A Maoriland Adventure

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

A Maoriland Adventure

(Another Lucky Tiki story, written for the page by Peter (16), Havelock N.)

“COME with me for a walk up the creek this afternoon, Kahau? I want to get some ferns,” asked Diana Daye of her Maori friend, Kahau tc He ■ “I’d love to, Di. What time are you going?” "Meet me at the little bridge at two o’clock.” bright, sunny* afternoon when the two girls set offstrolled slowly along the creek for some distance, but no ferns ot any particu “Think”,wJ: ?re‘ a .o»« nk« „ tte DM. Ift ouite a long walk, over there at the foot of those hills, said Kahau, to the small foothills across the flat they were on. "But we will get there t we h ”. r^ n tbev neared the hills they stopped for a rest on a mossy rock “Do vou remember the story grandfather told you—the one of the Luck, asked Kahau. ‘‘This is the valley of its adventures. T U “Oh yes, Kahau; I remember it well. I wonder why the tiki was netei found’ ’I wish I could find it. I’m sure it would bring me luck. “I don’t know why it was never found. It just vanished; there was an old story though, that the spirits had it taken away because it had caused such a lot of trouble. That story, of course, is not believed to-day, bu. _diU. it has never been found. ‘Look, you can see by the stumps where the forest has It grew down to the creek on both sides. The Ramrfwia la was beyond that, hill and the Katorea stronghold out there somewhere. I.t oesn t look much like it now, does it?” Kahau said, as they gazed at the fertih Pdocks where the sheep were grazing peacefully. It certainly gave no tion of the stirring times it had seen. ' “Well, we had better go on, I suppose, if we want to get home beton dark,” said Diana, rising. The track along the creek was rough and steeper than before, but tries soon found a patch of ferns for Diana. “These ones will do, Kahau. They are lovely.” “Yes they are nice here. It is a pretty spot,’ replied Kahau. “Yes’. Look at that dear little maidenhair fern down there by the water■ s edge.- I think I’ll paddle in and get it.” Diana removed her shoes and paddled into the water. Kahau quickly followed her example. P “Oh, aren’t the stones sharp? I wonder if there are any crayfish under if there are! I don’t like them running around m.v

feet "Don’t be silly, Di. They won’t hurt you, and it’s lots of fun catching

em “How do vou catch them, anyway?” asked Diana. “Oh it’s easy. You watch.” Kahau lifted up a rock and when the watei had cleared, put her slim brown hand down over the back of a small, grev

brown object. Quickly she took her hand out and r f e . fl^ d fish, with a pair of vicious-looking pinchers wandering through the a search of something to pinch. , r search of an "See. it’s easy," said Kahau, as she bent over the water m seaich ot ai other. Again she captured one of the elusive little “t tbi k eyes on their pinchers, had other ideas, however, and said . I think ,P - stand ami watch. It’s easier and safer.’"Look at this big one, Di! It’s just going u . u^ r bat it up and see if I can catch it." She was quick, but the wary fish w over your way.” teased Kahau. Diana - second warning, and stepped quickly backwards. Mith a dden from sat in the water, for when she stepped back she had slid into a bole from where Kahau bad taken a rock, and lost her balance. “Oh bother it,” she said, surveying her. dripping figure. _ "Wh-if irmnened’” asked Kahau calmly, intent on her fishing. “I trod ii/a hole" and slid over. There’s something awfully sharp down there J think it cut my foot.” Diana lifted her foot and showed a small cut, which was bleeding rather badly. , p Then nut vour "Hot out of the water. I will tie my hankie around it. inen put joui shoes and socks on again,” commanded Kahau. "I'll tip back these crajfis . S“i“. not enough to toko: a»U then we had better ut.ke toe home, don I I '“ -SV, 1 cun see what out m, toot. Katun,. Ift over there In that tele A VwTS SScl'S-S?0-""“■Steu' nit.,,, sounded oddly cached '»£•?• Ift “S liquid It te-tue UM.” Kahau leant eagerlv out of the water and examined the object. “It. is a tiki all right. I wonder if it could be the Lucky Tiki/’ “The big rock it was lost from is upstream, isn’t it.' It may have fallen into the 6 waterand gradually been carried down here. Let’s go home and ask somebody.” Diana’s cut foot was forgotten, and they sped home. * ♦ o

The little green god proved to the Lucky Tiki. Evidently Diana’s sur inise had been correct, and it had been lodged in the mud under the lock for '““"It certainly has been a lucky tiki for me,” said Diana, remembering that Xt S Sold to a 1 coHectOTon behalf of the two finders it now lies in a glass case with manv treasures, but few people who see it realise what a strange lilstoiy Ft has had. For It not only played a part in the lives of the old Maoris. but also proved a lucky token for two little girls of to-day.