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The phenomena are similar to those upon Iceland, and as the 
Icelanders distinguish their hot springs as Hverjar, Namur, and 
Laugar, so also the Maoris make a similar distinction, although 
so not quite marked, between Puia, Ngawlia and Waiariki. The 
Hverjar upon Iceland are either permanent fountains, whose boil- 
ing water is continually in a state of ebullition; or intermittent 
ones, whose water shows a vehement ebullition only at certain 
periods, when it reaches the boiling point , while during the inter- 
vals it is in a state of calm repose, its temperature often falling 
connection with the still active volcanoes, though they have clothed their concep- 
tions in the garb of a legend. I here recite the legend such as I heard it from 
Te Heuheu. 
Among the first immigrants, who came from Hawaiki to New Zealand, was 
also the chief Ngatiroirangi (heaven’s runner; or the traveller in the heavens). He 
landed at Maketu, on the Eastcoast of North Island. Thence he set off with his 
slave Ngauruhoe, for the purpose of exploring the new country. He travels through 
the country ; stamps springs of water from the ground to moisten scorched valleys; 
scales hills and mountains, and beholds towards South a big mountain, the Tonga - 
riro (literally “towards South”). He determines on ascending that mountain, in order 
to obtain a better view of the country. He comes into the inland-plains to Lake 
Taupo. Here he had a large cloth of kiekie -leaves tattered and torn by bushes. 
The shreds take root, and grow up into kowai-trees ( luhvardsia microphylla , a beauti- 
ful locust-tree with yellow blossoms, quite frequent in the Taupo district). Then he 
ascends the snow-clad Tongariro; there they suffered severely from cold, and the 
chief shouted to his sisters, who had remained upon Whakari, to send him some 
fire. The sisters heard his call and sent him the sacred fire, they had brought lrom 
Hawaiki. They sent it to him through the two Tariiwhas (mountain and water- 
spirits living underground), Pupu and Te Haeata, by a subterranean passage to the 
top of Tongariro. The fire arrived just in time to save the life of the chief, hut 
poor Ngauruhoe was dead when the chief turned to give him the fire. On this ac- 
count the hole, through which the fire made its appearance, the active crater of 
Tongariro is called to this day after t he slave Ngauruhoe; and the sacred fire still 
burns to this very day within the whole underground passage between Whaikari and 
the Tongariro; it burns at Matou-Hora, Oka-karu, Roto-elui, Roto-iti, Roto-rua, Roto- 
mahana, Paeroa, Orakeikorako, Taupo, where it blazed forth, when the Taniwhas 
brought it. Hence the innumerable hot springs at all the places mentioned. This 
legend affords a remarkable instance of the accurate observation of the natives, 
who have thus indicated the true line of the chief volcanic action upon the North 
Island. Another legend says: — when Maui stepped upon the island fished out 
of the sea (Chapt. X.), he took through ignorance some of its tire into his hand, 
and horrified, flung it into the sea, where subsequently the volcano Whakari arose. 
The ashes of the volcano, Maui scattered about with his feet, and thus the fire 
vomiting mountains of the island .and the numerous hot springs originated. 
