Voyage of the Arawa.

When the canoes were launched, the lading of each was put on board, with all the crews. Tama-te-Kapua was the captain of the Arawa. After the proper propitiatory offerings to the gods the anchors were lifted, and the foresail, mainsail, and mizen were set, "and away shot the canoe." The Arawa scudded rapidly, and after a time Ngatoro the priest thought to himself, "What a rate this canoe goes at! what a vast space we have already traversed! I'll climb up upon the roof of the house which is built on the platform joining the two canoes, and try to get a glimpse of land." At length the voyagers met with a frightful storm, and some of the party were washed overboard. Ngatoro, by powerful incantations, quieted the sea, but most of the lading and provisions were lost. They sailed on, and landed at Whanga-paraoa, and found the pohutukawa tree in full bloom. As soon as they landed they planted some sweet potatoes.

The Tainui (canoe) had already arrived in the same neighbourhood. The Tokomaru (canoe) also appeared, and these page 97 two parties sailed up the Tamaki River, and hauled their canoes over the portage into the Manukau arm of the sea on the west coast. The Tainui, apparently a very large canoe, was only got over by the aid of powerful incantations. The two canoes in company sailed through the Manukau Heads, and put to sea again, coasted along southwards, and entered Kawhia harbour. Meanwhile the Arawa sailed to Maketu in the Bay of Plenty, where she was hauled ashore, and some time afterwards burnt by a hostile party. The mingimingi trees still growing on Maketu beach are said to have sprung from one of the crossbeams of the canoe, which was accidentally planted. These trees were very tapu until quite recently. A man called Ruaeo had been left behind at Hawaiki when the party sailed, but his wife was among the emigrants. He assembled a party, and manned another canoe with 140 men, and reached Maketu before the Arawa. The leaders of these two parties were heroes and giants. "There have been no men since as tall as these heroes." This legend concludes with a recital of the parting words of Houmaitawhiti to the party when they embarked at Hawaiki: "Do you, my dear children, depart in peace; and when you reach the place you are going to, do not follow after the deeds of Tu, the god of war; if you do, you will perish, as if swept off by the winds. But rather follow quiet and peaceful occupations; then you will die tranquilly, a natural death. Depart, and dwell in peace with all; leave war and strife behind you here. Depart and dwell in peace. It is war and its evils which are driving you hence. Dwell in peace where you are going; conduct yourselves like men; let there be no quarrelling amongst you, but build up a great people."

It appears from a legend which Sir G. Grey has named "The Curse of Manaia," that Ngatoro the priest assembled a party, built another canoe in place of the Arawa, which had been burnt, and returned to Hawaiki, landing at a place called Taraiwhenua, and took revenge for an affront by slaughtering a great number of the people of Manaia, who had uttered a curse of a most terrible character. After this exploit Ngatoro returned to Maketu. Manaia, who had escaped the destruction which overtook so many page 98 of his people, assembled an army and suddenly appeared before Motiti, where Ngatoro had taken up his residence, "with a large fleet of canoes and a whole host of warriors;" and here he anchored. But Ngatoro, by powerful incantations, raised a great storm which destroyed the fleet. And when the morning broke, "the aged wife of Ngatoro went out of her house and looked to see what had become of the host of Manaia; and as she cast her eyes along the shore, there she saw them lying dead, cast up on the beach."