358 
TENURE OF LAND. 
tribe claimed a right to visit the sea shore, though included 
in another tribe's district, and even to have a fishing station 
close to those of others ; this was something like a part of 
Durham being in Yorkshire. Even amongst the high chiefs 
there was a distinction of those who had only rank and 
descent, and those who had land with perhaps a shorter 
pedigree ; the former were generally interlopers into ano- 
ther's district, who though tolerated on account of their rank 
and permitted to dwell and cultivate land, were not con- 
sidered entitled to claim it as their own ; they were viewed 
as troublesome neighbours, whose company could be well 
dispensed with ; this was the case with the Patutokotoko 
tribe at Wanganui, which dwelt in the midst of the Nga ti 
Hau ; there were always misunderstandings about land, the 
intruders trying to establish a claim, the owners always 
resisting, although the rank of their chief Turoa kept the 
others from coming to an open warfare, especially as he was 
supported by Te Heuheu, the great Taupo chief. 
In former days, cultivation was chiefly carried on under the 
superintendence of chiefs; when parties of visitors arrived, 
they were conducted to the marae, or court in front of the 
head chief or ariki's house, and on such occasions a supply 
of cooked food was contributed by the others, in proportion 
to the number of guests ; in general the inhabitants of a pa 
had their meals in common ; the ariki alone taking his apart, 
being a sacred character. 
There were several different ways of acquiring a right to 
land. A chief had a claim on the spot where any of his 
relations had been murdered, or even killed in battle ; in 
this way Te Rauparaha and Rangihaiata claimed a portion of 
the purchase-money for Queen Charlotte's Sound when sold 
to the Government. 
If a tribe had been driven away and the land occupied, 
that of course was a valid title, and the former owners ceased 
to have any further claim to it, unless strong enough to 
reconquer it. The Nga ti awa were driven away from the 
Waitara district by the Waikatoes, and they went and re- 
sided at Waikanae in Cook's Straits, but many years after- 
