E—No. 7

MAORI CUSTOMS. raising little mounds of earth near them ; these mounds were named after the principal gods, and the clay balls were named after the ancestors of the child. The priests then took a branch of Karamu, Ake, or Hutu ; one of them parted the branch, and while tying one half round the child's waist, the other priest repeated this incantation, called a Tuapana (which is not the baptism, but is intended to take the Tapu from the mother and the settlement, as well as to give the child strength). If a boy, these words were used :— There are the mounds risen up ; They are on the water side, And on the shore; They stand as from Hawaiki, — As descended from the Priests of Hawaiki. There stand the mounds As representatives of the Priests, As the spirit of Tv, As the spirit of Tamatekapua, As the spirit of Tawhaki, Thus, then, thus [pointing at the mounds], Here is the post standing [He then, sticking a twig of Raurekau into the middle of the brook, on the bank of which these ceremonies took place, also a twig on each side of it, resumed] At the water side, And on the shore, And in the depths, And on the bank, And on the coast of Hawaiki. Thus, then, thus, Draw the omens from the water, — Lnmerse ourselves ; [He then sprinkled the mother and child with water with a Karamu branch.] Bring up the tapu of Ruanuku, Lay the emblems down, The omens are seen: Take off the tapu from this son, Let the tapu be taken into the water, And cleansed off. It falls ! It is going ! Take the Tapu from him ! May Tv, and Tane and Tama meet, May the light come ! May the gods Tawhaki and Tama bring light! Ball of light, come ! Come on to the Turuturu! [Meaning the branch stuck in the middle of the brook.] Dance there, as tho messenger of Tama Has brought thee from above, Rupe, come, and descend, and ascend, Gome into my dwelling, And lay on my place of birth ; Here is thy weapon, Here is thy spear, Here is thy mat. Come, Bupe, come! Here is thy path to the highest heaven, Come, 0 Rupe! Come to the mat prepared for thee. We will sleep on it. The water will swell o'er me. Descend, 0 Tutawake and Tama ! And Manumea, Toi, and Rauru. He then plants the other half of tho Karamu branch, and if it grows, the child is to be a noted warrior. The tree growing from a branch thus planted is called a " Kawa." The tree sprung from the branch used in such a ceremony over Tamati Waka Nene is shown near the Kerikeri, in the Bay of Islands. This part of the ceremony being concluded, the priests had three native ovens heated, and cooked kumaras in them. These ovens were called " Takiura," and were kindled some distance from the brook ; one was for the priest, and one for the mother, and one for the gods. After the priest had taken a number of pieces of Pungapunga (pumice stone), and placed them in a row, he named them each after one of the dead ancestors of the child. The food was then taken out of the oven intended for the gods, and presented to the pieces of pumice stone ; in offering which, the priest repeated this incantation :-- Tr> : .re is your food, Lai ii.. Eat it Yourselves. You _'re satistien. It is sweet vi you ; It is the food of Kauika and Rangi.