THE LEGEND OF THE TUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2391, 28 December 1899, Page 59

THE LEGEND OF THE TUI.

AS TOLD TO THE WRITER BY A

NATIVE

In the days of many wars, when tribe feasted on tribe and enemy on enemy, a certain band of warriors owned a tui.

They had stolen it from its nest when scarcely feathered, and taught it many things, and it became so clever that from ita vantage ground on the tops of the highest trees, it could warn its owners of approaching danger. Now, these warriors belonged to a weak tribe which lay in hiding while two powerful chiefs, named Waiahu and Waieha marched through the country on the warpath, killing and eating all who came in their way. As food was scarce in the pa, the men of the hiding tribe, by early dawn or in the dusk, would steal out to gather fern roots, taking the tui with them. Once they worked longer than usual, and the dawn was breaking into day before they had gathered roots enough to last till night. Suddenly the tui cried out these words: "Koraki koka, kio, kio! Hohoro te paihere, hohoro te paihere, Atu ki tawhiti, ka kotia koe!" which means : "Tie up your bundles, quick, quick! for your enemies are coming, and you will bo killed!" ' Now, the warriors said to each other : "We will .'work a little longer, for our enemies may be still a long way off." So they hurried to -collect a few more roots. Then the tui called again: "Koraki koka, kio, kio! E tarari ana kia Waiehu? E tatari ana kia Waieha? E tatari ana kia whai tekaki— Rou-rou-rou!" which means again : " Tie up your bundles, quick, quick! Are you waiting for Waiehu? or are you waiting for Waieha? or are you waiting for them all to come and put you down their throats?" But still the men worked on, and the tui sang in vain. Too late they heard the tramp, tramp, of the warriors, and the crackling of fern and brushwood being broken on their march. Too late they tied their bundles and tried to fly. The savage tribe overtook them and showed no mercy, for all were killed. Before night the tui's words came true, for they were all down, their enemy's throats. They captured the bird, and intended to take it home with them as a present for their chiefs favourite wife ; but the terrified bird escaped and joined its mates in the forest. The only song he could sing ■was his warning to his dead masters, and this song he taught to all tuis in the forests. So from that day of long ages past to this day of 1899, they sing this curious song : "Koraki koka, kio, kio! Hohoro te paihero, hohoro te paihere, Atu ki tawhiti, ka kotia koe! Koraki koka, kio, kio!. E tarari ana kia Waiehu? E tatari ana kia "Waieha? E tatari ana kia whai tekaki— Rou-rou-rou!" —VICTOR ZEAL.