MANNER OF HUNTING THE RAT. 
87 
In former days, the hunting of the rat was an undertaking 
of some importance, and required a large number of persons 
to assist in it, as not only were a great many traps required, 
but also roads had to be cut, which were made with much care, 
as the slightest obstruction was sufficient to ruin the under¬ 
taking. When the hunting party had assembled, this karakia 
was sung 
Taumaha Kirunga, 
Taumaha Ki raro, 
Ki taku matua wakine, 
I ti ai taku kiore, 
Ma te reke taumaha taumaha, 
E taka te po, 
E taka ki tuhua, 
E taka te ao, 
E taka ki Karewa, 
I tutu ai, he kiore, 
Give thauks above, 
Give thanks below, 
To my mother woman, 
My rat squeaks (it is caught) 
Eor thy coming thanks, thanks, 
Night suitable falls, 
Inland it falls, 
Day falls, 
At Karewa it falls, 
What is that standing up ? it is a 
rat. 
The hunting party then cut a line through the forest, 
carrying it up hill and down, however great the declivity. 
This was often many miles long. There were generally two 
roads made, one parallel to the other. Along them were many 
tawiti or traps placed. The first w r as called tamatane, the 
second tamawahine. If a rat was taken in the first, there was 
certain to be a failure along the whole line; but if in the 
second, they then made sure of having most of the traps 
filled. These were baited with miro and other berries; the 
bait was called poa. When the first rat was taken, the fol¬ 
lowing karakia was used :— 
Tai tai ki runga, 
Tai tai e rangi, 
Ko taitai o tu pahua, 
Ko taitai o te wairua toa,* 
Ko taitai unuhanga, 
Tcna ko taka o te wairua toa, 
Marie ki tenci, 
Taitai awa, 
Ko tenei taitai, 
Tap tap above, 
Tap tap upwards, 
The tapping of the hungry, 
The tapping of the strong spirit, 
The tapping which produces food, 
Behold the wairua toa departs, food 
will come, 
Tap tap hungry, 
Thus tapping, 
* The spirit of hunger. 
