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Maoria: A Sketch of the Manners and Customs of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand.

1. (Page 23.)

1. (Page 23.)

Karakia, incantations.—In their use of this word the Maoris had no idea of prayer, and it is a mistake to attach that meaning to karakia.

The author once heard a genuine karakia. He was travelling with a party of Maoris who were equally anxious with himself to cross the great lake of Taupo, upon the northern bank of which the weather had detained the party for nearly a week. The residents of the place had not been long converted to Christianity (it was in the early days of the colony), of which they were such strict professors that they would allow no food to be prepared on Sunday. A slight improvement in the weather having taken place, a large canoe was launched, and left the shore, paddled by a full crew of men and women. The canoe was less than two miles from the land when she was struck by three successive seas, which half filled her with water; a fourth would have swamped and turned her over. The panic-stricken crew threw down their paddles, page 192which floated about the canoe, and uttered cries of, "O Rama! (the chief who had persuaded them to start) O Rama! you were mad." "He Taniwha! he Taniwha! A water monster, a water monster." At last some of them called upon an old woman who was in the stem of the canoe to save them by a karakia. When she commenced, the cries of alarm ceased, and, the strength of the squall having probably passed away, the canoe shipped no more water. The crew took heart, bailed her out, and with all possible speed regained the shore. This is the only occasion upon which the author has had the advantage of seeing a taniwha, or of hearing a genuine karakia. The Maoris still believe in and practice incantations, but the latter hardly ever in the presence of Europeans, unless by way of a joke, or upon an occasion not more serious than a fishing excursion.