THE LEGEND OF THE MOUNTAINS

New Zealand Graphic, 25 December 1905, Page 24

THE LEGEND OF THE MOUNTAINS

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LILLA McKAY.

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This is the story told td me. Under a star-brighj sky. The dusky curtails offflnight drew down, Lights glimrhered faingin the distant town,The dark riverairrw'mured bv.

On Ruapehu his first, beams fell——— And upward she glanced, and smiled I hen red was the East with colours gay,And the sun-god, Ra, sped on his way, By her loveliness beguiled.

Up from m 0 j|R4RE-We, rUru r®?e, n'RhT, Far to Hew; Listening, (great 'FSranaki kne-.y^,/• Of Ruapehu’s flight.

Then forth great Taranaki went, Travelled he night and day, Tawhiri, god of the mournful breezi Tangaroa, god of the rolling seas, Sped him upon his way.

Hear ye the tale, O pakchu, i The legend my fathers told. . Long, long ago was it told to mo, V’ Of Ruapehu, the fair to see, / ><Bel<ived of the brothers bold.

Strong Tongariro, the hunter bold. Swift through the woods he trod. Over the plains the mca he chased. Guided his footsteps as he raced, lane, the forest god.

But did Ruapehu her face avert, And the sun-god, Ra, in vain Looked for her smile from the gates of dawn, .There never was brightness seen that morn, But only the mist and ram.

Then, in the wartime, to the South .Great Taranaki sped; And Tongariro, with stars above, To fair Ruapehu told his love, ' And together North they fled.

Called he the tribes together, then Spake he to friends and foes, “ Far to the North my brother flies, Soon by this spear be surely dies, Maker ot untold woes.’’

And Ruapehu, the beautiful, Was Taranaki’s wife, Taranaki, the man of war! Mighty in days that are no more, Foremost in every strife.

Many a mountain high he frpSsfd; Many a river deep; ’ / ’Aty Oft through the forests dark he-CTtepi, Down by the reedy lake-he d Under the hillside steep. , i

Out from the whare’s shade we came, Into the dim-lit land, Ropata, chieftain, bent and grey, Pointing with trembling hand aw'ay, Whither the mountains stand.

Giants were the brothers and chieftains twain, Noble and great were they, Justly and well they ruled the land, Never a foeman dared to stand Where they had marked their way.

In the pale East each morn arose. Great Ra, the sun-god bright, Flinging the sunlight over the earth, Waking all things to a new day’s birth, Setting afar the night.

Long were the years they lived in peace. Nothing they spake of strife, But Tongariro, the hunter bold. Long he loved with a love untold, Great Taranaki’s wife.

Weary he rested on the plain. Lingering for the dawn; Crimsoning clouds in the East he spied, Ruapehu is near,” he cried, "Fairest of creatures born.”

All night the lightning flashed, all day With thunders loud they fought; Ruapehu, in her hiding-place. Shuddered, and moaned, and hid her face, For the mischief she had wrought.

There on the highest cliffs’'her stood. And wept he, all forldfrtS" M Over the hills the sun-god came. Calling on Ruapehu’s name, Bidding her greet the morn.

And slowly now in the great ch Downward the, waters flow,; Sadly they sing as they Alwavs a mui Of TaranaldyjßMSß| "' r

I hen I onganro stepped from the hills, Downward unto the plain, “ Ruapehu is here," he said, “Together we tight till one be dead. The living one shall her gain.”

All the great gods of the sea and land. Fast to the battle came, Long it was neither night nor day, Great mists of blackness hid the fray. Pierced by the lightning's flame.

Still on the black-hued plain they fought, Till Tongariro fell. Stricken by Taranaki’s spear; Sternly his brother hade trim hear Thai which he had to tell.

■wned with a chilling crown of whik Standing for all to see; ring, unquenchable fires within—- » shall you show your love a sin, This shall your future be.”

Still do they hold their fires within. Still do the mountains stand; And Ropata, chieftain bent and grey, To the dim mountains far away. Pointed with shaking hand. I 111 A M< KAY. Manukau Road, Parnell, Auckland.

Then to the ocean the taniwhas Seaward the moas ran. Shattered was every tree that Every bird from the forests flew, Stricken was every man.

“ Wounded you lie before me now. You who have rent my heart. Two lonely mountains in the land Ruapehu and you shall stand. Never again to part.

Then from the earth two mountains rose Burning, stood side by side, And Taranaki, the giant chief, Strode from the place in lonely grief. Out to the ocean wide.

When he the burning mountains saw, ’Mid blackened plain and wood. On Taranaki his anger turned, Into a mount that raged and burned He changed him where he stood

, far in the West he stands alone, J&JMj tale all men may know— Ruapehu. his lovely wife, gg£)f Tongariro, slain in the strife, a year ago.