PROVERBS. 
131 
Zealand Stork, is so rare, that tlio natives say, a person can 
only expect to see it once in his lifetime. This is applied to 
a great stranger. 
53. Ka pa he ra e hum mai ana; tena, he ra e heke ana. 
If it was a sun just appearing, well; hut it is a sun which is 
setting.—When an old man is very ill, there is little hope ; 
but there is with youth, that he will live to grow up; with 
old age, the day wanes, it is near its close. 
54. He iti, he iti Kahikatoa. 
Though small, it is still a Kahikatoa.—A man should not be 
despised on account of his diminutive size; for he may be like 
the Kahikatoa fLeptospermum scopariumJ, which, though only 
a small tree, is remarkable for its strength and toughness. 
55. Ka roa te ngaromanga, he iti te putanga. 
Though long hidden, it will be small when it appears.—This 
applies to a man of words, but not of deeds: also to a 
war party, which, when large, is confident of success, and 
immediately sets out; but, when small, it is a long time 
hesitating. 
56. He ringa miti tai heke. 
A hand which licks up the ebb tide.—A Wanganui saying for 
the people who live on the banks of the river, within the 
influence of the tides. Being accustomed to contend with the 
ebb tide, they can manage their canoes better than the natives 
of the interior. 
57. Tino kai, tino ora te kopu. 
By a constant supply of food, the stomach will be always full._ 
A man may indeed eat plentifully at a feast for a day or two; 
but he who has the produce of his labour stored up, will 
never want. 
58. Papaku a ringaringa, hohonu a korokoro. 
The hand is shallow, but the throat is deep.—A saying for a 
person who eats a great deal, but is too lazy to work. 
59. He wahine ki uta, he kahawai ki roto ki te wai. 
A woman on shore; a kahawai in the sea.—The kahawai is 
a fish which is very particular in selecting the hook which 
most resembles its food, and woman is the most difficult to 
please on land; hence the saying, “As a kahawai selects the 
hook which pleases it best out of a great number, so also a 
woman chooses one man out of many.” 
K 2 
