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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 65

3. Te-papaki-a-kuuta, pp. 46 and 62

3. Te-papaki-a-kuuta, pp. 46 and 62.

This very remarkable place has certainly a correspondingly remarkable name. As in the former proper names above, so here, the last word is the difficult one to fix the meaning of; though this one is much more so.

After no small study, I think that kuuta must be taken as representing tu uta; (k in ancient words being sometimes used for t;*) then, tu uta may mean,—Tu, = the warrior god (Mars) defender of the interior (uta).

Papaki—the perpendicular cliff, dyke, barrier.

Te, and a, (active prep, for of) as before.

Thus we have,—The barrier of (the) defender god (of the) interior.

I noticed, that some of the old Maoris of Patea laid stress on and lengthened the last vowel of the word; thus,—"Te-papaki-a-kuutaa": the meaning however would be very nearly the same,—instead of—" the god-defender of the interior" (uta); it would be, the "god-man-slayer by dashing down" (taa). Both meanings, as they seem to me, are equally suitable.—

* In the Hawaiian (Sandwich Islands) dialect k is frequently interchanged with t; and it is worthy perhaps of notice, that another romantic place among these mountains not very far away N. from this,—Kuripapango,—is supposed to derive its old proper name from a Hawaiian word. (Vide, "Three Literary Papers", by W.C., p. 4: 1883.)