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TRADITION OF KTJPE. 
on arriving at the place, where they expected to find him, 
they discovered that he was from home, but the woman they 
were in search of was within ; they asked her how they might 
most easily capture Matuku. She advised them to place a 
large noose over the door, and to conceal themselves in the 
sides of the house; but she recommended them by no means 
to attempt to catch him by the neck, hut by the waist, as in 
the former part he was too strong to be held. They soon 
heard him coming, for he made the ground shake under his 
feet as he went along. He had a load of human flesh on his 
shoulders, which he threw down as he approached the door. The 
woman called to him, but suspecting some treachery, he said, 
Piro piro haungaimga taku kai, he tangata, 
I scent my food—a man. 
She assured him all was right, so he crept in on his hands and 
knees ; as soon as he got his head and shoulders in, they drew 
the noose tight and secured him. They cut ofi one of his 
hands, but he told them they could not kill him; this he 
repeated, as they chopped off each limb. But when they had 
severed his head, he died, and according to some accounts, was 
changed into the bittern, which still goes by his name. 
When he was dead, the warriors asked the woman how they 
might also capture Witi. She told them where they would 
find the den in which he lived, and said, that if they placed 
a noose over it, and made a noise, the monster would be sure 
to come out and attack them, as he did every one who came 
near his abode. They did as she advised, and when he put out 
his head, they immediately drew the noose tight and despatched 
him with ease. 
The first person who reached New Zealand, is acknowledged 
by all to have been Kupe ; he came in the canoe Mata-o-rua 
to Wanganui-a-te-ra, seeking for his wife Kura Marotina, who 
had been carried off by his younger brother Hoturapa. He 
went from the place of his landing as far as Patea; there he 
The second, Tuirangi, when it reached the sea, it was painted and 
ornamented. 
The third, Pakawai, when it was drawn up on shore. 
