CoLENSO. — Traditions of the Maoris. ^5 



In " the ragged first appearings of daylight," is another very peculiar 

 and poetical use of a common term ; lit. it is, the ends of the irregular 

 strands of scraped flax yarns (ravelings), hanging from the beginning of the 

 weaving of a dress flax garment. 



There are, also, some highly curious coincidences here, agreeing with 

 several interesting particulars in Homer's two descriptions of Ulysses and 

 his two long- shipwrecked boats at sea, each of many days continuance — one 

 in reaching, and one in leaving Ogygia, Calypso's isle (Od., lib. V. and XII.) ; 

 though Ulysses was at one time on a raft, and on another, at first, on part 

 of the wreck of his ship, and afterwards for "two days and two nights " 

 swimming. The coincidences are, (1) Ulysses spurting the brine from his 

 nostrils, etc.; (2) his thoughts, words, and modes of encouraging himself ; 

 (3) the goddess, Leucothea, appearing to him in the shape of a cormorant, 

 and alighting by him (giving him hope) ; and (4) Neptune's big billow, 

 purposely sent, smiting Ulysses ; — though, here, the " big billow," rolling 

 on to do so to Paikea, fled before his invoked ancestor. Of Paul, also, we 

 read, of his having been "a night and a day in the deep; " probably floating 

 on part of the wreck of his ship. 



I would also offer a few brief remarks on this story of Uenuku's son, 

 Kuatapu. 



And first, I would premise, that while the details of a legend are always 

 false, the legend itself always contains a kernel of truth ; a mere invention 

 never becomes a legend. 



Euatapu's revenge is terrible ; but, as I take it, it was not carried out 

 merely to avenge the great insult he had then received from his father, but 

 to avenge his mother's and his tribe's great wrongs. 



If he had succeeded in drowning Paikea also, and then had got safely 

 back to land, which he might have done, in all probability he would have 

 been the head young chief of Uenuku's people; as no one could have 

 told the secret, — that he alone knew. No doubt he was very strong and 

 brave. 



His parting allusions to their home and people ; his belief, and his direc- 

 tions, as to how he should live in their memories and songs ; and his 

 remarks on the annual recurrence of nature's signs on the sandy shore in 

 the summer season, (which he must have often seen there when a merry 

 boy, and perhaps that very time of the year !) and of his being also with 

 them in spirit, and of their festal meetings, and simple home evening diver- 

 sions, — are all of an affecting kind. He left a wife (named Te Kiteora) and 

 (at least) one son (named Hau), who are duly mentioned in several genea- 

 logical rolls, and from him some of the present East Coast Maoris trace 

 their descent. 



