TRADITIONS AND LEGENDS. 
275 
kind of haka is that of yours which I have heard ; the tribe 
replied upwards to him, is yours skilled in the haka ? he 
answered downwards, it greatly excels in it; and do you 
know the haka? he replied, yes, great indeed is my skill. 
Uenuku said, let him down, and accordingly they lowered 
him ; the tribe said haka then ; but he according to the 
instruction which Tama-te-Kapua had given, did exactly 
what was told him, first the brave man said, brighten up the 
flame of the fire, lest it should smoke ; it was done, they said 
haka now, he replied, I am filthy with the smoke, give me 
some oil, a comb, and a feather to stick in my hair, and a 
garment, then I shall be fit to begin. He arranged his hair 
properly, he took the red garment of Uenuku with his maipi, 
then began to haka ; wonderful was the agility with which 
he twirled himself round ! the wind blowing about his 
feather, he twisted his belt and karakiad, he laid hold of the 
maipi and karakiad, then he danced upwards and karakiad ; 
the haka he performed was surprising, he went first on one 
side then on the other, quite to the door, then to the end of 
the house to the tungaroa ; there he stood, and that brave 
man said, draw aside the door that I may breathe, for I am 
very hot ; they slid the door aside, he stood up, he bounded 
from side to side fco the front of the house, going from side 
to side in his returning inside, the people wondered at his 
agility ; now he twirled about like the wind, twice he went 
up and twice he returned, twice he went inside and twice 
outside, he stood entirely outside ; there sat Tama with the 
sticks in his hands to fasten the door, Wakaturia returned 
inside, he danced again, first on one side then on the other, 
waving about the maipi, then he went to the extreme end of 
the house, then he returned to the door, and bounded out ; 
Tama immediately closed the door, and fastened it as well 
as the window and pihanga ; truly, they heard the cursing 
of the people within, where they were as in a hole, of the 
kakariki, paroquet, in a hollow tree. 
Tama and his brother escaped, the captives had to get a 
person from without to undo the door and let them out, the 
thousand confined within. 
t 2 
