The Lost Kuras.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume III, 1 October 1900, Page 76

The Lost Kuras.

All students of Maori lore will remember the story of the chiefs who, nearing the unknown shore of New Zealand, were deceived by the brilliant bloom of the pohutukawa, or Christmas tree, and flung away the ornaments they had brought from Hawaiiki, intending to deck themselves anew in the supposed treasures of the shore.

0 child ! listen and learn ! This is the tale of the Kuras lost : High and low the Arawa tossed When the sea kings came out of the north, Feud in the fatherland drove them forth. Tama, little one, Tama, hear ! The sun was low on the Arawa's lee When first the Maori kings of the sea Looked on the Land of the Long White Cloud ; Low was the sun that Maui had cowed. 0 child, listen and heed ! Where they stood upon the Arawa's deck, Curled and close to the haughty neck Flowed every chieftains' sacred hair, Crowned with the Kura noble's wear. Tama, little one, Tama, hear ! Panted the Arawa, cleaving the foam ; Wave-weary eyes were longing for home. Red was the shore and red was the sea — Red with the bloom of the Christmas tree. 0 child, be wise in time ! Our father's spake in unholy haste ; " A land with kingly Kuras graced ? To sea with the beggarly island wreath !" They hurled, them into the foam beneath,

Tama, little one, Tama, hear ! This was the folly our fathers wrought ; A shadow, a shimmer, their fancy bought; Or ever the Arawa touched the sand Lightly our fathers leaped to land. Tama, Tama, hold to the right ! They snatched at the garlands high and low; The branches rained their bloom as snow Over the heads with the crownless hair; " Ah, ah ! the eyes are a snare !" Tama, Tama, great was the cry ! " Ho for a net, and ho for a line To draw the Knras ont of the brine ! Without the gifts the gods have given, How shall we reach Te Beinga — heaven ?" Tama, Tama, look to the end ! Old Mahia was quicker than they, Terrible seer whom none may stay. " She gives to the wise, our mother the deep; What Mahia finds doth Mahia keep." Tama, little one, Tama, hear ! So they point at the Arawa men — " When shall the Kura crown you, when ? Who bartered faith, and gem and plumo For shadow and rain of the seaward bloom !" JevSsik Mackat.