interested in the chasing of women than in the chasing of work. There is truth in the saying that a man who chases the feathers of the kotuku rather than the flesh of the kaka will have neither food in his store nor wife in his house”. She tossed her head disdainfully. Her words had come to Paratene's ears but he was very persistent and he made up his mind that come what may Hinauri would one day be his. The annual courtship meeting would be his opportunity to publicly declare his love and then …? Who knew? She might have changed her mind about him by then. At last the great night came and most of the adults gathered in the Whare Matoro. The light from the pitch pine torches and the small fires bathed the inside in soft light and a slight haze The story is set in pre-European times amongst a tribe whom we shall call the river people. of smoke hung around the high rafters. The people wore their very best for this occasion. The old wahine wore half calabashes on their heads from which hung a rather comical circular wig made of the hair of the kuri or native dog. The younger set were very conscious of looking their best for the evening and most wore their best clothes. Many were resplendent in cloaks which had obviously been borrowed from their elders. The women and girls wore around their necks little bags made of the feathers of the grey duck and the male paradise duck. These bags were filled with the sweet scented moss of the tara gum. The men had rubbed their bodies with oil from berries. The oil was scented with a moki, a kind of fern, and with other grasses and plants which smelled pleasantly. Of course it was the girls who looked particularly gay for as the ladies of today wear cosmetics so they had their faces and figures daubed and spotted with ochre of various colours. Some had their whole face reddened, others only half with the rest of the face being blue or blackened with charcoal dust. Even more exotic effects were obtained by some of the gayer belles who had on their foreheads the tuhi kohuru of diagonal bands of red or tuhi korae of horizontal red bands. One lass had a yellow chin and nose. These ochres were mixed with the sticky buds of the koromiko and then not only applied to the face but in some cases to the whole body. There was much giggling and nudging whilst everyone arranged themselves around the walls and on the floor. Then Rangipakia the chief stood up and silence fell. “My children! This is your time and the elders are silent. Speak my children!” There was a pause whilst everyone waited for someone else and then Paratene who had been sitting fidgeting was not able to restrain himself any longer and taking a deep breath he jumped to his feet. “I will have Hinauri.” Hinauri seemed to have been expecting this however for she had her answer ready. She tossed her head. “Your finger nails are too long. You avoid work as Ruru the owl avoids light!” This was a very harsh thing to say and poor Paratene went crimson with shame and he sat down looking very crestfallen whilst those around him giggled at his discomforture. However there was little he could do for custom demanded that he bear the insult in silence. Then a girl stood up. “I will have Otene”. Otene said nothing and after a moment's silence a low cough ran around the crowd and the union of these two was thereby approved. Encouraged by this Terete stood up. “I will have the son of Whanaurua”, she said. Terete was rather ugly and had little tattoo. It surprised no one when the young man said gently “I have no power for my singing bird is another.” Then Matenga the lame one struggled to his feet and said quickly “Terete has charmed me and I will have her.” Terete's delight at thus securing a husband was obvious and another slight sign of applause ratified the agreement.