THE MOA MYTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 289, 7 December 1874, Page 4

THE MOA MYTH.

The Maoris are very sarcastic about the live moa business. The following appears in the Waka Maori :— " Wellington, Oct. 7, 1874. "My Fi iend— Will you insert io the Waka Maori the following letter in reference to the statement of that very ambitious man, Smyth, that he had caught two moas. When it was said he had valiantly overpowered and seenred those two huge birds — the moa and its yonng one — his fame went forth among the people, and he was called 'Smyth, the Moa-catcher.' We were thoroughly startled when we heard tbat this famed bird, tbe moa. had not only been seen, bat actually caught! — because this bird bas been effectually hidden by 'Tane,' and hence tbe Maori proVerb, 'Man is passing away like the nioa.' Probably Mr, Smyth may be able to' find some other of 'TaneV bidden treasures. 1 suggest a search fcr the Manorio tree, which is a large tree, quite eqoal to the Matai tree in sue. Possibly Mr. Smyth may discover it io tbe Middle Island, as he seems to possess a genius for discovering tbe bidden tbiogs of * Taoe.' It appears, however, by a telegram received io WelUngton subsequently, that these precious birds faave escaped ! All tbe people are mnch grieved at this news, for their bope of seeing alive this famed bird is disappointed ; they bave only the skeleton, ia the Wellington Museum to look at. We feel assured, tbat' the' thing is a hoax — (te hatoo he teha. If the birds had escaped, Smyth at least wonld have had some of tbe feathers. Let him send some of tbe feathers to each of the Museums in New Zealand, and we may believe him. It is not fair that the Museum at Christohnrch alone should receive his favors. " From the Maori People of the East." fin Maori mythology, Tane and Taogaroa were sons of Raogi and Papa, or the Heavens and the Earth, from the> union of which man first sprung. The forest represents Tane, and the ocean Taogaroa ; therefore Tane is said to nave rate over tbe forest and its hirtte'and insects, and Tangaroa over tbb ocean and its fiooy tribe. Mr. Colenso, F.LA., in a paper on tbe Botany of tbe North Island of New Z-iaTand, says i — "The manoao (dacrydium Oolensoi) is a small hard wooded pine, incorruptible according to tbe natives), found principally in high and dry forehts on the East Coast, north of Wharigarei, and also in the mountainous ooontry near Taupd "]