LEGEND OF THE WEST COAST MAORIS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 456, 23 January 1869, Page 3

LEGEND OF THE WEST COAST MAORIS.

The following legend of the Maori tribes who inhabited the West Coast of the Middle Island was communicated by Dr. Haast to Dr. Hochstetter, and is published by him in his book on New Zealand :

" The most ancient tribe that ini habited the South Island, is said to have borne tbe name of "Waitahai This tribe was exterminated by the Ngatiuiainoes, who had come over from the Wanganui, North Island. The Ngatimamoes lived on the shores of Cook Strait and subsisted principally on the gigantic Moas. They were subsequently joined by the Ngatitaras, who likewise came from the North Island ; and when their friends, the Ngatikuris, heard of the charming beauty of the new country, aud of the excellent eel-fishery there, they also emigrated from tbe North Island to the South Island. Now hostilities arose. The Ngatikuris joined their kindred tribe, the Ngatimamoes. The latter in the course of long and bloody wars were driven more and more to the South and from the coast into the interior of the island, to take up their abode among the inhospitable Southern Alps. A out a century ago—thus related Taitai, a chief from the West Coast of the South Island, who died 1801—the Ngatimamoes were driven back as far as Jackson's Bay (lat. 440), whilst their Pahs at the mouth of the Mawbcra (now Grey river) fell into the hands of the Ngatitahus. At that time the Ngatimamoes were led by a famous warrior, who on account of his quick and sure execution was called Te Uira, '• the lightning." They were in possession of a precious " mere punamu " (battle axe of nephrite), named by them Taonga or Tonga, which they regarded as the last symbol of their tribe, and which they held in high esteem, like the banner round which a regiment rallies amid the din of battle. The Ngatitahus had endeavoured for a long time, but without success, to get possession of Te Uira and his precious mere ; at last they accomplished this by a stratagem, and conveyed their captive to their pah on the Arahura river. Here he was tied to a tree aud was destined to be tortured to death. But in order to share tbe pleasure ol seeing Te Uira die with their friends from Mawbera Pah, the execution was postponed till after their expected arrival. Meanwhile Te Uira managed to escape. Possessed of great strength of body, he burst "his fetters and fled from his pursuers into the depth of the bush. He was thus again free, but before returning to his kindred and friends, he determined to try whether he could not recover also the mere punamu ; for he was ashamed to return home without that jewel of his tribe. At nigbt-fall he stole up to the enemy's pah, and watched for an opportunity to accomplish his design. This soon presented itself. One of the Maoris left the watch-fire to refresh himself by walking to and fro in the cool nightair. Swift as a tiger Te Uira bounded upon him, strangled him, and after having donned the cloak of his victim to disguise himself, he calmly walked up to the fire and sat do wn among his enemies. They were just entertaining themselves with tbe wonderful mere, handing it around and expressing their unfeigned admiration for the same. Te Uira, who knew that the man he bad just killed, and whose cloak now served him as a disguise, stuttered, imitating tbe organic defect asked for the mere. No sooner did he feel the wonted weapon in bis band, than he dealt a blow to the left and another to the right, striking down the two men, between whom he sat; and witb one bound he w as out of their midst and speediug towards the woods, without his enemies being able to overtake him. When they saw that Te Uira had escaped from them, they endeavoured to cut off at least his retreat to his pah, and to this end proceeded forthwith along the coast to Jackson's Bay. They found the pah well fortified and were not able to take it. But on the second day they saw a fire blazing on the top of a steep rock to the rear of the pah. This was a preconcerted signal of the Ngatimamoes to retreat into the interior of the country to a place previously

fixed on. At dead of night and with the least possible noise they left the beleaguered pah and retired into the wilderness, taking with them the onlytoken of their former greatness, their mere punamu. Since that time tbey have never been heard of; but there is a rumour .current, that in the interior of the Province of Otago, in the wild, unexplored mountainous regions, are living the last of the Ngati-ma-oes. The Maoris of the coast represent them as savages, and both natives aud European settlers pretend to have seen such wild Maoris, who are said to be extremely timid.