kiuta and Tarakitai jumped into the pit to look for their top. Then Rakai threw down stones at the children, and so they died. Then he heaped soil into the pit so that their bodies could not be seen. When the food was cooked that evening, the twins did not come to eat it. Then their father Kahu went about inquiring after his sons at the neighbouring villages, but could not find them. He went as well to the village of Rakai, and there also he was told that they had not been seen. Then Kahu and his people searched in the fields, in the streams and in the forest. When they could not find them, they knew that Tarakiuta and Tarakitai had been murdered. Then they wept bitterly for the twins, and wished greatly to revenge them. So they made two kites from raupo reeds. These kites were in the shape of hawks, but had heads like men. They were so large that it took many men to carry them. Then Kahu named the kites Tarakiuta and Tarakitai after his sons, and he assembled all the priests to recite incantations over them. Then the kites were cast into the air, and as they ascended, incantations were recited. All the people watched to see in which direction the kites would travel, for they knew that these kites would seek out the man who had killed Tarakiuta and Tarakitai. The kites rose high in the air, and then they flew straight towards the village of Rakai. When they were over the village they swooped down on their great wings until they were just above the head of Rakai himself, and then they nodded their heads. They rose high in the air again, they swooped down once more, and once more they nodded their heads. It was sufficient; the lines were wound up, for now it was known that it was Rakai who had slain the children. That night Kahu and his men attacked Rakai's village. They stormed his palisades, set fire to his houses, and killed many of his people. Rakai's son was among the dead, and Rakai himself had to flee in the night; nor was he ever able to return to his home at Turanga. Thus was avenged the death of Tarakiuta and Tarakitai. —M.O.