ANCIENT MAORI TALES. KOHUKI AND HIS TWO WIVES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1030, 12 May 1857, Page 4

ANCIENT MAORI TALES.

KOHUKI AND HIS TWO WIVES.

(Concluded from the Southern Or on, of April 10J " Bright moon, thou art lighting up the face Cf the deep, and thou shinest upon Kopuaroa, The land where our mother dwelleth. O Korire, Korire. . Kohuki and Kotat. Now it was 80, when Korire discovered that her husband Kohuki disregarded her cries, she sighed deeply, iind her henrt said. •' So I shall perish in the sea. it the god» cannot be appeased. Alas !my husband, thou hast lett me here to die in this waste of waters. Now there were gods of the sea and gods of the land, gods ot the winds and god« of the calms, gods of the trees and gods of the shrubs. Korire now mightily prayed to the gods, and soon on* of the gr-at fishes of the sea came to her help, and after expressing its sympathy in moans, it carried her to Kopuaroa. the place where her two brothers dwelt. Now the brothers of Korire were the chieftains of that country, so it became them to receive their sister with that respect which wasdue'to her rank. The people •waved their garment-, and the usual song of salutation was chanted, while Korire silently passed on to the settlement, and she fell upon her brothers' necks and wept a long time, and the people stood weeping around After the lamentation, meat was set before her, and she ate. but her heart still dwelt upon her husband, Kohuki. who had been deceived by the sorceress Tuhoropunga. When Korire had p rtaken of the food of the place, her brothers invited her to tell them of her welfare ; so she told her tale of woe, and they heard it with sor row, and said, " It is enough, our sister, stay thou here with us. Behold, the land is before thee, and we ■will be to thee as a husband, to protect thee and give thee sustenance. And shouldest thou, sister, wish to depart hence, lo ! our canoes will be at thy service. Now the speech of these chieftains pleased Korire well, and she «as content to dwell there, in the presence of her people, ■« ho loved her. In process of time, Korire gave birth, to twins, and she named one of them Kohuki, after his father, and the other she culled Kotai. On this occasion, there was great rejoicing at Kopuaroa, and Korire had almost forgotten her sorrows, when she became the mother of these children. "lam no longer alone in the world," said she, " and, should I yet see Kohuki, my heart will icst." The sons of Korire went in and out before the people, and they were taught to net, to catch fish, to culti vate, and to wield the spear. Now, they had often wondered who could be their father, and they knew not whether he was living or dead. They longed very much to know something about their father, but their mother concealed the matter from them ; for she said. " Peradventure my sons will depart hence if I disclose to them the land where their father dwells ; " for Korire had heard .-hat her husband landed at Tawhitinui, where he lned with Tuhoropung a, the enchantress. And the sons of Korire grew up to man's estate, and slill they longed to see their father. And. lo ! one day. when they returned from the fields, Kohuki and Kotai talked with their parent, saying :— 11 Mother, we will search out the abode of thy husband, our father." ■"Nay, my sons, trouble me not thus." 11 Yet a little, and we will return to thee, mother," "Alas ! my sons, the home of Kohuki is far, far away, how then can ye return quickly ?" "Mother, thou knowest then where our father dwelleth." " If I were to tell you, ye would go hencp and return to me no more. My sons, ye make my heatt sorrowful.' " Grieve not, mother ; only tell us whither our father has gone, peiadventure we may find him." "If ye are intent, mv sons, to seek out your father, be it so," said Korire, and the heart of the woman rerived, and she said. •• I have heard from voyagers that your'father dwelleth at Tawhitinui, at the eastern end of that island. Go not to the south, nor to the north, nor to the west, but to the east ; for when the sun Tiseth it shineth upon your father's house. I have heard too that your father has a spacious house in that country, and that he is a chieftain of renown." Now when the sons of Korirp had heard these words, j they rose up from the presence of their mother, saying I "it is well." So they sought out their stone axes and ( they went to the forest and felled a great tree, and of it they made a canoe. And when the canoe was finished, I they called upon the people of the villages, and the people helped them, and 10, the canoe amidst the shouts of the company was dragged from the forest to the sea shore. Everything being ready for the voyage, Kohuki and Kotai the twin sons of Korire took leave of their mother •and the people of Kopuaroa. They wept with their mother and her brothers, and saluted them according to the custom of the people of that place by rubbing noses. And the mother said unto her sons, "departin peace, O Kobuki and Kotai. The winds of Heaven bear you along upon the face of the mighty sea. And when ye shall land at Tawhitinui, see that ye go not to the right hand nor to the left, lest ye perish, but hasten to the great house which faces the rising sun, for there is none other house like unto it in that land, and there will ye find my lord your father. Arise my sons, and depart in peace." And they said, "it is well. Stay here in peace till we return with our father." So they .embarked on board their canoe, and the sails -were hoisted, and soon the canoe bore them away scattering the sea foam, while the people gazed after it in sorrow waving their garments in token of respect for these youthful Chieftains. Now on the third day they saw the land afar off, and they so m inaged the sailing of their canoe as to get to the island in the twilight of the evening; not knowing what evil might befal them should they venture to land in the open day. Having arrange 1 all the furniture of theircanoe, they •went on shore and stole through the jungles unobserved, and 10, the house of their father Kohuki met their gaze. There was a great assemblage of persons in that great house, they having congregated to dance and sing in accordance with the customs of th>se days. Now it came to pass when the men and maidens rose up to dance, amidst the shouts of the mirthful throng, strange sounds fell upon the ears of Tuhoropu•nga, for the brave youths cried out, — "Bright moon, thou art lighting up the face Of the deep, and thou shinest upon Kopuaroa. The land where our mother dwelleth, O Korere, Korire." And when Tuhoropunga heard these words, she sought out the strangers, and drove them from the house. And thay came a second time, and Kohuki saw them, and said, "Whence come these youths ?" "They come from the adjacent villages, sire," said Tuhoropunga," and they are very rude." So she drove them away, while her lord wondered, and eyed the strangers with singular interest. Kohuki and Kotai having been driven away a second time, took refuge in one of the storehouses near their j father's dwelling, and when the dancing commenced, amidst the shouts ot the people, they called aloud, — "Bright moon, thou art lighting up the face Of the deep, and thou shinest upon Kopuaroa, The land where our mother dwelleth. O Korire, Korire !" And Kohuki heard the words, and he said to Tuhoropunga, "What strange sounds are these I hear mingling with the voices of the dancers 1" "The voices you hear, 1 ' said she, " are those of children belonging to our settlement." Now, when the songs of the dancers ceased, the voices of Kohuki and Kotai were hushed also, and the man waited patiently, but he heard them not again, :till the shouts oi the dancers resounded through the 'house. Now it came to pass, when the strange voices were heard once more, Kohuki went forth secretly; and when lie had found the young men, helearned from them that hii wife Korire still lived, and that these two strangers were his own children. And'the father yearned over his children ; but his fury was kindled against Tuhoropunga who had brought such trouble upon his household, and he ordered the house where the dancers were to be set on fire ; and -soon the house was consumed, and they which sang and danced therm; and of all who perished in the fire, Tuho■ropungH alone caused wonder and disgust, for her bowels gushed out in the midst of the flame. . Thus died this wicked woman at last, and there was n«ieto bewail her, for all men dreaded her potent charms. , , And Kohuki chose for his sons two of the daughters ojf that land, and he took his sons and their ' wives, and his daughter, and departed thence in his canoe. Soon the ocean wns crossed, and the canoe landed at Kopuaroa,) -while , shouts of wricoMve from, the people were heard on ewy hand. a S«v Kohuki d*elt with his vi'ife'K'irire in peace ; and his soni^and daughters went in and out before him, and they rejoiced together in the pleasant land of Kopua. tot,