A LEGEND OF HAWAIKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 90

A LEGEND OF HAWAIKI.

WAIHUKA AND HINE-TE-KAKARA. Retold by J. M. Peebles. (For Ota.go Witness.) Ao-es ago, whilo yet tho Maori people <&we!t in beautiful Hawaiki, Waihuka and the peerless Hine-te-Kakara were wed. A fonder c<r moa'e- handsome couple could not b& found, and Time passed all too swiftly, leaving no shadow to niaik his passage, till the devices of the evil one, in the percon of Tu-te-Amo-Amo — Wadhuka's eidco- brother— i made Hin-e's lifo a blank for a time. It happened thus: — For long Tu-te-Amo-Amo hacl cast longing and envious eyes on Ms brother's beautiful wife, but he was cunning enough to mask his real feelings under a cloak of wiLrm brotherly regard. This went on for a considerable time, till by some means Hfne-te-Kakaia. suddenly d'evimedi lids true intent and purpose-. His amorous advances were now made nv>?e evident every day, but Hine repelled Mm; with scorn and loathing. Baffled and torn with his unholy feelings, and being in dadly dread' of Hine exposing his true character to his brother, he quickly made up 'his mind that th© bestcourse to pursue would be to rid himself [ for ever of his rival. Perhaps h© loved the girl in his dark and devilish way, but this story will tell how he fared in his evil vork.

.Strolling down, to his brother's house one beautiful day lie accosted him^-hus: "Ho, Waihuka, this is a lovely day, indeed. Let- us launch the canoe, for I know that the fish out yonder, near the reef, will bite sharp and keeu. !>

Waihuka being only too willing, after bidding farewell to his lovely wife, quickly followed his brother to the beach. Laimohi-ing-tbe canoe was but the work of a fe-w 1 minutes, and after a pleasant sail of an hour or so they reached the tail end of the re&f, where the big stone anchor (puraga) was tossed over the side, lines got out, and a start made to lure the daiting fish from their natural element.

The fish were biting so freely tha the brothers had no thought of the flight of lime in their enjoyment, and th© shades of night were already deepening on the horizon and on tho distant shore when they at length desisted.

"Oh ! this is morp than I can lift," groaned Tu-te-Amo-Amo, as he pulled and struggled to lift the anchor. "Do you, who arc* a noted diver and swimmer, Waihuka, dive down and release the stone, whiyh must be caught in a fissure of the reef."

Thus the wily Tu-te-Amo-Airo, whose efforts, needless to say, were feigned.

Totally unsuspicious of any evil design, the guileless Waihuka, threw aside his mat and took a header into the depths. Ane (alas !) the soles of his feet had hardly disappeared beneath the surface of the water when Tu-te-Anio-Amo, with a. sharp shell h.9 hind brought for the purpose, severed the lope, then started paddling at a, tre-,, mendous rate for the alore. When Waihuka iosp to tJie surface he quickly sa.w what had happened, and being a man of resource, ho contented himself with reciting a powerful karakia or incantation, and he also supplicated his gods to lend their aid. Tfua, the god who rules the tides, heard his prayer, and caused the tide to turn and bear him in towards the now fast darkening shore. Tins was gcod, but healing a great splashing and threshing of the water behind him Waihuka turned, and baheld the fearful taniwha, or water monster, which had been for ages attached to his family,* approaching him. with blazing oyes and gaping mouth. Tins sight was enough to disconcert the bravest, but Waihuka was not easily daunted, and mounting his strange steed, he was home quickly and safely arrived at the little cove where he and his brothei had that afternoon launched the canoe.

In the meantime Tu-te-Amo-Amo had got safely ashore, and running the canoe high up on the beach, hid it under some bushes which grew near. Settling his fac3 into a most woe-begone appearance, weeping and wailing, he approached the house, where Hin© could be seen waiting anxiously the return of her husband. In answer to her excited inquiries Tu-te-Amo-Amo related how the canoe had been capsized, and the bailers being, lost nothing could be done. After a fierce 1 struggle for life Waihuka had sunk — gone for ever. Tu-te-Amo-Amo had had better luck, and reached the shore much exhausted, but had hastened to tell her the direful news. |

The girl was inconsolable at hearing of the logs of the husband she adored-, and throwing herself on the ground gave vent to her sorrows long and sorely. With a countenance in which assumed grief and fierc© joy were singularly blended Tu-te-Amo-Amo approached the prostrate girl, who, rising quickly, confronted him bravely and with eyes aMaze with righteous wrath demanded his prnpose.

"Your husband is dead, Hine, and I fain would sorrow with you. I am lias brother you know, and have every right to mingle my teaa-s with yours."

"No, no," replied Hine "The loss is mine, and I would sorrow alone. Go and leave ma to my grief."

This did not suit tho inipetuoius Tu-te-Amo-Amo at all, and he advanced with outstretched anns and attempted to embrace the lovely girl. To his astonishment &ho quickly eludted him, and, slipping into the lpus.o, bolted the door in his fa-oe. The discomfited ruffian's rage was fearful to behold, and for a few minutes he was a perfect fiend. His rage, however, was unavailing, and after a time he left the place, resolving that, as Waihuka was assuredly dead, he could put his fell intentions into practice on another occasion. In the dtenss bush and aWkness of midnight he again approached the house, aaid. knocked long and loudly at the dcor. No response being given-, fiercely he shook the structure till the frail building rocked under his brutal strength.

Hins, wearied and frightened at the violence displayed, at length cried out, "Who is ifc that comes in the dlead of night disturbing the widow in her grief?"' "It is I, Tu-te-Amo-Ani'o," replied the fiend outside, chuckling in anticipation. "O, go away, go away, and I will spaak to you again," pleaded the distracted girl. "That I wi'l not do," said he. "I must speak witli you now, and if you refuse I shall pull the bouse down at once."' "What is your purpose," asked Hine in desperation. "Why not respect my grief and leave me to lament for the husband 1 love."

"Open the dcor at once," demanded the now furious Tu'-te-Amo-Amo, "for well you know I love you dearly. Haere atu koe, He roa te tau kia koe 3 Tu-te-Amo-Amo."

"God away; there is plenty of tiniio yet for you, Tu-te-Amo-Amo," returned Hine gently. But the fiend outside at once set about his work of demolition with such energy and determination that he would soon have gained an entrance but for the totally unexpected appearancia of Waihuka. This sudden appearance of his brother, as on© risen fjcom the dead, disconcerted the wretch dreadfully, but, nevertheless, he sprang to meet him, the light of murder ins his eye. Weakened by his violent rage and attempt to wreck the house, he was no match for Wai'huka, who, after a brief struggle, caught the would-be ravisher by the tihroai. Wildly, with glaring eyes starting from their sockets, Tu-te-Amo-Amo struck and struggled, but its iras unavailing — his time had come, an 3 gradually collapsing under the fierce grasp, he, with face hideously distorted, at length succumbed. One can feel no sorrow at the end of such a man, and turning from has footiner's corpse with a gesture of contempt-, Waihuka beheld his lovely wife rusbiing to meet him. "O, Waahufeo, my dear husband, you have retuained to mci at last, 5 ' she cried, as she fell into the strong arms outheldi for her. "Yes, Hine," ,-was Ms reply,. "1 hart}

returned to you safe and sound, and maybe now wt. shall live our lives in peace."

Waihuka and Hine-te-Kakara lived manyyears after this exciting experience, and departed at last full of years and honours. The words which Hine-te-Kakara used to Tu-tp-Amo-Amo — "He roa- te tau kia. koe. Tu-te-Amo-Amo"' — (have passed into a pro verb among the Maori people, which is sufficient proof of tho authenticity of this story.