

 after. 



Another of similar meaning : — 



201. Maaku te7iei, ma te ra e too a^ia. He aim kei a koe ? Kei te ra e hicru 

 ake ana. 



Leave this for me, for the settuig sun. Why shouldst thou care 



about it ? the sun just sprouting up (or beginning hfe). 



I scarcely recollect a single instance of those words being advanced by 



the aged, (in former years), and not heeded by the younger folks. It always 



seemed, to me, to form an admirable trait in their character ; one, no doubt, 



grounded on ancient custom. 



202. Whangaia ta taaua tuahine, he tangi i a taaua. 



Let our little sister be fed and nomished, to mom-n over you and me 

 (when we die). 

 Meaning : That a widow's mourning is soon over, for she marries again ; 

 but with a sister it is lasting and true. 



This is also eminently shown in the Greek tragedies, by Antigone and 

 Electra. — Sophocles. 



203. Taku hei inripiri, taku hei mokimoki, taku hei tawhiri, taku katitaramea. 



My necklace of scented moss ; my necklace of fragrant fern ; my 



necklace of odorous shrubs ; my sweet-smelling locket of 



Taramea. 



This affectionate and pretty distich was often sung to a little child when 



fondhng it, expressive of love. A short explanation may be given of the 



four plants mentioned in it. Piripiri is a fine horizontal moss-like Hepatic(s 



{Lophocolea novcE-zealandicB and other allied species) found in the dense 



forests ; Mokimoki is the fern Doodia caudata ; Tawhiri is the shrub, or small 



tree, Pittosiwrum tenuifolium ; Taramea is the Alpine plant Aciphylla colensoi. 



From the two last a fragrant gum was obtained ; that, however, fi-om the 



needle-pointed Acip)hylla only through much ceremony, labour, and 



trouble, — and, I may say, pain, — gently indicated in the prefix given to it 



in the chaunt — kati = sudden sharp prick, or puncture. All those scents 



were much prized by the New Zealanders, who wore them in little sachets 



suspended to then* necks. 



204. E iti noa ana, na te aroha. 



(The gift) is very small indeed, still (it is given) from love. 



205. To Kakawai ngako nui, aroaro tahuri kee. 



Ah ! you take my fine fat Kahawai fish [Arripis solar), but you turn 

 away your face from me. 

 Applied to one who receives presents, but retm'ns no love. 



