ANCIENT MAORI TALES. KOHUKI AND HIS TWO WIVES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1021, 10 April 1857, Page 4

ANCIENT MAORI TALES. KOHUKI AND HIS TWO WIVES.

Chapter 11. 11 Lo from the north the gentle breeze Steals through the aiuivly forest trees, Atld sweeps across the sea ; But where art thou, 0 sire ? — mine eye Thy bark, nor thee, descry. Te Iwi&au.

On & certain day after the wonderful feats displayed by the bin!- woman Tuhoropungu, Kohuki said to her 11 Arise and let us two go to the forest to collect wood for our tins ;" and she arose and went with him, for Bhp was ever dutiful to the call of her lord I hey went onward and still onward, ascending range •ftcr range, and crossing streamlet after streamlet, Tuhoiopunga wondering in her own mind why so much wood was to be collected, and why they should journey fo tar to fetch it ; and as they traveised the hills and valleys, she enquired from tune to time, " Whither are we going, O sire?" but her husband heeded her not, nor rested, until they had passed over tout teen lulls. Sufficient wood having been broken off fiom the dry branches of the trees tor then household use, Tuhcropunga, seeing her husband still lingering in the forest, said to him : " Sire, shall we return to the settlement ? •• Wait a while," was the answer. *' Thp roan is long and dreary " II Our steps homewaid need not be hurried." When Kohuki had quieted the mind of his wife, heturned aside into a small thiiket, and by means of certain charms, he empowered the trees ot the wood and the gra«a of the field to answer his wife's call ; and this lie did to deceive her, so that he might make his escape aud leave her to her Kite. After he had performed the Tequired ceremonies, he hurried away to meet his beloved wifp Korire. Oye people, know this also, that Kohuki had arranged a scheme with his wile Koiire, regarding their immediate departure fiom then present home, and previous to the long journey to letch wood, Korire had been instructed to put on board the canoe all the family gpods, including the fishing tackle, so that upon the arrival of Kohuki, he and Korire m ght set sail for a far distant land, where dwelt the relatives oi Korire, and known to them by the name oi Kopuaroa. When Kohuki reached the settlement, he found his wife had everything in readiness. So they embarked on board the canoe and set sail for the land where Korire's relative dwelt. While these things were going on, Tuhoropnnga was wandpring from place to place in the woods seeking her husband, and when she called aloud for him, each tree and tuft of grass would answer, " Here am I." Disappointed at every turn, hearing voices, but seeing no person, she journeyed homeward, hoping to meet her lost one t the settlement. On her arrival at the cottage, faint and weary, she cried with a loud voice. " O Kohuki, Kohuki, w'here art thou?" "Here ami," said each post of the house and each rafter in its turn, but no footstep was heard, and no human form was yisible ; all was lonely and sad. When Tuhoropnnga came to the strand, she perceived that Kohuki's canoe was not in its accustomed place, and she said within herself. " I will go up and stand upon the mountain, pertdventuie I may see the canoe of Kohuki and his wife Korire." So she went up, and cast her eye3 upon the sea, and gazing southward and northward she saw nought but the sea foam, as wave o'er wave rolled on. And she looked a«;ain, casting her eyes eastward, and lo ! far in the distance appeared a black speck upon the waters, and she knew it was the canoe of Kohuki ; and she ceased to be sad, for she thought, by the use of her numerous enchantments she might yet reach the canoe. Tuhoropunga now called upon the gods, and when her prayers were ended, she sought the assistance of various sea birds, but they all refused to help, except the Kawau, which bird hearkened to her call; and when it came near, she stripped it of its beautiful plumage, leaving it to bleed and die, for this woman had no love in her heart. Tuhoropunga having decked herself with the feathers of the Kawau and taken to herself its beak, stretched out her wings, taking her flight across the sea in the direction of the dark t.pot she had seen from the mountain's height, and when she grew weary she floated upon the billows, tfhile her bird's plumes were washed by the white foam of the sea. And again she •would wing her way along the sky, and anon rest upon the heaving deep. Presently, she came near the canoe and saw Kohuki and Korire. 'The bird sported near the canoe with great joyfulness, but Kohuki would not allow his nui.d lo dwell on the idea that Tuhoropunga approached, for he supposed that his fish eating wife would be spell bound at their own settlement and there perish, in consequence of the potency of the charms he had used previous to his embarkation. Now, the canoe, at this time, was not very far from the land, Kohuki being desirous to catch some fish, the anchor was cast into the sea, and he threw out his line and hook Korire fished not, for it was with her after the manner of •women ; and she sat in state, robed in her choicest garments, while the white feather of the swan gracefully wated in her hair, and the down of the albatross hung in snowy tufts from her ears. O people, who was like unto Korire, so fair to look upon and so loving a chieftainess ! Her husband indeed loved her with great ardor, for she wax not only comely, but benevolent, and dignified m her conduct like all great per&onages. When Kohuki had fished for some time, Korire said to him, " Let us depart, sire ; haul up the anchor of our canoe." And the man went forward to weigh anchor, and the bird dived and seizing the rope held it fast. Again and again Kohuki tried to raise the anchor, but all the strength he put forth was xmavailing. The anchor moved not. And the man said to his wife, " I will dive. It may be that our anchor is fast in a ledge of the rocks." So he dived, but saw nothing, and supposing all was clear he ros>e to the surface, got into his canoe and hauled the rope, but to his great surprise it was immovable as before. Three times he went into the sea and saw nought lo prevent the anchor from being hauled up, for Tuhoropunga removed to some dibtance. when Kohuki went down into the water, and when lie rose to the surface she seized the rope of the anchor and held it fast. So, when Konre beheld the anxiety of her husband, and his entire want of success in regard to the anchor, her heart was moved with compassion, and she said, ', Sire, I will dive for our anchor," " Wherefore, Koriie 1" " Because thou hast wearied thyself for nought.' 1 " Wilt thou be successful.' 1 " I may not be: nevertheless, let me try.'' And she kid aside her ornamented cloak and girded on her aprons, but she took not from her hair the beautiful feathers which waved so giacefully with the soft airs that stole across the ocean. The heait of Kohuki was dark when he saw his beautiful wife plunge into the sea, but quickly she appeared — at least he supposed it was she, — and getting into the canoe, she seated herself in state, and cast around herself the mantle which had been laid aside. Now it was not Korire but Tuhoropunga who had thus seated herselt in the canoe. By her powerful enchantments she managed to make herself m person as Korire. Moreover, she had robbed Koiire of her head dress, and her ear ornaments, when Korire dived for the anchor, and she wore them herself, and also imitated Korire in her tone of voice. As soon as she adjusted her attire she called to her "husband to get up the anchor and set sail ; and he did so, for the anchor no longer resisted the strength of the m«m. And it came to pas<? before the canoe had sailed far, a human form appeared in the bosom of the deep and a voice was heard to cry imploringly, "O Kohuki, Kohuki, come hither with your canoe and save me." "What voice is this I hear" said Kohuki, in alarm. "No voice O Sire, jou imagine you heard some one." *'Nay, but I heard a voice" said he, and he looked, »nd behold one was seen combating with the waters. "Lo yonder is the person I heard," continued Kohuki, "and the voice is like that of Korire." "1 am Konre," replied the woman in the canoe, "and the person fhou seest yonder w no doubt that enchantres? Tuhoropunga and you will do well not to heed her cries." ••Art thou indeed my wife Korire," said the man, and he looked inquiringly at her. "I am," paid the other, "see you not the garments »nd ornaments of your wife ; and behold it is with me •ft t the mannei of women, " for she had drunk a quantity of sea water to make herself appear so. Kohuki being satisfied with this assertion, he sailed on leaving Tuhoropunga, as he supposed, to perish at last in the deep, but how she got there was altogether a mystery to him. Though Tuhoropunga sat silently now in the canoe she prayed and used her powerful incantations, and the head of the canoe was turned from Kopuaroa, and was primed towards the land whither she wished to be. The canoe glided swiftly over the waters, and soon they reached the land, :ind the people received them kindly, so they dwelt there for a season, enjoying the wild •ports of that country ; and all being just as Tuhoropunga wished, their stay was grwtlv prolonged.