WHALE ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHALE ISLAND.

A MAORI LEGEND.

(By Batliia H. It. Luttrell; age 16.)

Across the blue of the water sped a brown canoe. The world around was motionless, soundless, save for the

steady swish of the paddles upon the water. Behind lay a brown outline that represented the land, in front lay a calm sea. A little further on .the waves surged, leaping to an immense height, and a grey early morning mist had partly enshrouded the distant horizon. Towards this the small canoe was speed-

ing, heedless of the great waves, heedless even of their boundless fury. The one occupant of the canoe, his head bowed

over his breast, was as moveless as the scene about. The paddles worked mechanically in the strong, brown hands, his head leaned forward bent in shame, he cared little for the world surrounding. little for the world that lay beyond; indeed he doubted there was one, for Honi Te Rau had sinned.

He had passed beyond the ken of his native people, nn outcast. Embittered by his disgrace, Son ow dwelt heavily upon him. "Oh, Atua," ho prayed fervently. And then it .came to him that if he. was an unwanted among his own people, would he be welcome among others? At the thought he shuddered. Then it was a plan formulated in his mind. Only need he let the paddles slip from his grasp then no more would the suffering that came through the awful thought of hia misdeeds, be his.

For one minute lie hesitated and then, coming like a warning, he heard a low sound. Grasping his oars firmly he glanced about. All he saw was the body of a fish. It came again. Ah, it was the sea! Iloni Te Ran knew well, that sea sought vengeance upon all wrongdoers. "0, Atua!" he prayed again. Must even tho gods mock him in his shame! Once more the souti<l rumbled, followed by a strange gurgling laugh and a squeak of delight. Honi Te Kail was a mazed beyond all credulity.

In the hind part of the canoe there was a slight movement. A mat was lifted by a slim bronze arm, and there laughing, facit.'g Honi a young girl sat. The breeze caught at a few flying tendrils of her hair, her scarlet lips were parted with smiling. She rocked back and forth in merriment.

"0 Rewa," the young warrior leant towards her, "Why have you done thisV"

She ceased her laughing. "Did I not iicare you. O, my brother?' she said. ".Yo, longer could 1 twist myself up there, and you looked —'' -die glanced at him sideways. "Were'you not preparing yourself for a swim, a long swim ?" she asketl. But Honi Te Kan was angry, lierce at her brave daring. "My sister,' he said, "you do not want to sink to the sea gods with me'/" he inquired. "Why, oh, why!" He smote the paddles upon the water. Rewa seated herself easily. "Rather would I, a watery grave than any other, rather would I be with you than any other. We will seek this new land of yours together," she said. "Is there a new land?" "You talked often of the land across tho water where you would rule chieftain and how I would go With you," she told him. "But my father—'* tlie young man said. "Our father," she shook her head. He will send canoes to search for me over the water, he will send warriors to penetrate the depths of the buSh, but—he will never find me, and if he should he will find you also, and if they must take me, he must take you. But —" she was smiling. "At this hour my father sleeps." "That is 50.." returned Honi, "and if I know the way of the sea, there will bo a storm, ere lie awakes." His eyes scanned the horizon where the white mist had lifted. It was banked with heavy rain clouds. The rising sun was obscurcd in another mass, and the air was hot and oppressive.

The girl leant further back and began to chant the sweet words of a native melody. Under the mat she felt and withdrew something. "Sec?," she said, "the fish-spear that you made ,mc, my brother, I have brought it with me."

One of Eewa's fine brown hands lay on the water's surface as she continued the words of the rhythmic canoe song. Honi plied the paddles now, with delight. There was something in the company of this fresh maiden, something in the delicate strains of the music that she sung.

There came the noon, and a hot coppery sun blazed upon them. The canoe had reached the waves by this and rocked its occupants to and fro when hurled on to the crest of a wave. But Honi was skilled in the management of a canoe and guided it carefully. Seldom they spoke, for there was little to say.

With the evening came the climax. The scorching sun slipped above the bank of clouds and the first few drops of rain fell. A cold breeze sprang up, and lashed spray into their faces. The breeze increased to a strong wind, the drops increased to a steady downpour, the sky was a close canopy of cloudy orey. And with the hours all the elements of storm became visible, every one increased two-fold. Rewa was

helping now with the rowing. "The sea ■ gods, they are angry, angry!' ? she wliis-1 pered fearfully. It was only a miracle the canoe kept, itself afloat. Just the fury of the_ sea | then, no one knew so well as Honi To j Rau and Rewa. Evening passed, night' fell. It happened all so soon. On! On! On! I Despairing of anything probable, the i two rain-swept beings prayed to the) nods "for mercy. And then—close, very close, the grey mist lifted and they saw the szreat. gaunt form of, of what? They | asked each other. Quite suddenly itj dawned upon them. Long, long years ago, iri the childhood of Honi a great whale had been washed on to the shore. The native.*; had been awed, paralvsed with fear.- Was it sent by the gods'? But by good fortune some strange pakeha men had come and removed the -object of their horror. Nearer they drew, nearer. Could it be land? It was still. The canoe was within easy reach of it now. It was land! Xo! Xo! The great shape moved. The whole tiling teemed with life. It was then Honi To Rau and Rewa gave

up iii vain. ... „ „ With the first light of tlic following morning canic a calm. 'Hie mist lifted oft' the tiea. The sun glared and steadily a <rey cloud enfolded -oft the back of the 5 whale. Alas for the black of night! It was land —an island, tall, hill-like, situated alone in the blue sea. Along its low shore several, mangled bodies of weird wild cats lay strewn —dead. . The others had moved to the island's summit petrified with fear of the stoirn. Occasionally a storm, such as this, breaks across the harbour of Wliakatane. Those that are left of the once flourishing band of wild cats speed for the mist-hidden summit of the Whale Island. During this time the waives rock, the winds moan, the sea shudders over the grave of Tiewa the beautiful and Honi Te Ran the sinner.