MONOSYLLABIC ROOTS. 
403 
which whalers use to cut up blubber with— the drawknife. 
The word has been naturalized perhaps for half a century ; 
and since that little destructive animal, the mouse, has so 
increased, as to become a pest, for it cuts down the ripened 
wheat with its sharp teeth, and so clean, that, it almost 
appears to have been done with a knife ; the natives have 
bestowed upon it the name of toronaihi , as being most 
descriptive of its destructive powers. 
It appears probable the language was originally monosyl- 
labic; many of the words in Maori may be traced to simple 
roots, and not a few of these will be recognized as those in 
other, and far distant languages ; a few are here given : — • 
Ka — to burn. Ka-pura, seeds of burning fire. Ka-pura, seed. 
Ka-kano, seed or grain. Ka-ha, strength, i.e., breath of fire. 
Ku — narrowing. Ku-iti, narrow. Ku-raru raru , jammed up 
with business. Ku-ku , to pinch. Ku-rehe, to fold up clothes, 
wrinkles. Ku-kuti, to crouch down. Ku-mu ,. anus. Ku-ku , a 
shrinking dread ; pinching up. Ku-papa, to crouch down. 
JV£ — seems to imply the bending of the leaf, as the cocoa-nut 
leaf ; an arch, as of the mouth. Ni-ho, tooth. A-ni-wa-ni-wa , 
rainbow ; the water arch. 
Pa — a fence ; to touch ; ward off ; turn aside. Pa-tu , to touch, 
so as to wound. Pa-re, to ward off. Pa-ia , to turn or push aside, 
a fence. Pa-re-pa-re, a fortification ; a barrier to push away the 
enemy ; hence, Pa-reare, to push away the snow ; a sandal. Pa-re, 
a fillet, or bandage for the head. Taia-pa, a fence. 
Po — night, season ; a measure of time. Po-uri, darkness (the 
offspring of night). Mata-po, blind (the eyes of night). Po-ka, a 
pit, to dig into a bank ; to force through any obstruction. Po-kake, 
to force in an opposite direction. Po-ka-noa, to break through, or 
do any thing without leave ; officious. 
Pei — to hinder; to jump. A-rei, a skreen. Pei-nga , the skreen 
between this world and the next, or a jumping-place. Pei-rei-rua, 
the double jump, or to gallop. 
Pi — root of Ri-nga-ri-nga, hand. Ri-ma, five. Tu-ri, knee. 
Pi-ake, to lift, raise. Pi-ri, anger, or any weapon of war, from 
the agent ri. Pi-aka, to strain the hand in labour. Pi-e, two, the 
two arms. 
dd2 
