THE COMING OF THE WEKA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19454, 9 October 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE COMING OF THE WEKA.

BY ANNETTE BEVAN.

" Ake! Ake! Kia Kaha! Haero Tonu Ea!" O'er hill and dale rang the last loud cry of the Tahene's haka. They were on the warpath and their one ambition was to conquer and ruin their deadly enemies, the Tawakc tribe. There had been no quarrel between the two tribes, but ever sinco the beginning of timo they had loathed each other. Both Tahene and Tawako were good and firm chiefs, and loved by their subjects; but Tawake, the elder of the two, was more gentle. And why—because he had a. beautiful, lovable daughter named Lalo, who was more to him than any victory—more than his own life even. But think not that Tawake was slow; ho was quite prepared, and they boldly answered, "Ya weno! Ya weno! Ya!" On raged the battle, and though the Tawake's patued many a score, their numbers grew less and less, until, I am sorry to say, our heroes turned and fled. But the Tahene's did not mean any of their foo to escape—and when a Maori says ' you die," there is no escape. So the enemies were no more. All this time poor Lalo had been sitting shivering in her wharo, while at her side sat the old witch-doctor, singing charms against the enemy. How her heart beat —was her father alive—were the tribo winning—losing or beaten. Suddenly the door was thrown open and before her stood Tahene. He had an ugly tear down his cheek and his clothes were in rags. Said he: "Your father is dead—your tribe are no moro and you, Lalo, shall come and cook for me." s Now the great god Tangi had been watching all the time and hearing this, ho appeared before the now cowering Tahene, saying, " Death is too good for such a coward as thou! Be you a bird of the woods, to be called a weka. Thy tribe shall b® but worms in the earth, which thou shalt be forced to devour when hunger overtakes you—away! And thou, Lalo, shall come and bo my wife, while your witch-doctor shall hunt the Weka." And he disappeared with the smiling Lalo clasped in his arms. So now you know how the weka came.