'NEHA' A TALE of Gree Lizards

New Zealand Graphic, 20 December 1894, Page 1

'NEHA' A TALE of Gree Lizards

‘ Te Aroha pona e kore e mate ’ (True love cau never'die.)

[Note. —Among the many legends of the ancient Maori, there is one that stands peculiarly alone, because in this legend was concentrated the whole mythological faith of the race. At the uttermost northern point of New Zealand is Reinga, below whose lonely cliff, on the deep water, it was supposed the Great Spirit dwelt, receiving the souls of the dead, that were borne thither by little green lizards; the transportation of thesoul through these bright-eyed little mediums being part of their faith. At night, they said, if you sat upon the shore, you would hear the splash—splash—splash, of the souls, as one by ore the little green lizards dropped them over the cliff into the arms of the Great Spirit. And when it happened that the bright eyes of the little green lizards looked upon a warrior, that warrior’s days were numbered, for the Great Spirit had called for his soul, and the obedient little lizards had come to fetch it, that they might bear it to Reinga, to the Great Spirit.]

AS the tale was told to me, I, Ringanui, son of Neha, I part my lips that I may unfold to you the story of Neha—Neha, my father. Strong in his youth, great in his manhood, Neha, my father, was among the tribes as the giant kauri in a forest of kahikatea. When twenty times the yellow leaves had fallen, when twenty suns had browned his face, Neha, my father, rose from his sleep, and looked around, for he had now outgrown his boyhood, and arrived at the time of life when it is meet that a young warrior should become worthy of his blood.

And Neha, my father, was of the blood of Pohonui, King of Battles, Lord of Loves, at whose name all the tribes trembled ; Pohonui, whose soul was so large that the green lizards were heard to moan with the weight of their burden on their journey to far Reinga ; Pohonui, whose words were soft, whose arm was strong. He was the father of Neha, of Neha, my father. But the tribe of Neha was at peace with the world, inasmuch as it feared to battle without Pohonui, Pohonui who was dead ; for no worthy leader yet had arisen to take his place, whereas other tribes stood aloof from them that had fought side by side with Pohonui, King of Battles, Lord of Loves. So peace had been for many frosts. Neha, my father, stood in the moonlight, and the little green lizards came ou: and watched him. ‘Oh, whither shall I go!’ said Neha, my father. • Whither shall 1 go that I may prove the strength of my

arm and emulate the deeds of Pohonui, my father ? Oh, Thou, who art all powerful, send me a sign that I may understand!’ Then the wind, that had been blowing from the North, on a sudden came from the South, blowing so hard that Neha, my father, was forced to go on. ‘ Lo! it is a sign,’ said he, ‘ that north must I go. Yet will I take some followers, ten trusty men.’ But the wind blew harder and harder, which Neha, my father, knew was a sign from the Great Spirit that he must go alone. So he took his greenstone mere, and feathered laiaha and strode away northward. And the green lizards watched him all the way. Under the stones, under the trees, their beady little eyes glittered and shone, shone and glittered, Yet the soul of Neha, my father, was still his own. But the little green lizards waited all the same.

And it came to pass that on this journey Neha, my father, heard first of the maiden named Te Aroha, which is Love. It was whispered by the men, and (after their manner) slandered by the women. Then Neha, my father, went into the villages and asked boldly who was this Te Aroha of whom he heard, of whom they spoke in whispers. And the men said, ‘She is beautiful.’ Anil the women said, ‘ She is frail.’ And the men said, ‘ She is holy.’ And the women said, ‘ She is proud.’ But in the woods, as he walked along, in the home of the kiwi, in the haunt of the moa, everything breathed of Aroha, which is Love. The rustling of the leaves around him, the sighing of the wind behind him, and high up the tuis sang of naught but ‘Aroha,’ ‘Aroha,’ and all the woods re-echoed ‘ Aroha.’ In the next village Neha, my father, heard the song of Aroha, which is Love: Aroha! Te Aroha! fair as the sun is Arolia ; Aroha ! Te Aroha ! Like looking in deep water is looking in her eyes, Aroha ! Te Arolia ! The music of their voices have the tuis given her, Aroha ! Te Aroha ' And the red pohutukawa gave its colour to her cheeks, Aroha ! Te Aroha ! And the sapling gave its litheness, for she beudeth with the breeze, Aroha ! Te Aroha ! Oh, her love is worth the winning, of all the fights that arc, Aroha ! Te Aroha ! And blest be he who wins the fight, the fight of Te Ngahua, For he who wins Te Ngahua's fight, wins gentle Aroha, Aroha ! Te Aroha ! And he who wins sweet Aroha is the envy of the world. Aroha! Te Aroha ! Te Aroha ! Te Aroha !

After the song was done, Neha, my father, stepped in boldly amongst them that sang. And they were young men that had come from hunting the moa, whose flesh they cooked on the fire. ‘ Tell me of this Aroha ! Where is she to be found ? And what fight is this ye sing of?’ And it came to pass that all the young men turned and looked on the form of Neha, my father, as he stood in the light of the fire, and they felt that the sight was as a feast to their eyes, inasmuch as the limbs were big and the eye was bold, but the hearts of the young men were jealous, and they cared not to tell him, fearing that his heart would be fired when he rested his eyes on Aroha. which is Love, and might join the fight of Ngahua and overcome them. For they knew not that Neha, my father, was young in the art of battle. But the old men had seen that the green lizards followed Neha, my father, and they laughed softly to themselves, for well they knew the mission of green lizards. And they advised the young men thus : • To the stranger that hath come amongst us, tell ye of

Aroha; sing again the song ; tell ye of the fight and all concerning it, and be not backward in the telling.’ Then arose one of the young men and spoke : ‘ Know you that are a stranger, and deserving of the welcome of our people inasmuch as thou art a stranger, that Aroha, whom we all love, of whom we sing, is daughter of the great chief, Ngahua, whose blood is pure. She liveth in the direction that the wind blows, in which direction we journey to-morrow, that we may take part

in the fight which her father hath organised, the arranging of which will be new to thee, who know but our usual custom. The warriors will be divided two and two. Thus they fight in pairs till one be living and one be dead. Then again are the victors divided in pairs, and so again they fight till there is but one pair left, and those twain fight till one be living and one be dead. Then doth the victor reap the reward which his bravery hath earned, for he taketh Aroha, our love, for himself.’

* There be great slaughter cf good warriors for the sake of one woman,’ said Neha. ‘Less than thou thinkest,’ answered the young man, ‘ for if after he win his first fight, a warrior behold another among the rest, whose skill he judgeth to be greater than his own, he may by the favour of Ngahua, retire from the combat, and no shame will rest on him, or his mere or his spear.’ When Neha, my father, had gone, the old men spoke'

thus, to them that were young : — • Fools ! why did ye hesitate to tell him ? Saw ye not the green lizards looking from under the stones ? Are ye so young that ye know not the mission of green lizards ?’ Then did the young men understand the advice of their fathers : ‘ Truly,’ said they, • wisdom belongeth only to grey hair.’ And it came to pass as the days went by, as the nights

went by, Neha journeyed on, not knowing how far he was from the village where Aroha, which is Love, did dwell. He had crossed over high mountains and through deep valleys where stone-speckled creeks bubble and splash, hastening to join the large stream that carries them silently to the sea, through giant kauri forests and over plains, yet he journeyed on and on, for his heart was longing to behold Te Aroha, which is Love. One day as he pushed his way through the scrub, he came to

a deep pool, and on it he saw the reflection of a maiden that washed flax in the water. Neha’s heart beat quickly for, though he saw not the figure on account of a fallen tree in front of him, yet he saw that the reflection was that of a beautiful woman. He moved on softly that she might not hear till he passed under the tree, and for the first time beheld Te Aroha, which is Love; thereupon the whole heart of Neha, my father, rushed forth to her, for her beauty was soft to tired eyes—not the

dazzling beauty of the sun, but'the beauty of a star iu a misty cloud. As he stood motionless Aroha looked up and saw him. She sprang to her feet and would have fled, but that Neha, my father, beckoned, whereupon she looked on him again. Then did she see that Neha, my father, was superior in his bearing to all the warriors that feasted in her father’s kain-ga, and she made a sign that he should come to her. He sprang over the stones and logs that divided them with a litheness and grace that spoke to the heart of Aroha, which is Love. He would have greeted her with Maori custom, but she held him back, for she remembered her father’s law that no man should greet her with Maori custom till he had won her in the fight. This she told to Neha, my father. * Then will Ikiss thee, Aroha, for that is not a custom.’

* Nay, tell me, rather, whence comest thou—thou that art fair ? What mission brought thee hither ? for,’ said she, ‘ mine eyes tell me thou art from other lands.’ ‘ls not the beauty of Aroha so great that it is spoken of, sung of, even where the wind comes from ? For where the wind starts do I dwell. Hither have I come that I may seek the truth of the beauty of Aroha which is Love.’ ‘ And much do they overpraise my charms, oh, stranger, for I am but a simple maiden that washes flax by the stream.’ * Nay, fair Aroha, they did belie thee, inasmuch as they attempted thy praise in the paltry words of our tongue, which are but meaningless iargon compared with thy real beauty.’ * Thou art a stranger, therefore thou must flatter.’

‘ Nay, Aroha! I flatter not, for Ido not seek to praise thee. Let them who are fools use soft words, and let them who are warriors fight for thee till one be living and one be dead.’ ‘ln thy country, then, is a man not a good warrior because he useth words that are soft to a maiden’s ear ?’ ‘ In my country deeds are weightier than words. ’ * I like thee for thy speech, O stranger, though my heart loves not the horror of war. ’ ‘ They speak of a battle between the warriors, of which thou art the prize. Is this the truth ?’ ‘ They fight for me on the morrow. Warriors from all the land are gathered and feast to-night at my father’s house.’ ‘ And art thou pleased because of this battle for thee ?’ * Nay ! It makes me sad that men should seek death

for me. Far rather would I choose between them, though in truth, thou who art a stranger, art more comely than them all, but my father’s law is my law.’ * Would’st thou care for me less if all my comeliness were destroyed in the fignt to-morrow ?’ * Thou ! Dost thou then battle on the morrow ?’ ‘ Most surely when thou art the prize. ’ * But thou art young. Every warrior there bears the marks and scars of many battles on him. Thou hast not even a scratch, and thy skin is like a woman’s. O stranger, I would pray thee consider well before thou—’ ‘Nay, Atoha, I have considered, and I have decided.’ ‘ Then truly do I tremble for thee. ’

•Tremble not ; for by my father's arm shall mine be guided, and Pohonui, King of Battles, Lord of Loves, was my father ’ ‘ Pohonui ? Art thou then Neha ?’

‘ Neha is my name.’ ‘Then, indeed, do I tremble for thee. Know you not the bitterness between our tribes ? Know you not that Ngahua, my father, sweasr vengeance on the blood of Pohonui, and that he offers a reward to the chief that brings him the head of Neha. Neha, son of Pohonui, know you not these things ?’ Then did Neha, my father, smile, and answer : ‘ These things knew I not, but little difference doth it make. I have vowed that tomorrow I shall win thee, or I shall die.’

‘ But what good, Neha, what good ? Even if thou win me, thinkest thou my father would sit content and know that his enemy hath his daughter ? We would be married at dusk, for my father never breaks his word, but ere darkness be in, thy head, apart from thy body, would be spat upon by the chiefs. ’

‘ But, Aroha, they know me not.’

‘ At first, perchance, they would not, but at night when they think and conjecture who you are, it will all leak out, there is but one strain of blood more noble in war than that of Ngahua and his chiefs, and that is the blood of Pohonui and his kin. Therefore will they know that thou art Neha.’

‘ Aroha, fair daughter of Ngahua, if, perchance, I conquer all my foes on the morrow, wilt thou, despite thy father’s anger, go back with me to my home where the wind starts from ?’

‘ Neha, thou hast interested me beyond all others, so if thou art killed on the morrow I will griev e or thee night and day. Only speak, and I will go with thee

now—leave my flax in the wa‘er, and straightway go to where the wind starts from, for, Neha, I would dissuade thee from the comba* on the morrow.’ ‘ Fear not, Aroha, but you would not wish it said that Neha, son of Pohonui, feared to meet his fate, inasmuch as he came to fight, and fled before the fight begun. Nay, Aroha, I will live or die for thee to-morrow.’ * So be it, Neha, but I fear me for thee ; thou knowest not the cunning of the warriors of the giant, Npau-ngau, whom all men fear.’ * Not all men, Aroha. I fear him not.’ * Thou hast not seen him. Oh ! he is big—and ugly.’ ‘ Then, he must not win. Fret not for me, Aroha. Thy love will give me strength to slay him.’ * I pray so.’ ‘ But, my love, if perchance I die, I will remember to speak thy name with my dying breath, that the world may know I loved you, Aroha.’ A tear trembled in the maiden’s eyes, as she looked up and said : ‘ Now, Neha, may you kiss me. for thy name is engraven on my heart for ever, and ever, and ever.’ Then Neha put his arm around her slender waist, drew the yielding form to his breast, and with the love-light in his eyes, kissed the sweet Aroha full upon the soft,red li_ s.

‘There be none to watch,’he said, but under the stones, and under the trees, bright little eyes were watching all the time.

When the great sun had arisen after the darkness, the warriors assembled on the square in front of Ngahua’s whare. In truth, as Aroha had said, they bore the scars of many battles on their skins, and an untamed fierceness glowed in their eyes. They danced a mad haka, with rolling eyes and straining bodies, while yet the sun had scarcely risen, but the weird light on the contorted faces made the flesh to crawl. But Neha, my father, stood aloof, for he cared not for these things, thereby creating a feeling of anger among the warriors ■ Who is this ?’ said they, ‘ that would fight ere his blood be heated by the dance ? Some babe that dreameth of his mother’s milk, rather than red blood. We will let Mahungamoi destroy him.’ Now it was well known that Mahungamoi, which is sleepy head, was a faint-hearted warrior, but Neha, my father, heeded them not, but stood aside and held his peace.

Then came the women and danced a bending dance in

front of the warriors, urging them to do great deeds. But Aroha stood apart, and was sorrowful. ‘ It is fitting,’ said the warriors, ‘ the heart of Aroha is sad because of the brave warriors that to-day will clutch the grass for her sake. Kia ora!' Then all the chiefs turned to her, waving their taiaha, and shouted till their throats swelled : ‘ Kia ora! Kia ora!' Then did the women fly to their huts and weep for them that were to die, but Aroha crept on the wall and watched. And it came to pass, in the sight of all the chiefs, that a strange thing happened ; inasmuch as ere the warriors had chosen their combatants, the baby chief, for such in their gibes they called Neha, the baby chief, whom they had scoffed, walked straight toward the giant Ngau-ngau and touched him on the shoulder with his feathered taiaha.

Then did Aroha tremble on the wall, for Neha looked but a girl amongst the chiefs, and she had heard of the tremendous might of Ngau-ngau in battle, Then she saw him fight, and then did the hidden strength of Neha, my father, reveal itself. As Ngau-ngau sprang upon him with taiaha and were Neha stood like a quivering reed, ami

suddenly springing to one side, Ngau-ngau fell to the ground. Then did Neha, my father, a foolish thing. Instead of taking advantage of this thing and killing him, he let the fallen warrior rise. The now enraged giant flew at Neha, raining down blow on blow, his heavy taiaha whizzing in the air, till it seemed mortal strength could not withstand him.

But Neha trusted not to strength. Pohonui had taught him all his cunning, and Neha contented himself with catching the blows, slanting on his taiaha, so that they might glance off harmlessly. Only once did the terrible battery force him to his knees, but the next blow the weapons struck in the middle, and both the taiaha broke in twain. Aroha clasped her hands in agony, when she saw this happen, for she feared that Neha’s courage must now end in death, but great was her joy when she saw him spring to his feet and fly at the giant with his mere. Then, in truth, did the real battle begin. All the warriors still ali”e closed round to look, but yet Aroha from her eminence could see all. She could see Ngau-ngau’s mere flashing as he rained down a hurricane of blows ; she could hear the click, click, as the weapons met. Then at last she saw Ngau-ngau pause from his onslaught, that he might take half a breath, for a space almost nothing,

but it was enough for the watching Neha, who cut under his guard like lightning, and the head of Ngau-ngau flopped in sections about his shoulders, while his teeth rolled upon the ground. Thus did Neha, my father, win the fight, for after this deed none other came forward.

Te Ngahua, father of Te Aroha, welcomed Neha, saying he was a warrior of all the Maori warriors, for he knew not that he was Neha, son of Pohonui, his enemy—Pohonui, that was dead. Neha, my father, was exalted with joy, warriors called him chief, and Aroha, the gentle Aroha, who in great joy had greeted him. would be his wife—his wife till the yellow leaves had fallen thirty times, forty times, fifty times. Would she ? Only the little green lizards knew. And it came to pass that in the night, Neha, my father, and Aroha, my mother, fled to where the wind comes from, and were seen by the Northern warriors no more. Too late they knew that Neha, their enemy, had been among them and taken their pearl, and their hearts were heavy, for they knew not whither he had fled, and could not follow. But the little green lizards knew, and followed to where the wind starts from, and there under the stones and under the trees they waited,

patiently, patiently, or little green lizards never grow tired.

In his home Neha, my father, and Aroha, my mother, dwelt while eight times the yellow leaves fell to the ground, and seven times did I see them, for after the first fall, I, Ringanui, was born. It seemed Neha and his sweet young wife would live in peace for ever, for eight frosts had come and gone, yet there was no sign that anyone remembered the night that Neha, son of Pohonui, stole away with the Pearl of the World. But Ngahua, whose blood was pure, reremembered, and the little green lizards never forgot. Neha had now developed into the lull strength and vigor of his manhood, and Aroha grew more graceful and more sweet day by day. It came to pass in the end that Ngahua gathered together his warriors and canoes, then in the darkness of the night sailed away, and it was not until the canoes were seen from the coast that Neha, my father knew of his coming. Hastily gathering the warriors that were about him, which were few, and sending messengers to call in others, bidding Aroha, my mother, and me, go into the pa for safety, he hastened to the beach, and there out on the

strip of sand and in the water, did that small band of warriors fight the canoes, till the sun had stopped midway between the heavens. But Timi, Horangi, Hanui, and other noble warriors had clutched the sand in death, and though Neha, my father, fought as human man shall never fight again, numbers bore him back—back to the very gate of the pa, where Aroha, my mother, and I were hiding. Here the small band stood awhile, but, one by one, they were driven in, till all were inside but Neha, who still fought at the gate. I could see my mother’s eye glitter as she

saw him standing, his mighty arm swinging right and left, dealing death at every blow, and though a boy, my own heart bled that Neha, the father whom I loved, should be left fighting alone against multitudes.

But the gate was narrow, and though they pressed him sore, not one step did Neha, my father, take in retreat. I could see the red gashes in his breast, while bis back shone in the sun without a scratch. I could see by the coming and going of his bosom that he was breathing hard between his teeth, and my heart was angered against the chiefs that they had left him. But when I saw the red blood gush from his head I rushed to his side and slashed with all my might. But there was one there before me who, with more dexterous hand than mine, wielded the heavy taiaha with terrible effect.

I noticed it not, for my blood was hot and my eyes blind with excitement, but I heard my father say : *Go back, Aroha, go back ! Th's is not woman's work !’ She answered not. but fought on just the same. I caught but one glimpse of Aroha, my mother, as she fought, and never, never will I forget it. With her hair dishevelled, and flashing angry eyes, her dress torn, I saw her, standing on a log, beautiful in her anger, smite down the chief Mahungamoi, as though he were a child.

Then did I see the enraged Ngahua rush blindly into the breach, and smite her to the ground with his heavy greenstone mere.. Then did 1 hear my father give a great cry, as, throwing away his weapon, in terrible frenzy, he seized the northern chief and lifted him off the ground. He gripped him by the head and by the

heels, and.'placing his knee in the small of his back, drew him backward till the bones crunched and cracked, and the head and thighs met. Then Neha, my father, threw the lifeless body into the pa, and bleeding from head to foot, took Aroha in his arms and faced the foe, who on the death of their chief had drawn back in dismay. I waited not, but called the chiefs to my side and charged. Then came another band of our chiefs from the hunting, and together, bit by bit, piece by piece, we drove them back, till at last in terror they broke and ran for the canoes. We followed and slew the stragglers

and all them that were tardy of foot. Then did I hurry back to seek Neha, my father, and be praised for the deeds I had done. There, at the gate, I saw them lying with their arms round each others’ necks, Neha, my father— Te Aroha, my mother. * They are wearied and they sleep,’ said I. But a little green lizard crossed my path travelling northmird, and when I saw it my soul shrivelled up within me. The little green lizards had started on their long, long journey to Reinga.