CoLKNSo. — On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 35 



unfrequently done in their language ; and not only so in Maori, but such a 

 conversion of these two letters obtains more or less in the Polynesian 

 dialects generally. This conjecture seems also to be borne out, or further 

 supported, by one of the similar figurative names given to the fern-root, — 

 infra. 



In bringing before you some of the legends and tales concerning this 

 valuable root, I shaU relate them in the following order : — 1. Some of their 

 earliest traditions concerning it; — 2. Some of the beliefs of the Maoris 

 respecting it ; and — 3. One, or more, of their quasi-rehgious prayers, or 

 spells, anciently used by them in their planting it ; all of which, especially 

 the last, are of great interest. 



Of their earliest Traditions concerning the Kimiara. 



First, it has a place in their primitive cosmogony, wherein it is stated, 

 that it descended from the first elements, (or first male and female pair, 

 whence all beings and things came), Rangi and Papa — Sky and Earth, 

 being one of their numerous progeny, equally so with the fern -root.* This, 

 however, is denied by some tohimgas (priests and skilled men), but mainly 

 through the kumara being a ta2m (tabooed, or sacred) plant, while the fern- 

 root is not so ; or, as I take it, the one is a plant only propagated through 

 careful and particular cultivation and preserving, aided by charms ; while 

 the other is indigenous, common, grows wild, and is never cultivated ; 

 notwithstanding, the fern-root also carried a great and high figurative 

 name, viz. — Arikinoanoa =: little first-born lord, or lord of lesser rank, or lord 

 of common things. 



Another cmious old legend has the following : — " This is the reason 

 why the kumara was never joined together with the fern-root. The 

 Kumara is Rongomaraeroa,]- and the Aruhe (fern-root) is Arikinoanoa ; they 

 are both children of Sky and Earth. Eongomaraeroa, or the kumara, was 

 placed as an atua (superior being) to Tumatauenga, or the man ; so that, in 

 case the foe should come against him, the kumara should be ceremonially 

 carried forth and laid in the road the war-party was to come, and there 

 spells were also uttered, through which the war-party, in coming on over 

 the sacred and charmed kumara, would be sure to be defeated, and caused 

 to retreat, through their sacrilegiously trampling on the sacred kumara 

 and spot, I etc. 



* See "Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. XIH., p. 23. 

 t See, below (p. 37) for meaning of this, etc. 

 I Hence, war-parties by land were careful not to travel over the old roads or common 

 tracks, if there were any. See my paper " Historical Incidents and Traditions," Part 11., 

 Uenuku, and the note there, (p. 14 supra). 



