﻿58 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



horua,' which, as well as the 'Aotea,'liad been constructed by Toto, the father- 

 in-law of Turi, from a log of timber obtained on the banks of a lake (I presume 

 in Hawaiki), ' named Waiharakeke. This canoe (the ' Matahorua ') had been 

 given by Toto to his daughter Kumararotini, the wife of Hoturapa, Kupe's 

 cousin. Kupe killed this cousin, and carried oif his wife, and is said, whilst 

 flying in the ' Matahoi'ua ' from the vengeance of Hoturapa's relatives, to 

 have discovered the Islands of New Zealand, and to have circumnavigated 

 them without finding any inhabitants. 



A curious circumstance is mentioned in connection with this supposed 

 voyage, namely, that near Castle Point the voyagers saw a huge cuttle fish, 

 which fled before their canoe in the direction of Cook Straits, and which was 

 afterwards killed by Kupe in Toi'y Channel. It is somewhat strange that, in 

 the course of last year, accounts reached iis of an enormous cuttle fish, nearly 

 seven feet long, having been found dead on the beach, near Castle Point. 



When Turi, in dread of the vengeance of Uenuku, for having killed and 

 eaten his infant son, determined to leave Hawaiki, he obtained from his 

 father-in-law, Toto, the ' Aotea,' the sister canoe to the 'Matahorua,' and having 

 received from Kupe, who, in the meantime, had returned to Hawaiki, full 

 instructions (the singularity of which will appear in the sequel) how to reach 

 New Zealand, started on his voyage, accompanied by some of his people in 

 another canoe, named the ' Ririno.' We are told, in the legend, that the 

 voyagers took with them, in the 'Aotea,' " sweet potatoes, of the species called 

 Te Kakau, dried stones or berries of the Karaka tree, live edible rats in boxes, 

 tame green parrots (I suppose the Kakariki), pet Pukekos (Porphyrio melanotus) 

 and other valuable things." 



In this account of the "'Aotea's' valuable freight," as it is termed in the 

 legend, we have not only a very remarkable instance of eai'ly labours in 

 acclimatization, but an invaluable clue to the identification of " Hawaiki," and 

 it will certainly be an interesting surprise when some island is discovered in 

 the Polynesian group, producing the Karaka, the Kiore, and the Pu.keko, and 

 in which the two former are used as food by its human inhabitants. Returning 

 to our voyagei's, we are told that they halted on their way at a small island 

 named Pangitahua, where they rested for some time and refitted their 

 canoes. During their stay at this island, they are said to have killed two 

 dogs, (of which they are said to have brought several as being valuable stock, 

 though not mentioned in the ' Aotea's ' manifest), and one of which was devoted 

 to the gods as a propitiatory ofiering, to insure the continued success of the 

 voyage. It appears that when the ceremonies attending this sacrifice were 

 ended, " a very angry discussion arose between Poturu (who had charge of the 

 'Pirino),' and Turi, as to the direction they should sail in. Turi persisted in 

 wishing to pursue an easterly course, saying, ' Nay, nay, let us still sail towards 



