The COURTING OF TERAHUI

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume V, Issue 3, 1 December 1901, Page 233

The COURTING OF TERAHUI

By Hongi,

Illustrated by A. Fer rival

Cave of the Reflecting Waters With the vault of many colours In the tranquil, clear depth mirrored, Save when bather plunged into it — Thither hied the sweet Rahui, In her skiff crossed the Waikato, Tripped the track through the manuka, Deftly shunned each fearsome eauld'-ou, And at last the cavern entered To disport her, as her wont was, In the soft and friendly water. All unseen the maiden thought her, But bold Rehu was not distant. Rehu saw her leave the whare, Saw her boat leap to the paddle, Watched her enter the manuka, Then he swam the rapid current,

Where the great Waikato's waters Hurry through the windiug valley Near the rapids Whakaheke, Lived the Maori maid Rahui ; Rangatira's only daughter, Pride of Orakei-Korako, Flower of all the Ngatitahu*, Loved by many a moko'd-f brave-man, Sought by many a proud ariki%. From the north came stalwart Rehu, From the south came great Tarata, Bold to woo the lovely maiden, Fierce to win the chieftain's daughter ; Mad their love was for Rahui, Deep their hate was for each other. • A tribe. ♦ Tatooed. X Hijrh chief.

For a moment hesitated ; Near the landed skiff stood thinking 1 Whether, in the raupo hiding,

He should wait his love's returning,

Or pursue the precious quarry. But a moment did he ponder, Then with agile steps he hasted, By the narrow track advancing, Threading now the boiling ngawJias* Safe in footprints of Rahui ; Cowering now in the manuka, Lest a backward look should find him ; Then, through his last vantage peering, Lo, he spied her 'mid the steam-wreaths, Flitting through the curling vapours, Furtive glance round for intruder; And, as though some simmering horror In an instant had engulfed her, From his straining eyes she vanished. Now had come the grand occasion : Sprang he from his leafy lurking, To the fateful spot hot hasting ; But his pace was soou arrested, For through rocky front before him Oped a cavern in the mountain ; With wide circuit he appi'oached it, Shunned the entrance, softly stealing 'Mong the rocky ribs that flanked it ;

vS Springs,

Found a cleft which showed the cavern, Showed it with the dome reflected Many-coloured in the water. Down he glanced and saw Rahui, Saw the rangatira maiden, Of the Jcorowai-\ divest her, Stroke each shapely arm, and ponder What the Mirror Bath could tell her Of the charms that brought such trouble Ere she stepped into the water. Then with motion slow she gambolled, Wealth of witching 1 curve revealing, As now one part, now another, Rose above the ruffled surface. Then the depth beyond she breasted, Seized the shelving rock above her, Drew herself up from the water, On the ledge her form reclining, Thinly veiled by rising vapours. Had the Mirror Cave been guarded By the dragon HotupukuJ, Rehu had the beast encountered. All his long-nursed passion clamoured, Stormed his heart-walls, and had breached them Had not valiant tongue oped passage. With slow grace the cave he entered,

t A kind of mat. J Oue of the tauiwhas ("fabled monsters)

She the while her face concealing : — "0 Rahui, sweet Rahui, Long ray heart has loved thee, sought thee ; Nought fear I that man may venture ; Wielder of the lightning mere*, Swiftest with the foe to grapple, Foremost when the heads are severed — But a word of scorning slays me, Word of scorning from Rahui. From me turn not. say thou lov'st me, And this arm shall palisade thee ; And thy beauty, fitly mated, Shall extend its wide dominion; And no less shall be thy glory When they call thee wife of Helm Than my pride that they speak truly." Scarce had left his tongue the pleading. When he plunged into the water ; Gave three lusty strokes, and grappled, With uplifted hand, the smooth rock Where Rahui was reclining,

Forth she sprang arid loosed his hand-hold, And with modest tongue reproved him: — "Mehu! aue ! te whalcama ! Peuhea aua to maham ? Kei te wa-reware koe. Kehu, shame upon your boldness ! What fell madness can hare seized you r Hoki atn ! Hoki atu ! Leave me, leave me, daring chieftain !" Backward in the depth fell Rehu, • A short, flat weapon.

Struggled t<> regain his holding ; Hack again iliiliui thrust him ; In despair he tried to grasp her As she loosed him from the ledges. But the contest soon was ended, Feebler came each fruitless effort, From his eye the fire departed, One strange look he gave Kahui, And the Mirror Bull) closed o'er him. Then the maiden heart relented, And a shriek rang through the cavern Yes, she loves him, loves him truly. Madly after him she plunges, Strength of ten her girl frame enters ;

Now she grasps the arm of Kehu, Cleaves the water with her burden, On the sintered white floor lays him, On her lap his head supporting. Ne'er had Helm such a pillow, But no gratitude lie utters. Rehu stirs not, speaks not, sees not — Is he breathing? Is he dying? Has his spirit fled to Reinga\ ? For Rahui now remembers Baneful are the Mirror waters To the stranger, if he lingers. On her korowai she lays him, Drags him from the sulphureous cavern That the fresh breeze may revive him, Pours her tears and lamentation : — • " Korero mat hi a an ! + Spirit limd.

Kua he tohu ngakan ! Alcuavei aliau

Ka mate i te pouri !

Speak, 0 speak to rue my Rehu ! 0 my heart, my heart is broken ; 1 shall die of my deep sorrow ! "

As she tenderly bends o'er him, Lo, he lifts his drowsy eyelids ; From his soul the stupor passes ; Cry of joy Rahui utters. One bewildered look, then Rehu Clasps two little hands, and gazes Into the soft eye, still swimming,

Of the rangatira maiden, Of his own, his own Rahui, Lovelier since she feai'ed she'd lost him, Lovlier since her love has conquered. In his arms he now enfolds her ; His the flower of Ngatitahu.

But a hoarse voice from the mountain, Quick the lovers start asunder. It is he — the fierce Tarata ! (In the cave Rahui hides her). Down he clarnbtTS, bellowing fury, With his tai-alm* uplifted ; And his rage is fanned to madness By the smile he sees on Rehu,

A kind of weapon.

By the radiance of his heart's joy, Which proclaims the contest ended, And Tarata's love rejected. Down with fell intent he rushes ; But no evil is in Rehu. Rehu has no mind for slaughter, All his soul good-will and peace is ; And the joy within him babbles Into laughter as Tarata, Mouthing dire revenge, approaches.

Now had Rehu felt the heni* For no weapon in his hand was ; But his lithesome limbs availed him To avoid his bulky foeman. Still with laughter rippling o'er him,

Nimbly speeds the supple Rehu Past the mud holes and the ngawhas,

"Weapon, same as tui-aho.*

With Tavata close pursuing. Soon the panting rival falters, And, behind the speedy Rohu,

Grow the vengeful ravings fainter. Back he turns, arid taunts Tarata, Who, in wrathful tones retorting, Pauses on the faithless earth-crust But a moment, reels and struggles, And, with many a hideous flounder, Sinks and sinks far from earth's Hunlighfc Through the boiling mud to Itcingn. To the cave now hastened Relm, Told his love the tragic story ; And she sorrowed for Tarata, But she smiled upon her Rehu. Then, with tardy pace, the lovers Moved to Orakei-Korako ; And the mud where sank Tarata Sent up bubbles as they passed it.