WOOED BY A WITCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 17

WOOED BY A WITCH.

LOVER SAVED BY MAGIC.

STORY OF HAATUPATU'S ROCK

LEAF FROM MAORI FOLK-LORE,

At the foot of a hillock by the side of the road near Atiamuri there is a peculiar upright isolated rock with a large hole in it as though it was merely a shell of stone and someone had broken it open. If you are curious enough to look inside you will notice a little pile of twigs of green tea-tree and fronds of fern. They are offerings to the deity of the place. Travellers will have noticed a similar pile at the foot of Hongi's tree, on the pretty bush track between lakes Rotoiti and Rotuma. The custom is as old as man, and one comes across paralled cases in the folk-lore of all the races of the earth.

This sacred stone near Atiamuri is known to the Maoris as the Rock 81 Haatupatu, and thereby hangs a tale of the love of a witch which \va3 not requited. The story shows what a remarkable similarity there is between the folk-lore of the Maori and some European peoples. Once -upon a time there lived in a cave at the top of the hillock above the Rock of Haatupatu a. woman of rank named Kurangautuku, who possessed supernatural powers. She could, among other things, fly through the air as though she possessed the magic carpet, and could spy things miles off. One day a handsome young chief from the East Coast named Haatupatu went inland with a party to snare birds at a spot named Hurakia, famous as a fowling place, situated near the present Mokai where the Taupo Totara Timber Company has its mill.

It fell out that Haatupatu was returning to the coast alone, and as he went along the track the keen hawk-like eyes of the witch woman caught sight of him. She immediately swooped down upon him from her eyrie, intending to demand how he dared trespass on her domain without permission, .but perceiving that he was very good-looking she changed her. mind and ordered him to go to her cave.

Although Haatupatu himself possessed certain powers of magic he was just a little afraid of the formidable female who confronted him, more especially as her mana, or reputation, was great among the tribes. She was a very ugh' person with a long beak-like nose, and her hands resembled the claws of the kaahu (hawk). Under the circumstances the young chief thought it beat to obey her command, and so went up to her cave. Kurangautuku wished to make him her husband but the idea was repugnant to' the young man, and he chafed against his captivity. Then he employed craft. When food was brought to him he expressed a dislike for anything but birds, knowing that his hide-

ous captor would have to go to the forests herself to snare them.

After giving strict instructions to her slaves to closely guard the young chief, the witch-woman set off for the forest with her enares. That gave Haatupatu his opportunity. Seizing his carved taiaha, or spear, he set upon his guards, and slew them all with the exception of Riroriro, ' who made his escape and carried the news of Haatupatu's flight to his mistress. ,• She was furious, and rushing down from aloft like a sheet of flame she came upon Haatupatu just as he reached the rock that now bears his name. Seeing his peril, the young chief called upon his special Atua, or God, who gave him power to enter th-> rock, which immediately closed round him. The angry witch was beside herself, and tried to tear open the rock with her claw-like hands. The Maoris

will show you her finger-marks on the rock, clear and distinct to-day. Foiled, the witch-woman retired to her cave. When night fell Haatupatii came out of the rock, and made his escape to the coast, where he was welco.med as one back from the grave. For generations it has been customary with the Maoris, when passing the sacred rock, to place in the hollow opening, a twig of green manuka .(teatree) or a bit of fern leaf as an offering of respect for the past and hope for the future. Atiamuri is a noted centre for trout, and European fishermen off for the day with rod and reel have been known to add a twig to the pile—with, it is said, most satisfactory results. Passing motorists have also propitiated the local gods, and many of them are ready to bear testimony to the efficacy of the shrine. The photograph of the rock was loaned by Mr. Koy E. Champtaloup, touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association, and the legend was unearthed by Mr. Waiter G. Barnett, of Waotu.