A MAORI LEGEND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 178, 18 July 1908, Page 4

A MAORI LEGEND.

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TUTANEKAI AN J HiNEMOA. % James Izctt. (Continued). Alas for Hinemoa, alas, l'he pangs of disappointed hopes She cherished! . What desolation of the soul was hers! I pon a sour and desert waste All trustingly Her seed ot love she east, Now no crop had she Rut pains, and tears and sorrows For evermore to last. In misery her head she bowed Reiieath the cruel stroke. In all the earth was none so sad as she. Fondly she, had deemed herself, beloved. Out to that love her heart Had gone rejoicingly With pride! That love the radiant heaven in which her soul exultantly Had dwelt in gladness, Now into deepest blackness

Harshly thrown. To seek for rest that night For her were vain. Away, as Hying from herself, liy darkest forest paths She wandering careless sped, Upward gazing At the placid moon and stars All brilliant shining; dreaming vaguely Rest and peace and happiness Dwelt somewhere there. A subtle, silent influence— To wide expanse and stillness owing— The lake. Thither at length she drew, Aud covering up her head Upon the landing-place she sat To mourn away her pain. Brightly across the rippling waters Dauciugly one long thin streak Of shining radiance came Even to her feet. O, were it but a. stream of love From far llokoia's shore How sweet! Coldly severe it showed. Lo, Upon her patient listening car Borne softly by the breeze The notes of a. far distant horn fell. Tutauekai it was who musically spoke. •' All, not for me he plays, Perchance for Hopa—Miua—ilaropa! Right wise had good old Tara proved, 1 should have known ' It -was not me he loved." Then slowly wailed she forth What in the north For long was known as

IIINEMOA'S INVOCATION. 1 0, gods immortal dwelling in the skies, Who all things human seem to know! Hearest thou sad Hinemoa's sighs? Hearest thou her wild despairing cries? Seest thou her woe? Ah, mercy show! 0, gods immortal, gods of love, o£ hate, Who all things human have in care, Seest thou this heart oppressed by Fate? Seest thou this soul now desolate, All naked, bare? Ah, mercy spare!

0, gods who all things human have in view, A\-ho down the proudest chieftains throw! See, cowering at your feet I sue. 0, this broken, bleeding heart renew, Heal thou this blow! Ah, mercy show!.

Thee, Itehua, I summon aid to lend, Thv spirit call 1 from the deep Quickly must thou thy power expend To life, and strength and love extend Thy kindness heivp. My soul to keep!

Behold, my invocation here I.raise'. 0. Relimi, to kindness given! Danish thou my pain, give length of

Irant hope, and peace, and love always, Such the heaven, Ixi, I have striven!

Even as her invocation ceased, From the parting of her covering cloak Upon the shining streak of silver light That split the lake Chanced Millennia to glance forth, And 10, there A small black spot she saw Which moved towards her Where she silent sat. It was a canoe. And in it a solitary paddlcr stealthily His way was slowly working. Indifferent to .her as alitor nothing upon earth Had now concern for her — llinemoa watched the paddler Noiselessly his paddle dip ! As if a. sound he feared, lo make. When at length the landing-place He reached and rose To slop ashore, From her seat Hincnioa, Stalely, queenly, slow advanced—- •• Whence, to Owhala's shore In darkness stealing, eonicst thou?" Scarce her own voice did llinemoa know So stern, and cold, and harsh it seemed. •• From Mokoia, 1," replied the man. ••Your name?" "For my name no matter— A slave am I." "Then your master's name?" " Tntanekai." -Ah, Tntanekai!" loiv, whispering soft, The. words that fell. "An.l what the purpose Tntanekai hath in mind That hi' his slave should send In silence of the night?"

"To the Lady Hinemoa, My message is; To her alone must it he yielded up," Answered the slave. '• I am Hinemoa," And high her head was raised. ■ "O, pardon, lady!" cried the slave, "Your voice I. failed to recognise; • J u this dim light 'l'he outlines of your form To clear distinguish." •'Your message';" llinemoa said. " Thus then it is. My master bids me say that, From the very moment he The lady llinemoa Hrst beheld, Tutanckai hath loved. That since that time His love hath onward gone increasingly Till now the burden more 'Than he can bear alone. He entreats the Lady (jinemoa To succour lend so he may live. If he hath backward been, lie. begs that she remember * Difference in rank, Her great beauty, fame O'er all the "land acknowledged, wide, liut since from Rotovua He returned this day Such his state that he his fate. Must challenge. i. \ If the Lady Hinemoa ] Will not with him wed Then I To the people of his father's land : Will he depart I Never to Ix'hold her more!" Higher still the noble head was thrown,! The figure—by shadows shrouded — I Seemed to swell—dilate— With rapture thrilling. Sparkled the lovely eyes, Parted the lips ' \. As if ihe fuller life to draw Tutanekai's words had given. A moment still she paused Her answer littingly to clothe—- " F.heu!" sac cried. -Mutual our love hath been." Then, her straight arm To her shoulder-level raising Across the. rippling wave she pointed. Hack sank The answered slave ill his canoe, And in llie darkuess quickly paddling Disappeared from view.

At Kotorua More Ircipienl then The meetings of the lovers. C), how sweet The momentary pressure of the hands, The lips, the sudden, swift embrace! Tame the loves of the engaged pair AVhu mawkishly together sit 'Their alliance, allowed, approved. To whom by universal grant Xo notice e'er is paid. , • The luippincs-. to in silence. Darkness secret nieel. To be ;l t l.|„, watchers S And the kisses steal ; I'.y all the world forbid. Smcli rapturous joy was theirs. '. lint llineiiioa's movement Too oft recurring ii The jealous Tarsi noted, \ And so In pass it came. That round the. maid A line of watch more light was drawn.

Thru to Tulaiiekai l-liere came Another lii. of encigv supreme. ' 7 "lie again would build; This time a limine. A most surprising hoii-e 'I. should be, Designed in love to ri.-,e A thing of joy and beauty, lie would show the people how With tasle to build. Behind their hands were some Who cautious laughed, Others more bold openly liefore his face. "Why, ' Fhat wants Tutanekai with a, house? 'lawafco asked. l

'The simplest, most good-natured he »f men. " To live in." in reply Tutauekai, " 'Tis strange to me A thing so' simple you should never guessl" "To shelter his large family," Xgararanui sneering said. "Aye," said Tutauekai, " Some day a family lie will have And his .sons more worthy prove Than other very handsome sons Whom doling parents love." " VVhakaue-luiipapa's sons Not good enough For him to company keep, And on .the whole 'tis best That people of birth equivocal should Hy themselves remain," • Thus the fatuous Tuteaitc, Low laughing as he spoke. '••Not ou my mother Should you rcllectiou cast, She happens to be yours. To listen to sueli taunts Too tilt have 1 constrained been; Taunts which Did they from another come You to avenge the first would show. What wonder if another home 1 seek? Instead of foolish sneer And laugh and blame To help me you should haste So that 1 the sooner quick begone." "Rightly our brother speaks!" Tawake cried, •• Rightly he always speaks, And I to help will very gladly come." " I too will help," Xgararanui said, " If needs be he must go." '' If you two are going to help, Why, so will I," from Tuteaitc came. " And large and lovely Shall the new house, be." liven Kopako, the boy, to be allowed His lillle aid to lend insisted. And Tiki too, For very skilful with the adze was he. So under busy hands A fine large house began to rise, Of Alokoia's Isle the pride, To gladden all men's eyes.

One evening In Whakaue's (Twilling, All llii; family being there assembled, On llincmoa'a charms 'fliu conversation chanced to fall. Loudly Owhata's beauteous maid Ukl old Whakaue praise. Then said he—"A priz« indeed the Lady llinemoa. Tell me young men, Among my stalwart sons Who is he will bring this maiden To Mokoia's Isle All joyful home to wife?" "0," impetuously the boy Kopako, " Every one of us our chances have." At which. A burst of merriment went round. Then ■ Tawake, ; Full of staid gravity was lie, " When to Hotorna* last we journeyed I with the Lady Hiueinoa Some convolution held. . Pleasant, sweet her words to me And her demeanour kind." "Did she press your hand';" lvopaki cried. •'Xo-o. I do not. think she did. At the wrestling were we gazing, - The elements That for human strength do make She asked me to explain; .. So on X fluent talked—talkedYife quite u length. When round I looked, behold, The Lady Hincmoa long had gone— Had disappeared." Simply told this tale And loud the laughter rose. ■•(iood." said Vhakauc, •• Aly son Tawake clearly :,; For' you a hope there is. Now, Xgarnranui When last at IMorua Did you the Lady iliiiemoa see?" •' Yes. yes. anil joyously together did we Laugh and talk a time. Delightful gay was she. Of my great love I was about ,to speak when 10, Pushing lwtween us fat old Tnra came. Satisfied am t 'tis me she loves."

"Tara loves? 0, her can you have And no one say you nay!" Quickly the boy,' 'And louder still the laughter swelled. "Now. Tuteaite, at llotorua What'fortune did to you befall 1— With the lovely llinemoa Pid'st thou have speech?" " I did," boldly From Tuteaite came. •• There, there,' did not I say that All 'of us a chance did have!" Kopako cried. And higher still Ihe laughter rose. , " Did she press your hand!" "She did!" bravely Tuteaite asseverated. 'Tis i that have her love, ' She gave it me—" Quick ran on Kopako,

•■ln a calabash; j That very calabash did not 1 see Within your trembling hands? And from out its every pore A subtle bluish essence exuding came Till round about A thick elcrial nimbus formed. 'Twas the Ijiidy Hinemoa's hive The calabash could not retain And hot, and hotter still the vessel grew Till Tuteaite could no longer hold, And down it lleiv To Hie hard ground— Crnsii—exploding!" . Loud roared the laughter then, Tuteaite gnashed his teeth in rage and pain.

Again that stain of birth. His half-brothers and Whakauc To Tutanckai no thought had given. Never could the Lady' Hinemoa dream To conversation hold with such as he. Beyond the pale Tutanckai! And.much rejoiced was he Jt should be so. But Kopako, On further merriment intent, .Sudden Tutanekai's attention called, Why should not he examined be? Too funny this and laughter itoared again.

" Why, from the time That we at Rotorua landed Till we left ;-"\' Tutanckai ne'er was seen," sententiously

Tawake. "With Tiki, „ Leap-frog was he playing in the bush, Sneered Xgararanui. •'• For himstlf Tutanckai shall speak, Whakaue said; •• More sense, hath he tban_ all. Thus constrained, Tutanckai:— " For one brief minute did 1 With the Lady llinemoa speak And most graciously did she allow That I should press her hand." "Did she press yours'" quickly the boy. "I— .t_4 think she did." Keluetant from the questioned fell. More loud than e'er before The laughter high, But Ngararanui angry grew. "Not true, not true!" he cried, To think the Lady Hinemoa Of a fellow lowly-Iran Would notice take!" In Tutanekai's eyes Instant the tire that Hashed. The sneerei quick he would have brained Had not Whakaue quick restrained. ■' Xay. nay. no violence. N»arnranui you are to bhiiue. Your father and your mother you insult When you such language, use. With me the matter lies. No more let this occur again. \lthongh the Lady Hiiienvoa's name Somewhat too freely hath been used Some pleasantry have we had, So now no more."

In consequence of this it was To Whakaue Tutanckai the storv of his love revealed. Kven from his meeting first The Lady . } The passion then was kindled, The hopes, the fears, Tin' doubts that then assailed, The encouragement by Hinemoa kindly

given, Tin' pressure uf lii'i- hand, Tlii' assurance of ber love I!\' message sent. The secret stolen meetings sinec, The Inst, words U Jiim said—"l,o, Tulauckai, [ love yon, Thou arc mine as I am yours, When I'm- mi! von will, behold All freely will l<-omcf' Yerv uruvcly Whakauc listening paused, •Jln'n shaking bis wise bead at length—- . •• Ko/' said lie, '•'lint Xgararanui and Tuteaite Uolh declare that sinTo tbeni lia.Hi given The pressure of Hie hand; Jjoth are assured they have ber love. The lady 'lliuemoa High in truth anil honour stands, And how can sucli things be?" Answered Tulauckai: " They the -brothers of. ber love. Doubtless to them She hath some kindness shown VVhieh they Willi thoughts 100 saii'.'iiinely indulged To other limn intended have eonstl'ued." •• And this house that you build'.'" _ •• I- for our home, When complete it is i shall call anil slie shall come, We shall be wed. 'Cut then Wlitikaue will our secret keep, for were, it known Withered our hopes would lie And we who live and love in hope, Should hated, hopeless die." " Aye, already in my thought Your secret is forgot, : And Imy aid will gladly bring J.!

That two such prwttv birds All happily m ;l y sinjr." In the morning* following, Whakaue to the new houso-buildiusr . went. Suggestions made, directions gave And showed The smiling interest he keenly felt. (To be Continued).