146 
MOTTOES. 
English words, but even whole sentences. The following 
song is an instance ol it:— 
Ea te marama, ka mahuta, There the moon appears 
I te pae na runga mai koe, From the range above you, 
Ivo au hei raro nei, Whilst I remain below, 
Tiro noa atu ai, ki wahoki, Looking in vain for your return. 
I te moana, he purenga poti mai, From the sea I hear a pulling of 
the 
Nau, e Tapora, e ahu ana Boat (by the oar) towards me! 
I a te tai ki, i nga motu, Thine, 0 Tapsall, approaches 
Ko au te eke atu te tera, o waho, From the sea from nga motu 
Mokai taupiri nana i arai mai te The sprit sail is not seen by me, 
kite atu au, For the Mokai Taupiri shades 
Te waki a Pehi toro mai to ringa, It from the view, but my heart 
ITari ru tana, war a tear a tai hi ha. Confesses it is Pehi. 
Stretchout your hand, how do you 
Do, very well I thank you. 
One peculiarity in their songs is the cutting short different 
words to avoid harshness, and adding syllables for euphony. 
Every tribe has also its Motto, some of which may, perhaps, 
be regarded as war cries, others as terms of reproach. 
Some of these mottoes are given them by other tribes. These 
are generally reflecting on them : of this kind is the following : 
1 . Waikato hoehoe waka nukenuke. —Waikato paddles are crooked. 
A simile drawn from their shape, which, unlike others, are crooked; 
this is applied by their enemies to their general character, as being 
deceitful, and is a term of reproach. 
2. Waikato taniwa rau. —Waikato has its hundred taniwas; which 
signifies, that it has its hundred great and powerful chiefs; a great 
man being called “he ika,” a fish, or “he taniwa,” a fish god. 
3. Te wai nui a Tarawera. —The great water of Tarawera is a 
name to express the number and power of the Wanganui natives. 
4. Te koura puta roa. —A simile drawn from the cray fish, which, 
though the legs may be pulled off, escapes amongst the stones; so 
the Wanganui natives cannot be taken. 
5. Nga keri keringa a Ruauoko. — The digging of Euauoko. Eu 
is the father of rivers; it is an exclamation of admiration for the 
Wanganui river. 
