164 
POLYGAMY. 
feigned struggle. A few days afterwards, the parents of the 
lady, with all her relatives, came to the bridegroom for his 
pretended abduction ; after much speaking and apparent anger, 
the bridegroom generally made a handsome present of fine 
mats, &c., giving the party an abundant feast. 
When the parents thus consented, they usually said, E pai 
ana kia moe tcorua, koto tunyane kia kanga iho ano korua, 
kanga iho ano kia korua ano. 
Sometimes the father simply told his intended son-in-law, 
he might come and live with his daughter; she was thence¬ 
forth considered as his wife, he continued to live with his 
father-in-law, being looked upon as one of the tribe or 
hapu, to which his wife belonged, and in case of war, the 
son-in-law was often thus obliged to fight against his own 
relatives. So common is the custom of the bridegroom 
going to live with his wife’s family, that it frequently occurs, 
when he refuses to do so, his wife will leave him, and go 
back to her relatives. Several instances came under my 
notice where young men have tried to break through this 
custom, and have so lost their wives. 
The native term for courtship is he aru aru , literally, a fol¬ 
lowing or pursuing after. Ropa * is a declaration of love by 
pinching the fingers. He puna rua is a struggling of two 
suitors by pulling the poor girl, who became the property of 
the stronger ; it is also a term applied to a man with two wives. 
Tau mau is to betroth or promise a girl in marriage ; wai aipo 
is when she is given and resides with her husband. 
Every chief was at liberty to take as many wives as he 
pleased. If a chief had several wives, they were called the 
hoahoa of the head wife. They generally had from three to 
six, seldom more, and in many cases only one, especially 
amongst the lower orders. The number of wives added to 
the husband’s importance, each wife having her own mara , or 
farm, and her own establishment, according to her rank, and 
furnished her share of the supplies for the establishment. 
* Ropa is probably derived from Ro, the praying mantis, and pa to touch: 
this insect pinches those who touch it with its fore legs, which are covered with 
spines. If a married woman sees one, it is regarded as a sign of her conception. 
