JOURNAL

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 53, 2 January 1851, Page 3

JOURNAL

Of an Expedition Overland from Auckland to Taranaki, by way of Rotorua, Taupo, and the West Coast, undertaken, in the Summer of 1819—50, by His Excellency the Gover-Nor-In-Chief of New Zealand. ICunlinuvd from our Li>t J The Di'stiu'ciion of Katahoi:. When llie news spread amongst the settlements of Tarawcra of Holo Kakahi ami Okataina, the people wondered greatly at the gal - lantry of those men in killing this monster which fed upon mankind, and it occurred to them that there must he a Taniwha on the road to Tikitapu, because parties had been lost ill travelling thence to Kotorua, and their relatives fancied they hail arrived at the end of their journey ; but 110, they were dead. Therefore they could not be sure whether they had been killed by a Taniwha, or by men, or by a war party when they had met. Nevertheless Tangaroa Mihi the Chief of Tikitapu and of Okareka knew that there was a Ngarara* at Tikitapu. lie was not aware however that it ale men, but fancied it lived peaceably as it always appeared to do when he and his men used to go to feed it. IJut he was a knowing fellow, that Ngarara, and always behaved well to those who went to feed him and keep him quiet. But then when they who fed liim were gone and any strangers went to travel 011 that road, out came the monster immediately and chased these strange men to devour them. This Ngarara was something like a domesticated animal, he knew his master ve.-y well, and when his Chief Tangaroa Mihi came to him he behaved very properly and remained quite quiet ; but whenever any 011 c belonging to a dill'eicnt tribe passed that nay, lie would rush out and attack them, roaring and making a noise like the rattling of chains, i" a frightful manner, and ending by devouring them altogether

Now when the people heard of the bravery of our heroes, great was their aitonishme»t at the strength of these four chiefs. Then the chiefs of Roto Kakahi, of Tarawera, of Okataina and of Rotoiua, lust understood the slate of affairs. " Olio !" said they, »there must be a Taniwlia on the road to Tikitapu, to account for the disappearance of all the travellers from this to Rotorua and from Rotorua to these five lake.) ;* for when travellers go hence by way of Okareka, they Jeach Rotorua in safety, and returning thence by the same way they also arrive here in safety; but on the other hand if they go by way of Roto Kakahi and Tikitapu, they are sure to disappear" « A«ain, those travelling from or returning to Roto Kakalii by way of Parcuru arrive in safely at their destination, whilst if tliey make up their minds to travel by Tikitapu it is all up with them." So they resolved in their minds, and fancied that perhaps the travellers and wr.r-parties might have been destroyed by Tangaroa Milii; but when they sent to inquire tliey found lie was quietly disposed. Having, therefore, beard of the bravery shown by the four chiefs in the killing of Taniwhas, tliey determined to send for them to search in the neighbourhood of Tikitapu. When the messenger came to these three hundred and forty brave men, tliey were delighted at the opportunity of resuming their employment of killing Taniwhas, and set to work to pound fernroot, to dig convolvulus, to catch innnqa, and to gather kakahi (a species of shell lish), for food on their journey to the mountain of Moerangi where Kataore, the monster tliey wcie in search of, lived. At break of day they arose and breakfasted in the plain, and when they had done eating tliey began making speeches inciting each other to bravery, for they were not quite sure whether it was a Taniwlia or the inhabitant* of the land which had destroyed the parties of warriors and travelleis. Tliey had set out with a supply of ropes which they had spun 011 purpose sonic days previously. They were well acquainted with all the ways in the neighbourhood, wherefore they knew very well what work was before tliein. Having breakfasted and finished the talking, they rose up, and entered the wood, having passed through which, the priests got up and began their incantations. They nlso made the ivino as in the former occasions. Having repeated all the karakias which they riad used for Holupuku and Pekeltaua, they went on again and stopped in the low ground. The people of the pa of Tangaroa Milii were watching the party sitting below, fancying they had come to make war upon tliein, but their arrival was for a different purpose. When they had sat still for some time one of the chiefs got up and said, " Whereabouts does this man-eating monster live?" and another chief answered, "I know not; he is either in the water or in the rocky cliff above us there." So they searched in the lake, but to"! he was .lifll there. However, the water iiad a vei/A»irifying appearance, it was shining bright like a pounamu lane, but they could see »no hole like that inhabited by Pckehaua." One of the chiefs then said, "Begin with some of your karakias." So tliey repealed immediately karakias such as nre used to make fish boil quickly, in order to find out where he w-s ; whether in the water or elsewhere. One of the Priests now rose to perform the necessary ceremonies, but no monster appeared 011 the surface of the waters of Tikitapu. The leaders of the parly, now ascended the cliff rehearsing their various karakia; while thus engaged, tliey heard the creature's roar from the projecting cliffs of Moerangi; they now discovered that his den was in a cleft of the rock. The three hundred and forty men at once got lip to prepare for the attack ; they were in high spirits, anticipating a substantial meal. They repeated a great many prayers known as tamangai, &c., &c. The Priests having duly performed their part, and all the ceremonies being concluded, they assembled at the entrance of the cave where this man-eater dwelt. After some deliberation, the brave men of the party,—those who were accustomed to entrap such leasts, —seized the ropes, and went forward. They saw the creature, and Oh, how terrific it looked ! Its eyes were the color of jet, very bright, and prominent, which gave

him a most ferocious appearence, The u iU-, iiess of his eye made tliese brave men some-' what fearful ; but as to his talons, spikes, &c., they had lost their power of action, owing to the charms of the I'ricsts. The creature became so inactive from the numerous enchantments used, that he allowed his captors to put their hands upon his head, and stroke him. They found little difficulty in passing a rope round his neck, and placing another under his fore feet. The monster being secured, brave ones went down to their who said to them, —" Have you fastened your roneil". They replied, " Yes, &ae is rouad "his neck,, a nit he SnffrTrayiThls* middle." " How," Aid tlifrir i£(yfidv'yire we to manage the ro.pes, mid how iffe we tdSfill him?" Some of the Chiefs replied, " We will fasten him to trejs; he cannot make much resistance ; he is Tflready bound with the ropes, and entangled in the wood." 11 Mow shall \vc go about killing him?" said they. " Why kill him," said some of the party," he is bound with the ropes, and these are tied to trees ; let him kill himself by his vain struggles. If it will be well for some of us to rush forward to attack him, when he is dragged to the trunks of the trees, let us do so j if not, let him strangle himself in his efforts to escape." This speech pleased them well. Those whose business it was to haul the ropes, now went to their posts; and when tiltword of command was given, they pulled away at the lopes ; the monster was forthwith dragged out of his den, making scarcely any resistance. This was in a great measure caused by the prayers, and incantations of the Priests, who were very zealous in these matters, while the mass of the people were actively engaged in pulling the ropes, See. When he was got out of his den, he flung his head about with some violence; the ropes that were fastened to the middle of his body were then slackened, lie still struggled, lashing his tail, and twisting himself in various ways; but he had not much power, the ropes round his middle having been tightened ; the tail was the only part of his body over which he had command. Those who had weapons now rushed upon him ; he was like a rat in their hands, being so firmly secured by the ropes ; they therefore quickly despatched him. The news of this feat soon spread among the numerous tribes, whocaiueiu great numbers to Tikitapu, to see their enemy lying dead stretched out like a great whale cast up by the sea. The people who came together now gave a great shout, the noise of which was like the roaring of the Waters. Oil the following day, they cut lip their great foe with numerous implements, made of the muscle, and other shells, and from flinty stones. The fat of the creature was like that of a hog; and no wonder —he was not subject to any years of famine, nor did lie experience any winter; his days were spent in a perpetual harvest, as there were many companies going to and fro, upon whom he feasted, besides the portion allotted him by 'his master TangaroaMilii. When he was cut open, many bodies of j men, women and children were found in his | stomach, some whole,"and some much mutilated which was occasioned by his teeth, in devouring his victims. A canoe which left a Native settlement for Tikitapu sometime previous to this affair, was also found in his belly ; so that he must have swallowed the canoe whole, with all the unfortunate people on board. As to garments, there were a great many found in him ; also many kind of war implements. The bodies that were taken out, were buried. liis carcase was cut up, cooked, and eaten. After this achievement, the people dispersed to their homes ; but the tidings of this creature's death soon reached Tangaroa-Mihi. The people said to liim, " Your pet is slain." He immediately demanded, "By whom V and in reply was told that the tribe Ngatitama had killed him. The heart of Tangaroa-Mihi now became dark on account of the death of his favorite. This event was the origin of a war between Tangaroa-Mihi and these brave ones, which soon extended to all the tribes of the land. Enough.

« The word Ngarara, is generally used to denote a common lizard, or indeed any reptile, but la this instance it is used synonymously with Tuattkra in the former part ol this legend (see note upon the word.) • Kotok.iVahi, I navora, Qkatiina, Okxnka and Tikilapuj