A MAORI LEGEND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 190, 1 August 1908, Page 4

A MAORI LEGEND.

TUTANEKAI A_\J HIXKMOA. By James JUett. (Continued). Around, A hurried fearful glance bestowing, llinemoa discovered, Separated from the lake by a Low narrow strip of barren soil, Waikimihia, a hot spring Which into a small basin Plenteous llowed, Surrounded by small bushes And kind umbrageous trees Invitingly this basin near at hand. Into this natural bath Did Hinemoa plunge. Her nakedness shelteringly to hide In the black shadows (if projecting rocks. Safely obscured she couched. Under the delightful soothing heat Through her chilled veins The warm blood faster sped, Her pulses quicker beat. Her spirit high again began to rise And soon she was herself again.

Not long her peace endured. At such an hour, in such a scene, Her solitude secure she deemed, But soon disturbance came. Down the hill a man, Apparently in happy mood, Came trampling singing:—

When in the dark away we steal Beneath the pine, Your car you lend to love's appeal, Our troth we plight, our lives wc seal. If you love me Our loves combine, For 1 love thee And I am thine Sweet Mini—Mini mine!

When, in the forest dark we meet Thou rata vine, Thou nothing on the earth so sweet, Our joy o'ertlowing is complete. If you love me Our loves combine, For I love thee And I am thine Sweet Mini—Mini mine!

The passion raging iu this breast ) None can define, 'lt claims to be the only guest, It surging swells, it gives no rest. If you love me Our loves combiue, For I love thee And I am thine Sweet Mini—Mini mine!

WheS we are wed then sbalt thou see Our loves entwine, Tlie happiness awaiting thee, Lo, Heaven opens unto me. If you love me Our loves combine, For 1 love thee And I am thine Sweet Mini—Mini mine!

Startled, half-afraid As approached the rough striding singer, liinemoa Into the deepest darkest depths Herself withdrew. Rut hearing splashing in the lake, Which showed the man Some distance was away. All stealthily She approached the side And o"er the rocks she peered. Into the lake the man A calabash was dipping. ' Which, when he had filled Ho straightly left the water-side And .made to pass Sear where the*maiden stood, The waters Her round shoulders laving. (Had to have someone With whom (o speak. Her_confidence returned. Sinking her voice into its lowest tones Thus Hineinoa—

"Ho. in this steaming bath All hot am 1. Give me to drink ,A cooling draught I pray you." across the rocks the man His calabash passed.

•■Tell me who art thou That in the silent darkness, When all have gone their rest to seel:, Hither comes for water in the night? - ' "A slave am I," the man replied. "My master, low in spirit, fevered. Would have to drink, * ' And so obedient to his wish I come." "Who is your master?" " Tutanekai." And at the word upon the rocks The calabash fell down All in a nianv pieces smashed. •• Ho." cried the slave. "Here is a pretty thing! What now am I to do?" " Your master now Must do without his drink." "Xay, to that Tutanekai will ne'er submit. 1 know him well." • " Then must Another calabash be brought." Answered the maiden simply. Whereupon to Tutanekai's home The slave returned. " The water vou were sent to bring. Give it me," Came from the wearied, fevered chief. "0, my master, broken is the calabash So f no water brought," So said the slave. "Broken!" Tutanekai cried, " Too careless do you grow. How came you The calabash to break?" "<), my master, it was not I. The man within the bath Entreated nio for drink, And at the me.nt.iou of your name Upon the rocks the calabash he droppei, So it to pieces fell." "Thirsty am I; Another ealab-di take thou and go." To the lake the slave again departed. Th" calabash be filled. As again the spring he was about to pass Again a pair of brilliant eyes appeared, A'jaiu a simulated voice—- " T,o. for \ our coming Have f l-.HL' waited. •» T p.-ri-di here with thirst. The calabash, the calabash, 1 pray you to drink give me!" And thinking nought of evil The calabash was passed. " lliil r hear you say that T-.vas for the chief Tutanekai this water was?" "Ave." answered the slave. "For the chief Tn 0, 0!" l-'or down upon the rocks Thi-i xecond calabash bad fallen, And all in fragments lliil it shattered lie. •'Have you no sense at all?" Exclaimed the -law. •• What a careless stupid fellow Vou must be! What now is lo be done?" " Why. fetch another calabash," The maid replied, And back the slave returned. ■The water. Where is the water 1 did bid you bring? T.o. I perish here with thirst." So Tutanekai. "0, my master!" exclaimed the slave, "The. man within the bath For drink did loudly: call. He too for water perishing: To him the calabash I gave And at the mention of vonr name He let it fall again." ' Wroth then Tutanekai. " A pair of careless fools I think you be. Another calabash take thou And quick to me some water bring." Again the slave went forth, again nreturned The same monotonous tale to tell. The man within the bath for water Piteously had begged. Believing TVas scarcely possible such an accident Could thrice occur. The calabash was passed. Hut even at the repetition of the word "Tutanekni" Upon the rocks the calabash came down In fragments to lie scattered, i Verv wroth was then Tutanekai. The' fool within the bath That thus his calabashes broke Punishment severe deserved. And punished he Should be. So. a stout staff choosing, With serious business full The voune chief sallied forth for Hineinoa's bath.

I'.V the -wilt ellCl\'.'tie -<:•<• HilH'ilioa kivw Tira> not (he slave this |i„,e that Htirrvin<: eame: 5... noiseless she withdrew To where the -hadow, on the water Pr-p-sl lav. TmaiK'kai would find her! This her jovous llioiudit. Hill be must have his work to ,1". Not too re.idilv must she be cau.iht. Afodeslv restrained. IF heXul finding her - leturiieil away. What ilien. eoiisirained, was she to do? Pun after, naked, calling! .\h, no, no! Sb- must b" found, but not at once. "Come forth Mini snenking knave!" n. how d.-light''ul To her ears that voice! "Thou ivho hasl an art

To calabashes break." A smothered tittering laugh To this replied. '•Break my calabashes, I your bones will break!" Too delicious were the threats That thick and freely came. Then the poo), Vengeance dire vociferating, I'cering, sometimes with his club poking, Tutanekai went round and round again, Till just above the spot Where crouched the maiden hid He stood.

'• Why, false the slave hath proved, There's no such man, Or else the fool hath fled." Ami then a little hand Went trembling forth—■•Why, Tutanekai, it is I, Your llinemoa!"

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" His heart With joy expanding, delightedly Tutanekai cried. "Ho! Ilo! Ho! 0, my love, my love, my dearest, Long longingly I waited, lint of your coming saw no sign. How earnest thou'here?"

•'No canoe had I in which to sail; All our canoes Upon the land were drawn high. What then was left me But to swim the intervening space!" "0 my beauteous sweet, In proof of Maori maiden's love This great fea't which thou To-night hast done To unborn generations Shall go down, And children's children's children Shall proudly say— Our Hinemoa did by night What men would fear to do by day 0, my beloved, our time we waste, The moments lly. Come to these arms, • Tills throbbing breast Where thou in peace May evermore find rest." "0, Tutanekai, I—l—can't!" "Why, 0, my love, For my poor sake to cross the lake And find yourself Restrained in a pool!"

•' Lfl, Tutanekai, I—l—J am—naked!" Loud laughed Tutanekai then, Delightedly he capered 'bove the pool. When at length To calmness sobered down—"o, my love, , Why should'st thou shamed be? Am not 1 your husband? And how better | Could bride to loving husband come Than naked Save in her loveliness alone? Thou ean'st not in the pool For ever stay, (live me thy hands and come away." i So to the hank. Tutanekai the maiden drew, Where, Having pressed her to his beating heart, To save her from disturbing thought Around her form his mat he threw. Then, joyful husband, happy blushing bride, He took her by the hand and led her to her home.

Risen the orb of day. The long dark clouds that vainly sought The earth to hide Were with a brilliant radiance streaked, And with the golden varnish Lake and tree All gloriously wore clothed. Jubilantly the songsters of the forest With twitterings loud Announced another morn had come. In joyous rapture Every leaf its tribute waved In whispering concert With the zephvr breeze, hi Mnkoia's isle How beautiful the scene. Wreaths of light blue smoke. Curling columnar, Aro-e from fires where Cooked the morning meal had been, Whilst round about In groups the dusky forms Of stately Maoris 'stood. Planning the labours of the day. Sonic hastening here and there To carry out some thought intent, Whilst others seated on the ground Their heads to serious council brought. About the open space Scattered the whares of the people stood And in the centre largely rose The meeting-house Which common was to all. Beyond, the dark green puka, Tu'peta. karaka, O'orshadowed by the brighter fronds Of widely spreading fern. Glistening -shone, Relieved by dark konini and the pine The kaingii round about encircling.

" Behold!" cried Roto, •'Xot yet hath our Tutanekai appeared, And see both door and window Of his new house are closed." "Strange it is that such should •bo," Remarked Whakaue, A smile' about his features Furtive playing, " In early morn Tutanekai ever the first To light'the fires liath been. Perchance he hath a-snaring gone Or 't other side the isle Ho fishes in the lake. He may be ill. Go'thou, good Roto, See whether he at home Too long hath rested." Along tho path and up the gentle rise Went Roto. Reaching Tutanckai's home The sliding'shutter Aside he pulled without ado And stared witliin. What saw he there that filled him With amaze? Lo, from underneath a mat Konr feet protruded, Two of which wore small And finely formed. Then, the window closing, Down the hill did Roto run Till to Whakaue straight he came. " Four feet—four feet—f saw them with these eyes, Four feet — And two of them were small!" " Lo, that is very strange," Solmenlv his wise head shaking Said Whakaue, His smile more broadly showing, "Never did 1 think that to a dog— A rat— Our Tutanekai would grow, Though different lie hath always been From others^ lieing small, doubtless his new feet Have not yet fully grown. fto, Roto, rouse bim up so we may see How walks Tutanekai With his four feet." Hack to Tutanekai's house Did Roto run. impetuous)v the window-slide He seized ' And drew it back. Again lie stared within. The noise he made The owner of the two small feet disturbed, And sitting up She stared at him in turn. Then did Roto The lady llinemoa see. The shutter closing with a bang He turned And down the hill he wildly ran. " llinemoa —Hinemoa— Here is the Ladv Hinemoa-! With Tutanekai' Ts she in his own home. Wedded hath she been. Li, 1 have seen. I have seen!" 1„ breathless haste he cried. "What infamous nonsense this you talk?' Said Tawake with his serious air. '"llinemoa is here, j With ibese eves have I seen. To Tutanekai wedded "he hath been!" I " l.iar thai von are!' .\gararanui cried, Whilst ~t tl„. youth all clumsily A blow lie aimed W.'i, easily avoided. •'•Wedded the Lady Hinemoa With Tulnnekai," The vniith replied. "Lost Ids little wits hath lie." So Tuleaite. lifting his hand A blow lo give. Here did Whakaue intervene. " Unit not the youth Fo r he hath spoken simple truth, 1.0. I have known That what has happM should be. And in this union jovmjslv agree. Koto to yon the truth hath told. If still his word ,vou doubt— ISchohl! "I'is T command. Le( there be peace— No foolish wicked strife— Here comes Tutanekai With his peerless wife!"

To Tiifanckni anil Hineinoa Manv children their home To bless (here came lly (lie sweet waters of the lake, .Slid many Thoir descendants dwell there To (his day. Very proud (.he.v of their ancestor, The brave chief TuUmekai. Vi'ver weary they The praises singing of the famous lieau(y llinemoa. from Owlniln.- shore to Mokoia's Isle YViih pride they point the course (If Ihe great swim The fame of which, as was jredicted, Through many generations flown hath come, And will be told Tlirouudi all the years Whilst Aolearoa holds its place Mov« the sea. I/O, this story have I told lo thee. Precisely, as it came to me. "\. w