308 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. Pan. 
one extraordinary phallic rite by means of which the shafts of black magic 
may be warded off. He also provided me with a charm that causes such 
shafts to recoil on and slay the wizard. He urged me to rely on these 
in order to protect my life-principle. Sad to relate, I do not seem to 
possess the necessary mana, for no single person I have tried them on has 
yet died. 
When a tribe was about to tread the war-path it was considered desirable 
to ascertain the result of the coming fight, as to which clans would suffer, 
and the extent of such Joss. It was at such times that the raurau rite 
proved to be a most useful institution. The performance of this rite by 
a seer ( matakite , matatuhi) was remarkable for its simplicity and efficacy. 
He first constructed a small earthen mound for each hajpu (sub-tribe, or clan) 
about to take part in the fight. He stuck in the top of each mound a green 
branchlet of karamu ( Coprosma ), and in front of each mound he placed a 
Fig. 1.—The raurau rite. 
small stick on the ground endwise on to the mound. The next act of the 
expert was to recite the formula, or charm, that had the effect of inducing 
the gods to exercise their powers and send the answer to the acted query. 
This appeal to the gods had, I am informed, a remarkable effect. The 
small sticks lying in front of each mound could be seen slowly advancing, 
gliding along the surface toward the mounds, as though to attack them. 
The leafy branchlets stuck in the mounds, each of which represented a clan, 
now gave evidence as to the fate in store for each. For every man of 
a clan who was doomed to fall in the coming fray a leaf would fall 
from the branchlet of Coprosma representing that clan. The onlookers 
would eagerly watch the branchlets in order to see what fate held in 
store for them, for this rite, unlike many, seems to have been performed 
in public. 
The important feature about this and similar ceremonies is that the 
gods were believed to be thg motive power behind the moving sticks and 
falling leaves. As to how the operator caused them to so move and fall, 
if they really did so, I have no information. 
