DEATH OF MERI HAU.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 13, 20 August 1862, Page 12

DEATH OF MERI HAU.

" On the 9th of January," writes Wi Hau in a paper received a few days ago; "early in the morning, after prayers, Meri went forth on a journey," as well in health, apparently, as any of us. «l proposed to saddle the horse for her; but she declined to hate it> *aymg, that she preferred walking. "Sometime after Men started, I followed hef oil horseback, and whAn I reached the rising ground, I saw Men", and soon afterWards slfe fell. I called out, 'O Meri, Merl, K but she answered not; she had fallen aiftm suddenly, and was sleeping the sleep ofdeatli/' ■ ; » Wtremu Han, the Chief of the Ngaitaura tribe, of Waitangi, Bay oflslands, and husband of bur departed friend; confidently affirms that Men* was fully prepared for the solemn change, having, since she bad had a somewhat remarkable dream on the i 9th of December, 18<H, "prayed night and day eoßtinuallvj from the time of be> dream till the day of heir death/' „ 4 8 lbe npiive people feel a great interest in dreams, and as we have been requested to Vm*s ™e we alluded to by Wi Hau, we shall do so with the note that a'usefuHesson m *y b « }**&& from it* If/the memorials ytt puWisfc of Meri Han lead some of the

Bay or Islands tribes, to abandon the vicious propensity of dram drinking which is fast destroying them as a people, we shall feel equally pleased to record that fact in this journal, and to assure them too, that their dreams will be pleasanter then than they are at present.

Mem's Drew. I dreamt thai I was flying along near the heavenly world, and looking down from the heights I saw my h sband in the world below, so 1 descended, and taking him in my arms, I tried to beir him upwards, but I could not succeed. Then I was separated from earth, and went into the heavenly -regions, and I entered by the portals. I saw two angels clothed in white*raiment at the entrance, in a standing posture. I looked near the door, and saw my daughter Eliza, and my voice went.after her saying, "Art thou in heaven?" And she said, *• Yes." And the voice of the two attendants, who watched at the porials, sounded forth toward me, saying, "Art ibou come up from the great tribulation, which comeih upon the whole world ?'* An J I said, *• Yes." Then said they to me, " Return to earth for a time." So I came down to our world again, and my spirit returned unto me.

Lament fob Mem. By her Husband. Let me indulge my grief. Let my tears low down, and let me have Sharp flinty stones to wound my flesh, In token of my grief. As numbers gather round the whale Cast on the ocean shore, So gathered they round thee. Go, go from the assembled tribes OMeriyJeaving a void which None may eter fill.. The ties wbicb&ound thee to our home At Papakura,are for ever severed ,• And yet the winds are playing siill AtPiriwaK Art thouseated now On Tiria's: moan tain height? . Long is thy journey, for thou wilt not' Gome back to us again*

PART IT. Ob ibis anguish! it rudely tears My heart, and there is no cessation Y~ And while the clouds are flying onward, And the sun is lighting up the sky, Our canoe Tainui floats upon The ocean wave [die? Ant was it not decreed that thou sbouldst They bound then by the spells of Tangaroa and Tu. PART 111. At early dawn the loved one went her way, And when thy locks were parted, And thy face was marked With Tarakawa's chisel, thy face Was radiant, and thou Wert as my weapon, As my costly jasper ear-drop. PART IT. The stars are shining now; Is it that thou may'st come to Earth again, 0 loved one? Unsteady is my step, and feeble, Bowed down by this bereavement, No pleasing-object meets my vision now. Werl thou not swallowed up by death, ! As suddenly as Nibi ate up men ? J Alas my house, most beautiful Upon the mountain side—where is it now? Yeall of you were clustered in your home, Your home in heaven in times of peace. Why didst thou tear thyself from us away? The shock has snapt asunder the Chords of this frail heart, but I've nought to say unto thee now, For thou bast crossed the flood, Crossed o'er front death to life. Wi Hau.