MAORI LEGENDS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 139, 7 March 1936, Page 25

MAORI LEGENDS

The Maori legends which follow show the poetry and romance of the Maori mind, mid are fine examples of the hundreds of legends to be found- in Maori lore, pertaining to the rivers, lake.-', mountains, valleys mid even the streams of New Zealand. The Legend of the Iluka Falls. Long, long ago when the Maoris lived only for war and hunting, there lived a brave Maori warrior called Tukairangi. ■He was the chief of the Wanganui tribe, mid lived on the banks of the Wanganui River. Now there lived on the shores of Luke Taupo a famous tribe of Maoris under Poihipi, their chief. Their renown in war was great and spread even to tbe Wanganui River. So Tukairangi sent to them and bade them come if they dared shoot the rapids of the Wanganui. So the Taupo Maoris made ready and as they were fearless mid strong, they shot the rapids with ease; and in their turn they challenged Tukairangi to come with twenty of his braves to shoot the mighty Waikato River. Tukairangi then built a huge war canoe; for many, moons they laboured, and then bore it across tbe plains and launched it on Luke Taupo. But they saw the looks- of savage exultation on the faces of Poihipi mid his tribe, and they feared foul play. So they said that they would not sail down the river unless Poipihi went with them. This seemed evil to Poihipi, but his warriors hearkened to his words in secret, and made haste to do.his bidding. The next morning he came to Tukairangi with fair words, ami then they made haste to launch the canoe. For some time the river glided gently along between bush-clad banks and grassy slopes, and Tukairangi and his braves laughed ami cried: “Where are your foaming, rapids? Is this the river that you fear?” But Poihipi held his peace. Then the river flowed more swiftly ami the banks grew steeper until gre-t. black cliffs towered on either side. Then Poihipi spake mid his voice re-echoed, in the narrow chasm. “Draw near the rocks,” lie said, “and put out feyour hands.” They did so. but started back in horror, for the rocks were hot to I heir hands. Tukairangi and his warriors mocked no more, and fear came to their hearts as they saw Poihipi's evil smile, and they felt the power of the river as it boiled between tbe cliffs. And silence fell upon them all. For a time the river widened and they plucked up heart a little, but the worst was yet to come. Suddenly the canoe was swept into n narrow chasm between two rocky cliffs, where the river boiled and tossed and seethed. Ahead they heard the thunder

of angry waters and saw a cloud of mist and spray that rose above the cliffs. And on a sudden. Poihipi. with a wild yell, leaped from the canoe and seized a rope of flax that hung from the cliffs and was drawn up to safety by his warriors. But for Tukairangi and his men there was no escape; the canoe swept on and with a yell of hatred and rage answered by the Maoris on the bank, they disappeared in the welter of water that leaps that giddy height, and were seen no more. Legend of Karipiti Blow-hole. When Tukairangi and bis braves hail gone to the Waikato to answer the challenge of the Taupo Maoris, many of his tribe accompanied him. With them came his daughter, Rangi, fairest of the hapu, shy as the wild heron. Hui, Poihipi’s son, looked on her and saw that she was fair, and loved her. But after Poihipi’s treachery, and the loss of their chieftain and the bravest warriors, there was war between the tribes, and Hui and Rangi were parted. But their love was strong, and they resolved to flee together and seek refuge with another tribe. The trysting place was Karapiti Blow-hole. So the next full moon Rangi fieri from her tribe and awaited her lover at Karapiti. But Hui was fickle, his love had faded, and she waited in vain; for three days and three nights. Her tribe,searched for her and found her there, and begged her to come away. But she had faith that Hui would come, and its a Maori maid is “tapu” when she is in lo've, they i could not force her away. At last, at the end of the fourth day, faithless Hui came. He laughed, at I her, mocking her cruelly. Then, with a I moan of despair. Rangi flung herself into 1 the’ blow-hole. But even a blow-hole I taniwha can have nothing to do with a I Maori maid that is “tapu,” so he blew poor Rangi up to the sky. Then the I Sky King took pity on her- misery and i turned her into a pink evening cloud. But j he was so angry with Hui that he snateh- ! ed him up and 'turned him into a black storm cloud, with lightning for cruel words and thunder for mocking laughter. Now, at evening, after a fine . day. Rangi comes to her trysting place, in the rosy light of the Setting sun. turning to a beautiful pink, the feather of steam that rises from Karapiti. But after a stormy day Hui comes tearing across the sky in wrath and sorrow; then Kara- ■ niti's stream is a dark and angry grey.— i Nonnig the Gnome, Napier.