18.9 Dating the Last Great Migration
317
I will begin my narrative with the death of Taka-rita, the wife of Uenuku, who was killed
by him because of her great offence, she having committed adultery with two men called
Tu-mahu-nuku (the warm standing earth) and Tu-mahu-rangi (the warm standing sky).
Ue-nuku killed her and them, and cut her open and took her heart out, and broiled it on a
sacred fire, which fire was lit at the foot of the carved centre-post of his own big assemblyhouse, which house was called Te-pokinga-o-te-rangi (the thronging of the sky). Whilst he
was cooking the heart he chanted this incantation: [omitted here because of its length].
When he had chanted all his spell he fed his mother’s heart to his and her own son Ira
(wart or pimple). Hence arose the proverb, “Ira, devourer of the rich soft interior.” And this
saying has descended to his offspring, to the tribe called Nga-ti-ira (the descendants of Ira).
When the news of the death of Taka-rita reached her brothers they greatly mourned for
their sister.
Then Ta-wheta (tumble about), one of the brothers, in regard to the death of his sister,
asked, “Why was she killed by Ue-nuku?” The relater of the news said, “Because she had
committed adultery with two men.” Ta-wheta said, “It is right, perhaps; but his act shall
be repaid in future, and he shall be eaten by grubs. Here, near me, are his food-preserves,
which will induce his children and people to come this way when the season of fruit comes
round. He will be full of trouble in future – at the time he desires the little bit of property
that is lying on the ground. The women shall be as a cliff for men to flee over.” And so
this last part of his words became a proverbial saying, and for a long time Ta-wheta dwelt
quietly, brooding over his anger.
Ue-nuku did not think it anything cruel to have murdered his wife, nor did he think of the
possible consequences. When one summer had passed he had forgotten all about his cruel
act, and he sent his children and people to obtain the fruit and products of his preserves in
the districts of Matiko-tai and Po-ranga-hau. A great number went; and when they arrived at
the pa of Ta-wheta, they being unarmed and not suspecting any evil, Ta-wheta killed them
all but one: and from this commenced the deadly feud between Ue-nuku and Ta-wheta.
Four of Ue-nuku’s sons were slain on this occasion, who were named Maputu-ki-terangi (heap in heaven), Ropa-nui (great slave), Mahina-i-te-ata (moon at dawn of day) and
Whiwhinga-i-te-rangi (possessing in the heaven); while the fifth, called Rongo-ua-roa (news
of the long rain), hardly escaped with his life. He had been severely wounded, and his skull
was hacked and broken, and he left for dead amongst the others slain by the murderers.
When Ta-wheta and his people had killed the party of Ue-nuku, they went back into
their own pa, that they might partake of food, at which time Rongo-ua-roa came to himself, opened his eyes, looked around, and saw his brothers and all his companions all dead
lying around him. He crawled away, and hid himself amongst some bushes close by. While
there he heard Ta-wheta and his people vaunting over their deeds, and Ta-wheta added,
“To-morrow, early, we will go to see Ue-nuku in his pa, and we will deceive and kill him
too, that he and his may all die together.” When they had eaten their repast and had concluded their talk, they came out and dragged the bodies of the slain into the pa, to cut them
up preparatory to cooking and eating them.
When it was night Rongo-ua-roa crept out of his hiding-place, and crawled into one of
the large canoes, and stowed himself away in the forehold, under the bows, and chanted this
incantation to insure his not being discovered:
Tu, overspread the face of the sky,
That I may be hidden.
Let their eyes be dazzled,
And flash waveringly
In looking at the stars,
And at the moon,
And at light.
And he was hidden securely, and laid himself quietly down.
317
I will begin my narrative with the death of Taka-rita, the wife of Uenuku, who was killed
by him because of her great offence, she having committed adultery with two men called
Tu-mahu-nuku (the warm standing earth) and Tu-mahu-rangi (the warm standing sky).
Ue-nuku killed her and them, and cut her open and took her heart out, and broiled it on a
sacred fire, which fire was lit at the foot of the carved centre-post of his own big assemblyhouse, which house was called Te-pokinga-o-te-rangi (the thronging of the sky). Whilst he
was cooking the heart he chanted this incantation: [omitted here because of its length].
When he had chanted all his spell he fed his mother’s heart to his and her own son Ira
(wart or pimple). Hence arose the proverb, “Ira, devourer of the rich soft interior.” And this
saying has descended to his offspring, to the tribe called Nga-ti-ira (the descendants of Ira).
When the news of the death of Taka-rita reached her brothers they greatly mourned for
their sister.
Then Ta-wheta (tumble about), one of the brothers, in regard to the death of his sister,
asked, “Why was she killed by Ue-nuku?” The relater of the news said, “Because she had
committed adultery with two men.” Ta-wheta said, “It is right, perhaps; but his act shall
be repaid in future, and he shall be eaten by grubs. Here, near me, are his food-preserves,
which will induce his children and people to come this way when the season of fruit comes
round. He will be full of trouble in future – at the time he desires the little bit of property
that is lying on the ground. The women shall be as a cliff for men to flee over.” And so
this last part of his words became a proverbial saying, and for a long time Ta-wheta dwelt
quietly, brooding over his anger.
Ue-nuku did not think it anything cruel to have murdered his wife, nor did he think of the
possible consequences. When one summer had passed he had forgotten all about his cruel
act, and he sent his children and people to obtain the fruit and products of his preserves in
the districts of Matiko-tai and Po-ranga-hau. A great number went; and when they arrived at
the pa of Ta-wheta, they being unarmed and not suspecting any evil, Ta-wheta killed them
all but one: and from this commenced the deadly feud between Ue-nuku and Ta-wheta.
Four of Ue-nuku’s sons were slain on this occasion, who were named Maputu-ki-terangi (heap in heaven), Ropa-nui (great slave), Mahina-i-te-ata (moon at dawn of day) and
Whiwhinga-i-te-rangi (possessing in the heaven); while the fifth, called Rongo-ua-roa (news
of the long rain), hardly escaped with his life. He had been severely wounded, and his skull
was hacked and broken, and he left for dead amongst the others slain by the murderers.
When Ta-wheta and his people had killed the party of Ue-nuku, they went back into
their own pa, that they might partake of food, at which time Rongo-ua-roa came to himself, opened his eyes, looked around, and saw his brothers and all his companions all dead
lying around him. He crawled away, and hid himself amongst some bushes close by. While
there he heard Ta-wheta and his people vaunting over their deeds, and Ta-wheta added,
“To-morrow, early, we will go to see Ue-nuku in his pa, and we will deceive and kill him
too, that he and his may all die together.” When they had eaten their repast and had concluded their talk, they came out and dragged the bodies of the slain into the pa, to cut them
up preparatory to cooking and eating them.
When it was night Rongo-ua-roa crept out of his hiding-place, and crawled into one of
the large canoes, and stowed himself away in the forehold, under the bows, and chanted this
incantation to insure his not being discovered:
Tu, overspread the face of the sky,
That I may be hidden.
Let their eyes be dazzled,
And flash waveringly
In looking at the stars,
And at the moon,
And at light.
And he was hidden securely, and laid himself quietly down.