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over the watery plain, and where they met together from opposite 
directions , eddies were formed from which the spray was dashed 
high into the air. Whoever happens to he overtaken by such 
weather in a canoe upon the lake, is irrevocably lost. The lake, 
therefore, for the imperfect vessels of the natives, — here called 
tiwai, — is much more dangerous, than even the open sea, be- 
cause the fresh water is much more easily stirred up by the wind 
than the saltwater, forming short, tumbling waA r es; moreover the 
shores present but few landing-places. The natives therefore, are 
extremely cautious, venturing on longer trips, only, when they can 
safely rely upon serene weather. Nevertheless fatal accidents are of 
frequent occurrence, and every dweller near the treacherous water 
tell of cases , when he had a hair-breadth escape from the grasp 
can of the hungry sea-sprite (Taniwha) Horomatangi, haunting that 
spot, according to tradition, and stirring up bad weather. 
Horomatangi is said to be an old man and as red as fire. 
Thus the natives assert to have seen him. He lives in a cave on 
the island Motutaiko in the lake. There he watches the passing 
canoes , dashing forth from his lurking-place as soon as he espies 
(me. He churns up the water into mad surges bubbling up like 
the big spout Pirori near Tokanu; together with the water he throws 
up large stones, which falling upon the passing canoes upset them. 
He devours whatever comes within his reach ; carrying on his work 
of treachery and destruction both in fine and bad weather. The 
natives point out a place, situated almost in the centre of the lake 
between the island Motutaiko and Te Karaka Point, as chiefly dan- 
gerous, avoiding even in the finest weather to venture here too 
close to the haunt of the evil spirit. Even when the general surface 
of the lake appears smooth , the water on tins spot is in boiling 
commotion ; in stormy weather it appears as one large patch of 
foam. The canoes passing over it are said to be turned from their 
course. These phenomena being real matters of fact, the observer 
might be tempted to suppose the existence of a spouting submarine 
spring at that place, or even of submarine volcanic eruptions; for 
such an explanation, however, further indications are wanting, and 
