ItE INGA. 
105 
with one of her deceased relatives in it, but she had only 
just time to get into it, before a great bird came and tried 
to stop her; she soon reached the other side, and saw a 
kainga, where they were just sitting down to eat their food ; 
she recognized several of her acquaintance; they offered her 
a fresh-made basket with food in it, but her relative warned 
her not to eat of it, otherwise she could never return ; so when 
they pressed her to eat, she would not touch it, and when she 
looked at the food they had given her, she perceived that it 
was filth. After some time, her relative bid her get up and 
return. She obeyed, and he told her that she might go back 
to the earth, as he wanted her to take care of his grandchild, 
for it was too young to be left, and she was the only relative 
remaining to bring him up. When she stepped into the canoe, 
another tried to stop her, and wanted to go likewise; it was 
her evil spirit. After some time, it was permitted. Her rela¬ 
tive gave her two very fine seed kumara. When she reached 
the shore, the evil spirit likewise wanted to get out, and hinder 
her from doing so, but her relative would not permit him to 
leave the canoe. The banks of the coast were very steep; there 
she saw the roots of the pohutukawa, which she laid hold of to 
pull herself up by, but immediately she had put her hands 
upon them, a number of potiki (infant gods, the most malicious 
of all,) ran up, and were going to pull her down, when she 
bethought herself of the seed kumara, and threw one amongst 
them, and whilst they were scrambling for it, she climbed up, 
but before she could reach the top, they returned; she then 
threw the second kumara amongst them, and thus diverting 
their attention, she reached the top, and escaped, and safely 
arrived at her house, where her spirit again entered her body. 
She got up and tried to open the door, but could not, as it 
was fastened outside. She then managed, though very faint 
with hunger and weakness, to creep out at the window, and 
seeing a bowl with the remainder of the ochre in it, which 
had been used to paint her door, such was her thirst, that she 
drank it all off.* 
There are many stories told of persons who have descended 
* This poor woman appears to have been in a trance. 
