ABOUT WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1922, Page 4

ABOUT WESTLAND.

(By Kanui Korero)

THE STORY OF TAMA

The following legend was related to Aporo To Kumeroa by the NgaitabuPoutini people of the West (.’oast, South Island, in whose territory the green-jade is found: - “Poutini was a woman wlu- >u mi. iml

times lived al Tulm* Island, Hay of Plenty, where obsidian is obtained m large quantities many of the clilis ■o.-’i-ing the central crater o! the island being composed of it. Poutini quarrel-

led with the people there on account ot the green-jade, and'- in consequence was driven shvay, leaving behind her a, brother named Tama. .Poutir.i h‘it iv a canoe, and after a long time aiiivod

at a place named Kotme-pb whid: a little bay some 20 miles north <:i (T.ey-

mouth, on the West Coast, South island, and very near where the coal is now (1803) burning. The crew fastened the canoe to a tree here, and baled, out the water —lienee, say the Poutini people, is greenstone found there now. From Kutore-pi the voyagers coasted on as far as Arahura, which river tne.\ entered and paddled to the mountains, stopping at a wateriall just under a peak on the Southern Alps, later named Tara-a-Tama, said to be some distance north of Mount Cook. The greenstone was also deposited lieie. and is still to be found in that place. Tama, Poutini’s brother, determined to go in sea fell of bis sister, lb order to ascertain the direction in which she bad gone be threw bis teka, or dart, which taking flight through the ait, lauded at Bhngiioto, of D’Urvilles Island, in Cook Strait. From there he again threw the dart, and it alighted at Kotore-pi. Tama followed it up and there discovered the place where the canoe bad been fastened—where Poutini bailed out the water and he knew at once that Poutini had boon there. Again TAina east his dart, and this time it went straight oil to Maitnhi, eighty miles south Or Hokitika, where says the story, the tangi-wni species of greenstone may still bo found. Tama followed his dart, crossing the Mawliera or Grey River, and the Tnrnmnkaig aiul came on to Arahura, the waters of which he found to he warm. From here be proceeded down the ebast to Maitahi. Arrived there and not finding Poutini, he again cast his dart. This time it turned hack and flying northwards, blighted bt Arahura to which place Tama followed it. Again he cast the teka, and now it dalted up the river. Tama followed it, together with his slave, both going up the bed of the river. When they approached the mountains a kokako bn.cl was killed, which Tahiti directed his

slave to cook in a native oven or umu. It was cooking all night whilst t!ie\ Watched. During the night the slave beard voices in the river, and told ids master, who replied, ‘Elmra, he oro warn’ (it is hot voices, hut the rippling of the water). On opening the oven in the nioruihg they .touud the hir'd well (nuked, so much so that .nothing but black ashes were left-. Hence the tutae-kokn or black marks found in the jade; After this the two proceeded oh their way up the me., •uul at last discovered the place whete the canoe had been capsized and where all the crew had been drowned. ]t is here where the greenstone is found at a waterfall with a deep pool leading up to it. To rfencl. the place visitbfs have to swim, but in this spot it cab hte seen only, not touched. I>e place is called Kai-Kauolii oji that ac-

count.” Kai-Kanohi it may he added, m name of ft celebrated greenstone mere with Which the Chief of Arahura (named Tuliuru)) was ransomed, after his capture by Nilio and his waniois m the early thirties. Tarn-a-tnmo means “the peak o Tama” and was called after Poutini s brother.