A TAAWHAKI TE TOHUNGA KUTIKUTI HIPI

Te Ao Hou, June 1961, Page 17

A TAAWHAKI TE TOHUNGA KUTIKUTI HIPI na HIRINI MOKO Epeehea ana, e hoa.” He paatai teenei ki a Taawhaki. Ka whakahoki a Taawhaki, “E pai ana!” “Ka taea e koe te toru rau?” “Ee, ka taea! Ngaawari noa iho!” Kei te haruru ngaa miihini, hoihoi ana te whare kutikuti hipi. Kei te rere ngaa puruma a ngaa pirihoo ki te tahitahi i ngaa wuuru. Kei te rere ngaa miihini kutikuti. Heke ana te werawera o te tangata—tino kino ke! Maringi mai te werawera haere tonu ngaa mahi, haere tonu ngaa miihini, ngaa puruma, ngaa pirihoo, haere tonu. Ka kumea mai teenaa hipi ka makaia atu teenaa ki waho. Puta mai ano he hipi haere ano teetahi. E whaa ngaa taangata kutikuti. Ko Wiremu te mea koroua o raatau. E ono tekau pea oona tau. Kua puuhina oona makawe, oona paahau; engari kei te kutikuti hipi tonu ia. He tangata tino pakari a Wiremu, he koroua tino kaha ki te mahi. I a Te Whiu te tuuranga tuarua. He tangata tino nui teenei; he tangata roa hoki. Te pai o te hanga o te tangata, ko Te Whiu teenaa. Maatotoru ana ngaa ringaringa, me te nui hoki o te puku i te mahi kai pia!1 Pia = Waipiro Ko te tuuranga tua toru i a Kaihuka. He tangata moomona ia, he tangata aroha i te tangata ahakoa ko wai, aa, he tangata tino reka ki te waiata. He autaia tonu ki te kutikuti hipi. Ko te taahae nei ko Taawhaki, i a ia te tuuranga tuawhaa. Ko ia te tamaiti o te tokowhaa nei, aa, ki toona nei whakaaro ko ia te tino tangata! Naa, kei te haruru ngaa miihini, kei te rere te wuuru, kei te pahupahu mai ngaa kurii i waho, i roto. Kei te aakina ngaa hipi e te hiiooo kia kikii ngaa waahi pupuri. Mai i ngaa kaikutikuti, tae noa ki ngaa pirihoo, ki ngaa perehimana, ki te kuki i toona kaauta, kei te haere te mahi, kei te haere. Ka tiiwaha ake a Kaihuka, “E peehea ana ta taatau kuuao? E pai ana!” THE EXPERT SHEARER by SID MEAD Translated by the Author How are you doing, friend?” This was a question directed at Taawhaki. He replied, “I'm doing alright!” “Do you think you'll get your three hundred?” “Assuredly! It will be easy!” There is the clatter of machinery filling the woolshed with a bustling din. The brooms of the “fleecos” flash as they sweep away the wool. Onward fly the hand-pieces. And the perspiration of man freely flows—oh, very badly. But, though the perspiration falls the work continues, onward go the shearing machines, the brooms and the fleecos. A sheep is dragged in and another is pushed out. As one appears another one disappears. There were four shearers in this gang. Wiremu was the ancient one among them. He was about sixty years old. His hair was grey, so too his whiskers, but he was still shearing. A hardy man was Wiremu, an old man who knew how to work. He had the first stand. Te Whiu occupied the second stand. He was a big man and a tall one. A wonderful specimen of man, that was Te Whiu! Thick were his arms, and he had developed a paunch through much drinking of beer. The third stand was held by Kaihuka. He was a well-fed man, a lover of his fellowmen no matter whom, and he was a very sweet singer. And he wasn't a bad shearer either. This fellow Taawhaki had the fourth stand. He was the baby among this foursome and in his opinion, he was the best man among them. Now, the machines are rumbling, the wool is flying off and the dogs are barking outside and in. The sheepo is urging the sheep along to fill the holding pens. From the shearers right down to the fleecos, to the pressmen, to the cook in her kitchen, the work is proceeding, is proceeding. “How is our baby doing? Alright?” shouted Kaihuka. Taawhaki realised this banter was meant for him, so he said,

Kua moohio a Taawhaki moona te koorero nei, ka mea ia, “E koro, Wiremu! Ko koe teenei e koorerotia nei e te taahae nei e Kaihuka! Kohetetia!” Ka kata atu a Taawhaki, me te haere tonu o te mahi. Ka karanga te koroua, “E kii! E kii! Ko koe tonu teenaa e koorerotia nei, Taawhaki! Kua ngenge koe, tamaiti!” Ka kata mai te koroua ki a Taawhaki. Kua mutu teenaa hipi te kuti, ka haere a Taawhaki ki te hopu i teetahi ano. Ka tiiwaha atu ia ki a Wiremu, “Kia kaha, e koro! E peehea ana te tuaraa o te koroua? Ka whati pea!” Ka whakahoki mai teeraa, “E whati ki hea! I te rima karaka ko tou pea te tuaraa ka whati aakuanei! Hei aha, kia kaha poai! Whaaia te toru rau! Kia Kaha!” Ka kii mai a te Whiu, “Hei aha te koorero, e hoa ma. Ka pau noa o koorua hau i te koorero. Kia kaha ki te mahi!” Ka haere ia ki te hopu hipi maana, i reira ka haaparangi te waha, “Hii-poo! He hipi ano!” Ka mea atu oona hoa, “Ka pai te haere a Te Whiu! Whakarongo atu, kua pau ke, aana hipi!” Ka kii ake ko Kaihuka, “Aue! ngaa pia o te Kirihimete e maringi mai nei i taku kiri!” Ka karanga atu a Taawhaki ki a ia, “E koe na! E inu ano!” Ka koorero ano a Kaihuka, “Me kai ano, ka tika! Ka pau katoa mai hoki i teenei mahi!” Naa, kei te heke te werawera o Kaihuka—piia-taata mai ana toona kiri! Ka mutu te hipi ka kapo atu ia i tana taaora, ka taaora i a ia. Heemanawa ana toona ahua. Ka mahi raatau, aa, ka tangi, te pere mo te inu ti o te ata. Ka mutu ngaa mahi, ka mutu hoki te haruru o te miihini, marino ana. Kua rere ngaa ringaringa ki te kapu ti, ki te paraaoa, ki te keke. Kua inu i te inu a te hanga mate-inu. Kua noho ngaa tinana ngenge ki raro ki te whakataa, ki te koorerorero. I a raatau e inu ti ana, ka kautehia ngaa hipi kua mutu te kutikuti i eenei mahinga e rua. Koinei ngaa kaute: Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki Mahinga Tuatahi 53 55 48 75 Mahinga Tuarua 60 61 53 80 — — — — 113 116 101 155 — — — — KAAORE HE WHAKANGA Ka pau te haawhe haaora ka tiimata ano ngaa mahi. Ko te tuumanako a Taawhaki kia puta i a ia te whaa tekau maa rima i teenei mahinga poto-poto kia aahua ngaawari ai te mahi moe te ahiahi, Ka kii atu a Te Whiu ki a ia, “E pai ana to haere, Taawhaki. Kia kaha, e hoa, me kore e eke i a koe te toru rau i teenei raa!” “Old man, Wiremu, that fellow Kaihuka is talking about you! Growl him!” Tawhaki laughed at him as he continued to work. The old man called out, “Well, well, now! It is yourself indeed that has been mentioned, Taawhaki! Are you tired, child?” And the old man laughed at Taawhaki. When Taawhaki finished his sheep, he went to fetch another. As he did so he called to Wiremu, “Come on, old man! How is the old man's back? It will break perhaps!” He replied, “Break, will it! At five o'clock it might be your back that will break! Never mind, be strong, boy! Pursue your three hundred. Come on now!” Te Whiu said to them, “For what is all this talk? You will consume all your energy talking. Get on with the work.” He went to fetch another sheep. Then he yelled, “Sheepo! Some more sheep!” His friends teased, “My word, Te Whiu is moving along wonderfully. Hearken to him, his pen is empty.” Then said Kaihuka, “Alas, the Christmas beer which is flowing from my skin!” “That will teach you! Drink some more!” Taawhaki called to him. Kaihuka replied, “It is right, that I should partake again. You lose it all with this job!” The perspiration was dripping from Kaihuka, so that his skin glistened. When he finished his sheep, he made a grab for his towel to wipe himself. He looked flushed and weary. They worked on until finally the morning smoko bell rang. The work stopped and the noise of the engine ceased so all was peaceful. Hands reach out for cups of tea, for bread and for cake. They drink in the manner of the very thirsty. Tired bodies seat themselves to rest and yarn. As they drank their tea, the sheep which had been shorn in these two runs were counted out. Here are the tallies: Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki 1st 53 55 48 75 2nd 60 61 53 80 — — — — 113 116 101 155 — — — — NO REST FOR TAWHAAKI The half hour passed and once more the work began. In this short run Taawhaki wanted to shear forty-five so as to make his work a little easier for the afternoon. Te Whiu said to him, “You are going along nicely, Taawhaki. Be strong, oh friend, so you will reach three hundred today!” Wiremu said, “Be strong, child, or else your old relative will beat you!” Kaihuka too had his say, “Yes, you be strong, or Kuia won't love you any more! Or is it Mereana that you desire?” Mereana was one of the

Ka kii atu ko Wiremu, “Kia kaha tamaiti, kei piiti koe i too koroua!” Ka koorero atu hoki a Kaihuka, “As, kia kaha koe kei kore a Kuia e aroha atu ki a koe! Ko Mereana raanei taau e piirangi ana?” Ko Mereana teetahi o ngaa pirihoo; he koohine aataahua, moohio hoki ki taana mahi. Ka whakahoki atu a Taawhaki, “Ei, kei te pai! He ngaawari noa iho teenei mahi. Ka kite koutou, ka taea te toru rau!” Ka rere ngaa miihini kutikuti. Haruru ano te whare i te turituri o teenei mahi. Kei reira teenaa mea te hipi, piripiri ana, e tatari ana kia kutia o raatau wuuru. Kei reira te rangatira o aua hipi, e maatakitaki ana i aana herengi e ngahoro mai ana i ngaa tuaraa o aana hipi. E tu mai ana hoki te rangatira naana teenei roopu kutikuti hipi; kei te kite atu ia i aana nei herengi e puta atu ana ki ngaa iaari i waho. Kaaore e taea e te tangata mahi te tu noa; he mahi kei te haere. Me korikori te tinana ka tika; ki te kore kaaore he moni hei utu i ngaa nama. Ka mauria mai he hipi, e Taawhaki, ka pupuritia ma oona waewae. Ka kumea te taura hei tiimata i te miihini kutikuti. Haruru mai ana, ka mau te ringa ki te miihini. Tiimata mai te kuti i te uma, haere atu ki raro ki te puku, ka huakina. Ka haere ki ngaa uu, tae atu ki ngaa kuuhaa, ki waho inaianei o te waewae maui. Haere i reira ki te tou, ki te whiore, ki te taha raro o te tuaraa. Ka rere te miihini ki te kuti i runga o te maahunga. Ka neke ngaa waewae o Taawhaki. Huakina inaianei ko ngaa wuuru o te kakii mai i te uma puta noa atu i te kauae. Haere atu, ko te taha o te kanohi, ko te kakii tae noa ki te pakihiwi. Ka huri haere te kaikuti me te whakatakoto i te hipi. Ka karawhiua te “boomerang”. Mutu atu teenaa ka kuumea mei te maanunga, kutia ko teeraa taha o te kanohi, o te kakii tae noa ki te pakihiwi, huri atu ki te waewae. Haere atu inaianei ki raro ki te waewae o muri. I teenei waa ka rere mai te pirihoo ki te tiki mai i te wuuru. Ka hoatu te ringa whakamutunga, makere mai ana te wuuru o teenaa hipi. Kua mutu ia te kuti, makaia atu ma te ara ki te iaari. Ka hoatu he hinu mo te miihini. Kuumea ko te taura, mutu ana te turituri a te miihini kutikuti! Kua mauria e te pirihoo te wuuru, kua whiua ki te teepu. Tae mai inaianei ko te puruma hei tahitahi i te tuuranga o te kaikuti. Mutu kau ana teenei mahi a te pirihoo kua tae mai ano he hipi hei kuti. Kaore he whakangaa mo te kaikuti e whai ana i te toru rau. Mutu ana taana kuti i te hipi ka mau ia ki te taaora hei taaora i nga werawera i toona kanohi, i toona rae. Naa, hopukina he hioi. haere ano te mahi nei, haere tonu. He wuuru! He wuuru! He wuuru! Kei konei, kei konaa, kei koraa! He hipi! He hipi! He hipi! Aue mai, Aue atu, Aue tonu! He werawera, he puehu, he turituri! fleecos; a very handsome girl and one who knew her job. Taawhaki replied, “Look, it's O.K.! The job is easy. You will all see, three hundred will be reached!” The hand-pieces fly. The woolshed is reverberating with the noise of this work. That creature the sheep, was there in hundreds, packed close together, waiting to be shorn of their wool. There was the owner of those sheep, watching his shillings falling off the backs of his sheep. There stood too the contractor of this shearing gang, seeing his shillings going out the chutes to the yards outside. The working man is not able to stand idly gazing, for there is work to be done. He has to keep his body in motion, for if he doesn't there will be no money to pay his debts! Taawhaki brought in a sheep which he held with his legs. He pulled the rope to start the machine. As soon as it buzzed, his hand grabbed hold of it. He started shearing from the breast going downwards to the stomach. He opened out the wool. He continued down to the udder, thence inside the legs, to the outside now of the left leg. From there to the rear, to the tail and the lower part of the back. The machine then flew to cut the wool at the top of the head. Taawhaki shifted his legs. He opened up now the wool at the neck from the breast right up to the jaw. From there to the side of the face to the neck, down to the shoulder. The shearer gradually turned, laying the sheep down as he did so. Then he swept on with the “boomerang”. That completed he pulled up the head and he shore the side of the face, of the neck, down to the other shoulder, and to the leg. He swept down now to the hind leg. At this point, the fleeco rushed in to collect the wool. He gave the final stroke and the fleece of that sheep was off. When it had been shorn the sheep was thrown down the chute to the yards. He oiled his machine. He pulled the rope that ended the noise of the shearing machine. The fleeco has taken the wool away sprcading it out upon the table. The broom has arrived to sweep clean the shearing board. As soon as this work is completed another sheep has arrived. There is no rest for a shearer wishing to reach three hundred. When he finishes shearing a sheep he grabs his towel to wipe away the perspiration on his face and his brow. He catches another sheep and the procedure is repeated. Wool! Wool! Wool! It is here! It is there! It is beyond! Sheep! Sheep! Sheep! Bleating here! Bleating there! Bleating all the time! Perspiration, dust and din! The Maori labours for his money! A MEAL OF FERMENTED CRAYFISH The lunch bell has been rung. The work has stopped again. Talk is now centred on food.

Ka mahi te Maori aana herengi! Kua tangi te pere mo te tina. Kua mutu ano ngaa mahi. He kai he koorero inaianei. Ka kii ake a Taawhaki, “He aha raa ngaa kai ma taatau? Kei te tino matekai au!” ME KAI KOURA MARA Ka mea atu te koroua, a Wiremu, “Eei, kia aata kai, kei kore e puta te toru rau nei!” Ka koorero ko Kaihuka, “To kaha maarika ki te kai, kaaore e kitea atu he aha te painga o ngaa kai e kainga na e koe!” Ka whakahoki a Taawhaki, “Mo te ahiahi nei koe kite ai i te painga. Kia eke te toru rau, naa, ka kite koe!” Ka mea atu a Te Whiu, “Ee, whakarongo atu ki ta taatau tamaitil Kaa pai!” Ka kainga te puuhaa, te kaapeti, te miiti, te riiwai, te purini me te kiriimi. Maarakerake ana te teepu i a raatau! “Aapoopoo,” e kii ana a Wiremu, “me whaangai a Taawhaki ki te koura mara. Koinaa te kai a te rangatira. Naa, ki te eke taana toru rau aakuanei, e tika ana me kai ia i ngaa kai a te rangatira.” “Ei, kia tika raa!” Ko te kii teenei a Taawhaki, “Kaare ahau e mohio ana ki teenaa kai. Waiho ma te rangatira ano taana kai.” Ka mea a Te Whiu, “He tika tonu te koorero a te koroua. Koinaa te kai e whaangaia ana ki ngaa kaikuti inaa eke te toru rau i a raatau. Kia moohio koe, he kai ano hei whakahoonore i te whaanautanga o te peepi, he kai ano hei whakahoonore i te toru rau.” Ka kii atu a Taawhaki, “Eei, kaaore au e kai i teenaa kai!” Naa, ka koorero ake ano a Wiremu, “E hoa, kaaore e taea te peehea. Mehemea ka eke te toru rau na, he koura mara te kai kei muri!” Ka mea ano a Taawhaki ki a raatau, “Ee, kei te wene koutou kei eke te toru rau i aau! Kaati noa te harawene e hoa ma!” Ko ngaa kaute mo te mahinga tuatoru ko eenei e whai ake nei. Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki 40 41 35 44 KA UAUA TE MAHI Ka haere ano te mahi. Ka mahi, aa, puta noa ki te waa inu ti o te ahiahi. Ngaa kaute inainanei mo ngaa mahinga e whaa, koinei:— Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki 53 55 48 75 60 61 53 80 40 41 35 44 60 63 54 78 — — — — 213 220 190 277 — — — — Said Taawhaki, “I wonder what food has been prepared for us? I'm starving!” The old man, Wiremu, said, “Now, don't eat too much or you may not put out this three hundred!” And Kaihuka said, “You know, for the amount you eat, I wonder what good that food does you!” Taawhaki replied, “In the afternoon, you will see what good. When the three hundred has been reached, then you will see!” Te Whiu spoke up, “I say, listen to our child! How neat!” Then were eaten puuhaa, cabbage, meat, potatoes and pudding and cream. They laid bare the table! “Tomorrow,” Wiremu was saying, “we shall feed Taawhaki on fermented crayfish. That is the food befitting for the chiefly class. Now, if you should do your three hundred today it is only right that you should eat the food of chiefs.” “Ei, I don't think you're right!” This was Taawhaki speaking, “I don't know how to eat that food. Let the chiefs eat their own food.” Te Whiu pursued the point, “What the old man says is very true. That is the food which is given to any shearer reaching three hundred for the first time. You should know, that the birth of a baby is honoured by consuming a certain ‘food’, so is the first three hundred celebrated by its own particular kind of food.” Taawhaki said to him, “Ah, I won't be eating any of that food!” Now Wiremu spoke again, “What is to be, can't be avoided. If you should reach three hundred, then a meal of fermented crayfish will follow.” Taawhaki said to them, “Now, look here, you are all jealous that I might manage three hundred! Cease your jealousy, my friends!” The tallies for the third run were these following: Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki 40 41 35 44 THE JOB GETS TOUGHER The work went on. They worked and worked and worked ‘till at last came the afternoon smoko break. The tallies for the four runs were these: Wiremu Te Whiu Kaihuka Taawhaki 53 55 48 75 60 61 53 80 40 41 35 44 60 63 54 78 — — — — 213 220 190 277 — — — — This thought occurred to Taawhaki, “Twenty-three to go. Will I be able to manage it? My body grows weary, it is tired; but I dare not reveal it to my friends or they would jeer at me!”

Ka puta mai teenei whakaaro kia Taawhaki, “E rua tekau ma toru kei te toe. Ka taea raanei e au, ka peehea raanei? Kua maauiui te tinana inainei, kua ngenge; engari kaua e whakaaturia ki aku hoa kei kataina au!” Kei te haere te mahi. Kei te haere ngaa miihini, ngaa puruma. Koinei te mahinga whakamutunga mo teenei raa. Pau katoa ngaa kaha o ngaa kaimahi ki te mahi i a raatau mahi. Engari ki te maatakitaki atu kua aata haere te korikori. Kua aahua raruraru te tuaraa o te koroua. Mutu ana te hipi, roa noa atu ka torotika te tuaraa, ka hiikoi ngaa waewae. Ko Kaihuka, kei te maringi tonu ngaa pia o te Kirihimete, kaatahi ka tino heemanawa rawa atu. Kua aahua roa tonu a Te Whiu e taaora ana i a ia, i mua i tana hopu hipi maana. Ee, kua tiimata ngaa mahi whakaroaroa. Naa, ko te taahae nei ko Taawhaki, kua mutu aana mahi whakatoi. He mahi tino uaua inaianei. Ka kite ngaa hoa kua tata te pau o ngaa hau o ta raatau tamaiti. Ka tiimata ta raatau aki i a ia. Ka mea atu teetahi, “Kia kaha, e hoa! Kara-whiua, kia kai ai koe i te koura mara!” Ka mea ake ano teetahi. “Kia kaha poai, kei te aroha maatau ki a koe!” KO KUIA RAANEI, KO MEREANA RAANEI Ka kii ake a Kaihuka, “Ana, e Mere! Me noho tonu koe ki toona taha, kia piri tonu, kia kaha ai toona manawa! Ko koe tonu hei pirihoo moona.” Ka tiiwaha mai a Te Whiu, “Ko Mereana raanei, ko Kuia raanei? Teenaa, kia kitea. Me tiimata te whakahuahua inaianei. Ko Mereana teenaa hipi e kutia na!” Ka ruuruu mai ngaa pakihiwii o te koohine raa, ka mea ia, “Wii, ko koe ano te hipi!” Ka whakahuatia ngaa hipi, ko Kuia … ko Mereana … ko Kuia … ko Mereana. Kei waho eenaa hipi. Tekau maa iwa kei te toe. tekau maa waru … tekau maa whitu … ko Kuia … ko Mereana … ko Kuia. Naa, kei te haere te ringa nui o te karaka, i taana haere kaaore nei he whakamutunga. Engari ko te kaha o te tangata he mutunga toona. E ono ngaa hipi kei te toe ka eke ai te toru rau a Taawhaki. Kei te aakina e ngaa kaimahi katoe o te whare kutikuti hipi. “Kia haka … kia kaha!” Kua pau ke te hau o Taawhaki. Kua kore ke ia e moohio, e aha ana ia. Heoi ano kei te rongo atu ia i ngaa reo e kii mai ana. “Kia kaha, Taawhaki … Ma Kuia teenaa … kia tere, tiikina ano he hipi … kaare i konaa, e hoa! Araa ke! … pupuritia. e hoa! E rima kei te toe! … E rima kei te toe … Kia kaha!” Naawai, aa, kua tiimata a Taawhaki ki te koorero ki a ia ano.” Kia kaha … E rima kei te toe … Kia kaha, kia kaha, kia kaha!” Kua taumaha katoa ia, he taumaha e peehi ana i a ia kia takoto. kia moe i te moe e warewaretia The work still continues. The machines are traversing their devious paths, so too are the brooms. This is the final run. The workers exert all their effort to carry out their work. But if you were observing them you would notice that their movements had slowed down considerably. The old man's back was beginning to trouble him. When he completed a sheep it was quite a long time afterwards that his back straightened and his legs began to move. As for Kaihuka, his Christmas cheer was still oozing from his skin and he looked more hot and bothered than before. Te Whiu lingered over the act of wiping his brow before catching another sheep. Yes, it looked as though delaying tactics were being employed. And now, this fellow Taawhaki had given up all his cheekiness. Ah, the work was really tough going now. His friends noticed that the strength of their “child” was nearly spent. So they began urging him on. One cried out, “Come on, friend! Into it, so you will eat of the fermented crayfish!” And another cheered, “Come on, boy! We are all behind you!’ KUIA OR MEREANA Then Kaihuka spoke, “There, Mere! You stay close to his side, very close, so his heart will grow strong! You be his personal fleeco!” And Te Whiu yelled out, “Will it be Mereana, or shall it be Kuia? Now then, let us find out. Begin naming the sheep. That one he is shearing is Mereana.” The damsel shrugged her shoulders and said, “Wee, you are a sheep yourself!” In any case, the sheep were named, Kuia … Mereana … Kuia … Mereana. Out went those sheep. There were nineteen left … eighteen … seventeen … Kuia … Mereana … Kuia. Now, the big hand of the clock travels its journey that has no end. But there is an end to the strength of man. There are six sheep left to make up Taawhaki's three hundred. He is being urged on by every worker in the woolshed, “Be strong … be strong!” But the stuffing had been knocked out of Taawhaki. He barely knew what he was about. All that kept him going were the voices beckoning to him, “Be strong, Oh Taawhaki! … That is Kuia now … Be quick, fetch another sheep … Not there, man! … Over there … hold it, friend … five left … Five left … Be strong!” With all this ringing in his ears he soon began talking to himself, “Be strong … five left … be strong … Be strong, be strong!” He was overcome with weariness; a weariness which was pressing heavily upon him, urging him to lie down, to sleep, the sleep in which is forgotten all the weariness and pain of the human body

ai ngaa mauiuitanga o te tinana tangata. Aue, te taumaha o te hipi! Me peehea e mau ai i a ia? Puritia kia mau. Puritia, to mana. Ka mahara ia ki ngaa kupu o teetahi waiata e mea nei, “Puritia to mana.” Engari he aha raa eetahi atu o ngaa kupu? Hei aha ma wai eenaa kupu! Te hipi nei … kutia kia makere mai ooona wuuru. E hia kei te toe? Ko teenei anake! Kaaore pea. Mehemea ko teenei anake ka kaha ia, ka eke te toru rau. Ka rongo ano ia i ngaa reo e mea mai ana “Ko Kuia teenaa … kia kaha, e hoa! … kua tata te mutu inaianei … Ka taea e koe, ka taea … E rua kei muri … ka taea … kia kaha … ka taea!” TE TORU RAU Ka rongo atu ia i te koroua, i a Wiremu e kii ana “Kua tata ke te moe o te paka nei! Aakina, e hoa ma!” Ka whakaaro ia, “Te koroua, taku koroua … kei raru au i te koroua … kei whati ko au, kaaore ko te koroua. Engari teenaa, kaore au e whati, kia eke raano te toru rau, kia eke raano!” Kotahi te hipi kei te toe. Kua umere te whare, “Ka taea, Taawhaki! Kia ngaawari te haere, kei motu te kakii o te hipi na i a koe! Naa, tiikina te hipi na. Ko Kuia teenaa. Aae, kia pai te mahi, kia pai, kia pai.” Kua mutu te mahi a ngaa hoa o Taawhaki. Kua mine mai ki te maatakitaki i ta raatau toa, ki te aki, ki te koorero atu, ki te whakapatipati. Ko o raatau reo, o raatau umere, hei awhina i a ia. Ka mahi a Taawhaki. Ka kitea tonutia te kaha o toona ngenge. Aata haere ana toona ringa kutikuti, taumaha ana. Kua wherowhero katoa toona kanohi, aa, e maringi mai ana te werawera i toona kiri. Ka mahi, ka mahi, aa, ka mutu. Ka kuumea te taura whakamutu i te miihini. Kei waho te hipi, kei raro a Taawhaki! Haruru kau ana te whare i te umere, i te pakipaki, i te koa o te katoa i aata eke te toru rau tuatahi a Taawhaki. Engari kaaore te toa nei i rongo atu. Tiiraha ana te tohunga kutikuti hipi! Kua moe. Oh, how heavy is this sheep! How can he hold it? Hold it firmly! Hold fast firmly! Hold fast to your integrity! He remembered vaguely the words of a certain song which said, “Hold fast to your integrity!” But what were the rest of the words? Never mind, who cares about the words anyway! This sheep here … shear it until all its wool is off. How many left? Only one! Perhaps not. If it were only one he could manage and he would reach three hundred. He heard again, the voices calling to him, “That one is Kuia … Be strong, oh friend, you're nearly there, you'll do it, friend … You'll do it … Two left … You'll do it … Be strong … You'll do it!” THE THREE HUNDREDTH SHEEP Then he overheard the old man, Wiremu, saying, “Look, the fiend is nearly asleep! Stir him up, oh friends!’ And he thought, “The old man, my ancient relative! The old codger might beat me … It might be me who will break and not the old man … That won't happen, I won't break until three hundred has been reached, yes, until it is reached.” There is one sheep left. The woolshed resounds with the cheering, “You'll do it, Taawhaki! Take it easy now or you'll cut the throat of that sheep! Now fetch that last one. That one is Kuia. Yes, now go steadily, steady, steady.” All Taawhaki's friends had knocked off work. They had all gathered to watch their champion, to urge him on, to talk to him, to praise him. They would aid him with their voices and their cheers. Taawhaki laboured on. His great weariness was plain to see. His shearing hand travelled slowly as though carrying a great weight. His face was flushed red and the perspiration flowed from his skin. He laboured and he laboured and at last he finished. He pulled the rope to stop the machine. Out went the sheep and down fell Taawhaki! The house rumbled with the cheering and clapping of everyone, so glad were they he had actually reached his first three hundred. But the champion heard not a sound of it. The expert shearer lay flat on his back! He was asleep.