The Talking Shell

Te Ao Hou, December 1956, Page 48

The Talking Shell ((continued from p. 23) necessary to get the toheroa to Ngongotaha while they were still fresh and in good condition. The first relay of slaves had only a short distance to go before the second relay took over. The second lot reached the third relay and these raced away swiftly. In this way the ground was covered very quickly as each relay were rested and fresh for their section of the trip.’ ‘How long did it take Ihenga's slaves to reach Ngongotaha from Whakatane?’ asked Matiu. ‘It took exactly twelve hours for the return journey,’ said the pipi shell. ‘Of course conditions were good and they didn't meet any enemy people. Ihenga followed at a much slower pace and when he at last arrived home and climbed Ngongotaha to visit his friends he found the old chief very well indeed and able to talk of nothing else but his wonderful meal of fresh toheroa. Ihenga's friendship with the fairies became even closer after that and when he went off on one of his more adventurous exploring expeditions some of the patupaiarehe went with him. They journeyed as far as Moehau on the Coromandel peninsula and although Ihenga has long since joined his ancestors, the patupaiarehe are still on misty Moehau mountain. People say the music of their flutes can often be heard drifting down to the plains below.’ ‘Thank you, pipi shell for a very interesting story,’ said Matiu, ‘But I suppose you are really a toheroa shell and you came from Whakatane when Ihenga's slaves brought the meal for the patupaiarehe chief.’ ‘Yes, I am a toheroa shell. Never will I forget that marvellous journey from Whakatane to Ngongotaha on the back of one of Ihenga's slaves. How that man could run!’ ‘Well, I must go home,’ said Matiu beginning to put on his haversack, ‘Would you like me to take you home with me?’ ‘No, thank you, Matiu; just put me back where you found me. Leave enough of me out of the ground to feel the warmth of the sun. Thank you. Goodbye.’ ‘Goodbye,’ said Matiu. Thank you for the story.’