KING OF THE GOBLINS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

KING OF THE GOBLINS.

A STONY RIVER TALE.

(By

C.M.H.)

Tlie heat was intense and the slihemer off tlie stones in the river-bed wa«i plainly discernible. The only other movement was that of an energetic fantail who pirouetted over the still pool and took an aerial lunch from the gnats and flies soaring over the water. Ail was fltill, and it wi’fl futile to throw a fly .iii.the hope of getting a rise. Trout, lusty mottled fellows,- were showing in the slack end of the pool, but they were lyiim bh the stones at the bottom, and seemed-to have fallen into tlie somnolent condition that accorded with' al! nature in tlie vicinity. It had been hard croiim working tlie rapids dur.itig -• the forenoon angling, and now, after a .satisfying meal and a bottle of good.cheer, I fell into a reverie. .

The situation wits one offering absolute isolation from the haunts of man, far up in the top - gorged' of the ravine down which the Stony River pours her torrents straight from the snow-fields of hoary Egmont’s peak.' A!! around was a jumble of boulders 1 of every size, pitched into all sorts of positions by-the mighty floods that tear down this torrent-bed during the storms. On the opposite side of the stream was a bold high c’l'ff, and situated about 40ft up was a huge stone embedded in 'the strata. Just, under the stone was a small opening .which suggested the entrance to some subterranean cavern. It was while gazing into the dark.cn-

trance of the tunnel that'l became aware of what seemed to be a‘waft of bluecoloured smoke. Aly eyes became rivetted to the spot, and out from the entrance stepped the most grotesque-look-ing creature that I have ever gazed upon. It was a gnome, or goblin, no oldwork spook, but a real New Zealand production. The fact was impressed upon me at a glance because of the magnificent tattooing that covered its face from chin to rorehead. In height the creature was about two feet four. Around it<? body- it wore a beautiful piupiu, or Maori robe, made from the feathers of- the moa. In its right hand it carried a long .curved taiaha, or Maori spear, while stuck in its girdle was a handsome and businesslike mere pouDamn, or war club of greensto'ne. Although very ancient looking, it.s eyes were alert and piercing, and in a second it had descried me as I reposed on the opposite bank. Hopjiing up on to the pinnacle of the projecting boulder, the goblin balanced himself for a second, then with a flip of its body it turned several somersaults, landing across the stream and on to a boulder by nly side. I was amazed and startled beyond power of speech or movement, and expected to find myself scalped or beheaded in the next second. But the goblin seemed friendly, and after smiling at me,' turned another flip, which landed, him in front of me, where he proceed to welcome me with the hongi (rubbing noses) and chanting a waiata, br .'sona of welcome. By this time I felt more at ease, and the "goblin, like a flash of light, sprang up and .with wondrous ease leaped oil to the summit of a boulder, full 20 feet high. Here lie uttered some incantations, and proceeded to address me as under; —

“Greetings! O mortal! Long have I expected,tliy visit. Many moons have passed since .I, Toi, ' the Chief of the Maori gobliiis, foretold -of. thy coming to greet the Maori fishermen, and also to witness many strange scenes. Be not fearful for thyself. My mana (prestige) is all-powerful, and thou art tapu (sacred) to all my folk.”

This and other korero was clearly of so friendly a character that my wits returned, and I awaited with wonder the next'move of njy queer acquaintance. In a second more Toi, was at my side, and seizing the leather belt around my waist, shot up into the air with me, and before I could gasp out that I would rather be excused, deposited me at the entrance of the cavern. It was futile to object' to one who seemed to have such powers, so, grasping my courage as firmly as possible, I instantly obeyed Toi’s command to precede him into the subterranean passage. The opening speedily widened out and was lit up by myriads of glow-worms. A dozen steps down the tortuous pathway, I heard the rushing of waters,' and in a tew moments we entered an enchanted glade. All around were tree ferns and nikau palms, while underneath grew a moat, luxuriant verdure composed of Prince of Wales feather, maidenhair and horseshoe ferns, all brilliantly lit Up with fireflies and glow-worms. Through tlie glade flowed a beautiful crystal river, and on its surface. floated a perfectly carved miniature Maori war canoe. Manning the craft was a crew of some 20 goblins, all with Maori tattoo on their faces. They also wore robes, but I noticed that the feathers wore vzeka, and not moa feathers, like those on Toi’s mat. They carried miniature weapons, which were composed of bone and not of the rich greenstone that adorned the belt of their chief. I w?s given a haka of welcome and bade step into the war canoe. The paddles were set in motion, and speedily and gaily we proceeded up the centre of the river. 'Turning round a Iwud, the stream widened out into a large lake, where, the beautiful ferns ami palms reached to the water’s edge and dipped their fronds into the placid waters. Proceeding along the shores of tlie lake for some distance, we came to a perfect landing-place, and just beyond showed a Maori village, only the houses were smaller, to suit the pigmy dimensions of their goblin owners. Traversing the village paths, of shell, we passed through a ferny dell, and then came upon a large natural stone basin which contained much water. In the waters were to be seen' many trout, big and little, and these seemed t-o be dashing along in pursuit of prey. As my gaze becamn' accustomed to the water, I could see that the trout were hunting—not other fish or flics or any lure that I knew trout to be fond of—but human prey, and as each trout got near its victim.' it propelled from its mouth a small bomb which struck its mark unerringly, and caused the victim to squirm and accelerate its pace. 1 could' see that the bomb was not altogether a plaything, but caused' a bruise on the flesh.

I began to think that my turn was coming for similar treatment, when Toi, seating himself on a stone, bade me approach. Seating myself near the Chief of the Goblins, while his attendants formed a circle around us. I heard him explain the extraoi-dinarj-spectacle. Standing up and brandishing his taiaha, to command silence and attention, he addressed me; “Because thou art a fisher of trout, it is given unto thee to be the witness of the things thou hast seen to-day. Thou, being a scribe, art commanded to tell to mortals that which thou hast seen.

“In the dim and distant past, when Mount Egmont was removed from the Taupo district,’ the great , gods of the Maori (Tane Mahutu and Tangaroa) appointed me and my followers the guardians of all fii'ffi in the waters that have their source in the slopes and ravines of Mount Egmont. The tuna (eel), inanga . (minnow), the upokororo (greyling), the koura (crayfish) and the peharaii (lamprey eel), were all placed under.our care. Through the medium of the tohungas (priests) of old, we told to the Maoris the seasons when these fish could be captured. Then came the pakelia, who placed in our streams the beautiful rainoow and brown trout. These grew lustily, and soon our pools and rapids I became stocked with mighty fish, and anglers who came with rod and fly were under our special care. It was a great pleasure to myself and followers .. to watch the clever manner in which the pakelia with rod and fly captured and angled the speckled beauties, and many, doughty fights we were delighted to Witness in the Hungatahua (Stony. River) and other streams that have their birth on the slopes of Egmont. “Then came pakehas who stealthily approached our rivers, and selecting the best pools, threw something into the stream which in a few moments raised a noise like muffled thunder, and burst up the waters and lashed them into foam. These mortals then proceeded to the tail-end of the pool and. found all the trout, big and little, dead and floating on their °sides. The greedy pakehas' picked out all the large trout, and put them, into bags until the receptacles would hold no more. The balance of the trout were wantonly left to pollute the waters and float down to sea. These wicked and cruel mortals are all punished in the manner thou hast seen. Once in every 24 hours they are led forth by my gaolers and hurled into the pond, jfere the trout that are killed by explosives and other illegal methods live again, and have their revenge on the mortals who have destroyed them in such unsportsmanlike manner. “And now, o scribe, the time has come for thy departure to the realm of mortals. Perchance at some future season, thou inayat be permitted to again visit the home of the goblins, when more visions will be thy portion. Before thou departest the seal of Toi will be "iven unto thee, so that mortals may know thou hast indeed been permitted to dwell a short period with us. Guard well the treasured spal, which must be returned to me when I so command thee. And now, farewell! Aly task is o’er, and I must proceed to other parts of my underground domaino I to keep my eternal vigil of the rivers • over which I have guardianship.”

Givino- a short command to his followers, Yoi leapt up and strode off on the return journey. In a few minutes the war canoe was reached, and, having embarked, our passage down the crystal stream was soon ended. Toi disembarked. and. bidding me follow him. we soon reached the cave entrance on the cliff face. Calling on the Alaori gods to give me protection, he jerked me to the top of the stone, and gently pushed me from my insecure foothold. I remember floating* down and over the river and landing alongside my fishing gear and tucker° bag. Gazing up to the cliff I found that Toi had vanished; nor could I descry the opening of the cavern. At fist I thought the whole thing w;u> a dream, until I noticed something tightly clasped in my hand. Opening my fingers I was surprised to find a small greenstone axe. Toi had. been as good as his word, and had' given into my keeping his seal. This talisman I guard as my°most treasured possession, which will only be relinquished when I am again called upon by Toi io make another excursion into the shades inhabited by the goblins 6f the ancient Maori people.