FABLES. 
135 
stant rain, and their houses being- always filled with smoke, the eyes 
were as constantly suffused with tears. 
This seems to he uttered by way of reproach, the fern-i-oot being an 
unsightly lump; hut, when properly prepared, it is not at all 
unpalatable. 
The moral of the fable appears to be, that, although the Kumara 
he more palatable, yet it is neither so abundant, nor does it last so 
long, as the fern-root, which is always in season. 
2 . 
Kumara and Hoi 
Kumara. —Mataharuharu; no- 
hoanga roa ki te ahi. 
Hoi .—He kai tahau (tau); he 
roa tau tahaku (taku); kawea au 
ki te wai; ran Piu rawa; taka 
taka mai te muri-tai, e taka ra au. 
This appears to be a difft 
Kumara .—Watery face, long 
squatter by the fire. 
Hoi .—You are much food ; my 
year is long; take me to the water; 
roll me up in Piu leaves; fetch 
things from the sea (shell fish); 
then I am good, 
mt version of the former. 
3. 
Tuna (the eel) and Wapuku (cod-fish). 
Wapuku .—Tehea tau wahi mo- 
mona ? 
Tuna .—Momona ake i taku 
hiku, a taku tongahau; a ka eke 
ki runga ki a Tumatua, ka noho 
tau tokorua. Tehea tau ? 
Wapuku. — Momona a hiku, 
momona a tara; ka kake i te ka- 
kenga i a Tumatua ka nohonoho 
tau tokorua. 
Wapuku .—Which is your best 
part ? 
Tuna .—I am good from my 
tail to my middle; and if you 
get to the top of Tumatua, you 
can sit two together. Which is 
your good part ? 
Wapuku .—I am good in my 
tail, and good in my fins : if you 
get to the top of Tumatua, you 
may sit two together. 
The Wapuku again asks the Tuna which is its fattest part. The 
Tuna looks significantly at its tail, and refers the question back to 
the Wapuku, who, in his turn, opens his eyes wide, signifying that 
his head was the fattest part of his body. 
4. 
Tuatara (the Guana) and Kumukumu (rock-cod). 
Tuatara .—E te Kumukumu, Tuatara, —Kumukumu, let us 
ka haere taua ki uta. go inland. 
