THE RUNSEEKER. FROM THE Records of Tainui.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 23 October 1862, Page 2

THE RUNSEEKER. FROM THE Records of Tainui.

A Foreigner of High Birth to the Lord of Wait a no. [FREE TKAXSI.ATIOX.] 0 Friend. Salutations. Great is mv love to thee, I come from a far country, where I was a "feat man, one of the fighting chiefs oi the land. I have come a long journey over the great sea to see thy face, and to speak with thee. I have heard thy fame at a great distance, for the sound of it hath gone through the earth, I heard that thou art a Toa (brave), and hast proved thyself in the battle lieid, where none could withstand thee. For this cause my heart waxed warm towards ( t!jee. I heard also that thou wert learned in all the knowledge that pertained to thy .fathers, and hast added thereto all the deep things of the pakeha (foreigner), or all things worthy to he learned. For this cause my heart burned to see thee. Then I heard that thou hast more wisdom than the greatest men among the foreigners, and indeed more than the oldest man among thy brethren, who are truly a very wise people. I heard also that thou canst speak the thoughts of thy people to the foreigner, and no man can gainsay thy words. Then my heart burned so exceedingly that I could no longer refrain myself, and I said, I will go and see the eyes of this wise man, and hear Ins words. Therefore I left my mother and my sisters, and those that were most dear to me, and came this long journey to seek thee, flunk not that I came to look for my matua (parent) or my teina (brother); no, truly ; it was to see thee, and to hear the words of thy mouth, and to learn the wisdom that is in thine heart, that I arrived here. Now, indeed, I perceive that thy wisdom is greater than was told of thee. Salutations to thee ! My love to thee is exceedingly more than the love of a iutua (common fellow) can be, for am I not of high birth, ami of a name that reaches the sky, even as thine. Like as thou art a man of very high rank, so also am I oi high rank, but somewhat lower than thyself and the heads of the families of thv people, although much above the herd of low fellows that are my countrymen, of whom thou hast seen many in this thy land. 0 Friend greatly beloved, I have another word to say to thee. My heart rejoiced greatly to find that my kindred are dwelling at peace under thy shadow. Then I said", 0 that I also dwelt under the protection of the wise R a ! Is he not famed through the world ? Is he not mighty in battle, prudent in council ? Shall I not gather wisdom as it distils from his lips ? Let me also therefore dwell under his shadow and protection ; then indeed my heart will leap for joy! 0 Friend, I have another word to thee, because of the great love I have to thee 1 Let me have a piece of land! Let it be a large piece ; let it be land with much grass on it ; let it he near to thv dwelling , so that I may dwell near thee. Th n tmlg will I be thy servant; for is it not better that I should serve thee, than that I should rule the base fellows my countrymen ? 0 Friend, let thy thoughts on this word of mine be good ; let them be generous. Then indeed my joy will be great, and our friendship will last forever. 0 Friend, there is only one more word of mine to thee. When thou consentest to my word about the land, let me have also the Pines of Waitano as firewood for my food, as fencing for my sheep pens, as material for my woolshed ! Then will I

shear my sheep by the side 'of the tall pine trees, whence I can behold thy dwelling, and my great love to thee will be carried by the wind, by the cool breeze from the great sea. Friend, my word to thee is ended. Let thy answer come speedily, let it be a pleasant answer. Enough. From tby loving friend, No Manga/mri, No Hereto nnga.