Cat's Cradle, hai.
String figures, under the name of
hai, are known throughout the group. Time did not permit of following up this interesting subject. The figure known as
rau nahe, the leaf of the
nahe fern, is shown in
Fig. 286. The figures
are usually in series, one leading on to another. Thus the
rau nahe, above, goes on to
Nga toka aravei, Nga tamariki tiaki ra, Pahata puha, and
Peru rakiki. In a figure called
Nga tamariki tu pahorohoro, the children on a toboggan, two figures are shown on the string. On the string being pulled the figures run swiftly to the ends and slide off.
page 331
Another figure was the well-known Maori one of mouti mouhaere. It was known as Moko. With it went a couplet.
Ka haere a Moko,
Ki te kimi vahine.
Moko goes a-seeking,
A-seeking for a wife.
In olden days the string was made of hau or oronga.