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NIU. 
in front of the third, and it was according to their position 
that the consul ter ascertained whether any one was travelling 
on the road, whether they were friends or foes, and if the 
latter, whether they would be conquered or not.* 
Different tribes had various ways of consulting the Niu, 
but the practice was general throughout the land. A spirit 
called Korohaha Tu, was supposed to reside in the sticks. 
The following was a karakia used when the divination was 
made with the hands, and therefore called He niu ringa- 
ringa : — 
Kia mana tenei niu ; 
Tenei te niu ka rere ; 
He niu na Paki 
Ko te he kia puta. 
Let this niu be strong ; 
This is the niu, there it goes ; 
A niu of Paki. 
The bad let it be seen. 
Whilst this was being said, the person kept clapping his 
hands together ; if the fingers locked within each other, 
it was a good sign for a party wishing to pass along a road, 
in time of war, they would succeed, and arrive safe ; if, how- 
ever, the finger ends rested one on the other, it was a sign 
they would be stopped; if two of the fingers entered and 
two were arrested, it was a sign they would only meet with 
a travelling party. 
* If the stick representing his tribe fell above the other, it was a favourable 
sign ; if below, a bad one. 
With them, as with the heathen in general, the most trifling things are 
invested with the greatest importance ; thus, the cutting the hair (purei) was 
done with much ceremony, and repeating many spells ; the operator was 
made iapu, for this service, and until he had finished, could not feed himself, 
or engage in any other employment. When the hair was cut, a portion was 
cast into the fire, and the following karakia was uttered : — 
Oe he pikinga he kakenga, Piki mai te rangi tua toru, 
Ka e kei tua, kei waho kei tuatua, Piki mai te rangi tua wa, 
Kei te karawa kei te ranginui e tu nei, Piki mai te rangi tua rima, 
Piki mai te rangi tua tahi, Piki mai te rangi tua ono, 
Piki mai te rangi tua rua, He rangi he hei te uru. — uru. 
This was a karakia to avert the bad effects of thunder and lightning, which 
were supposed to be occasioned by this potent operation. 
The word Niu is also used in Tonga for a divination by means of a cocoa nut, 
which is spun upon the ground, and according to its motions a favourable 
or unfavourable omen is drawn. 
