Karakia Ngau Paepae Hamuti, Hei Arai Atu I Nga Mate Tapu, A, Whaiwhaia Ranei, Or Biting the Beam of the Latrine to Avert Tapu and Witch-Craft.

Karakia Tiri I Te Mohiotanga, or Charm to Instil Knowledge.

Prior to entering the whare-wananga or house of instruction, the pupil would be taken to a sacred water (pond, spring, pool or stream), and made to stand alongside or in the water. The priest then sprinkled water on the pupil's head and repeated the following charm:

"Te umu tirama nuku, te umu tirama rangi,
Ko koe kei wetekia noa tia e koe.
Whiwhia ou ngakau, ou mahara,
Kia puta ki te whaiao, ki te ao marama.
Tena te umu ka eke, te umu kei akoe,
Na te umu o enei korero.
Ka ma nga koromatua,
Ka ma hoki tenei tangata."

Tohi Whaka U I Te Mohiotanga, or Charm to Confirm Knowledge.

When the student had attained full efficiency, he would then be taken to the tuahu, or sacred place, where the rite of confirmation and dedication was performed. The priest placing his right hand on top of the student's head, chanted the following rite:

"Ka tohia atu koe,
Ki te tohi nuku, ki te tohi rangi.
Kia hoaia koe ki te putiki whara,
Kia tiaia koe ki te manu rere rangi.
Te rau o titapa kia pai koe,
Te haere i runga ra.
I rangahaua koe i te po-uriuri,
I te po-tangotango.
page 235 I rakaitia koe ki te piki-kotuku,
Te rau o te toroa, te huia titama.
Whakina e tama nga kupu o te riri,
Nga kupu o tawhiti hemea ka mau mai.
Ka kapiti runga e, ka kapiti raro e,
He pokanga nuku, he pokanga rangi.
Pou hihiko, pou rarama,
Tiaho i roto, marama i roto.
Tena te pou te pou tokomanawa,
Te pou o enei korero.
Hui te marama, hui te ora e e."

In English.
Thou wilt be anointed (tohi)
by the blessing of the earth and heavens.
Thou wilt be decorated with top-knot,
and be dressed as the flying bird. .
The leaf of titama will enable thee,
to march forward above.
Thou wast acclaimed from the depth of darkness,
and in the changeable nights.
Thou hast been beautified with kotuku feathers,
and the feathers of toroa and huia.
Display my son the action of war,
and those far-reaching words you have learnt.
Heavens will be close and earth united,
and will be at thy command.
Be ambitious and clear minded,
be shining within thee and brightness without.
Those the pillar, the main pillar of wisdom,
the post of protector of these sayings,
Assembled brightness and settled life.

Karakia Horohoro Tapu. (to Take off Extra Tapu.)

This charm was used to remove the tapu from those who had been engaged in the building of a house or canoe, or burying or exhuming the dead, or any other tapu undertaking. The priest would splash water over the subjects while chanting the following:

"Te wheriko, te tapu e,
Haere i tua, haere i waho.
Haere i te wai-kopatapata e rere nei,
Kia hoki mai ai ko te wai-mahuru.
Korou noa,
Korou ora.

Karakia Whai-Raawa.

This charm was used to remove a bone or other obstruction from a person's throat. The priest would slap the back of the patient's head while reciting the words:

"Kaitoa koe kia raawa, whiti raawa tangaroa,
Whakaruakina mai ki waho.
Iita iita i te pu o te kahika,
I reira whare o ika.
Nga ru nui, nga ru roa,
Nga ru paheke, paheke i te ara o tu,
He kotuku, he kawau.
Haere ki waho."

Should it be found impossible to force the object out, this charm would be recited to force it down:

"Kaitoa koe kia raawa,
Na to kai-miti, na to kai-horo.
lita, iita, i te pu o te kahika,
I reira whare o ika.
Nga ru nui, nga ru roa,
Nga ru paheke i te ara o tu.
He kotuku, he kawau,
Haere ki roto."

Karakia Whangai Whetu.

When the people began their seasonal work of planting crops they were careful first to invoke the aid of the food-giving stars so that all food crops might flourish, and pests and diseases be prevented. The priest first gathered a quantity of the leaves of the young plants. These were taken to the tuahu or sacred place of the pa and there offered to the stars while the priest recited:

"Tupurupuru atua e e,
Ka eke mai i te rangi e roa e e.
Whangainga ki te mata o te tau e e,
Atu tahi atua.
Ka piki mai i te rangi e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te mata o te tau e e.
Tuku rua atua.
Ka eke mai i te rangi e tu nei e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te tomairangi e e.
Whanui atua.
Ka eke mai i te rangi e popoki nei e e,
Whangainga iho ra ki te matomato e e.
Ki te hau ora e e."

Karakia Whakato Kumara.

When ready for planting the kumara crop, the planters would stand at the end of the plot, facing the east. The priest would stand behind them, facing the field, and recite:

"Takataka mai, takataka mai,
Ko koe kei whakaroa noa tia.
Makurukuru ai te kakano kai,
Tauria te pu, tauria te weu.
Tauria te aka, tauria te koekoea whenua,
Ka puta i te whitu, ka puta i te waru.
Tukua te taupiri tatai, te ao rangi,
Ua te ua whatu i runga o haruru papaa.
Papaa noa te whatitiri ki runga ra,
Ko te wai i whea?
Ko te wai i uru mananga,
Ka tohia atu tama ki te ake rautangi.
E rua e e, rua atu, rua tahi te uhi nei,
Te taro nei, te kumara puhara nui nei.
Whakatahetahe tama ki te wai pani,
Ka tukua te papa i karatau.
I haere po i te aha?
I haere po i te whitu, i te waru,
Roua; Haere mai te tokii,
Haumi e e; Hui e e; Taiki e e."

Karakia Whakamutu I Te Ua.

If it were wished to cause the rain to cease falling, the priest, facing the storm uncovered, would chant the following:

"Tu kai te rangi tautahi,
Tu kai te rangi tuarua.
Tu kai te rangi i tukitukia,
Haere ana te po, haere ana te mao.
Oi whiwhia, oi rawea.
Hika atu ra taku ahi,
Ki te hau e riri mai nei.
E; Rotu mate, rotu aio he,
Haere te po ki uta,
Haere te po ki tai,
Haere te po ki waho.
He uenga nuku, he uenga rangi,
Ka mao ki uta, ka mao ki tai,
Ka mao ki te rangi e tu nei.
Ka puta ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama,
Korou mao, korou ora."

Karakia Kia Mutu Te Whatitiri.

If it were necessary to cause a thunderstorm to finish and the sky to clear, the priest would stand in the open and recite the following:

"Kati ra e rangi,
Whaka-taha ra koe e te anewa,
E te rangi e tu nei.
Te tawhito te tapu e tangi nei koe,
Na te tapu ahi, na te tapu mana.
Hinga atu ra ki mua.
Takoto ki raro ki te kauwhau ariki,
He uea ki uta, he uea ki tai.
He uea ki te rangi e tu nei."

Karakia Miri I Te Moana Me Te Hau.

To calm a storm at sea the priest would stand on the open beach, or if at sea, in the centre of the canoe, and, holding the paddle in his right hand, chant the following:

"Hiki atu ra taku ahi,
Ki te hau e riri mai nei,
E; Rotu mate, rotu mate aio,
He marangai te hau e riri mai nei,
E; Rotu mate, rotu mate aio.
He tawaha ra te hau e riri mai nei,
E; Rotu mate, rotu mate aio.
He taparaha te hau e riri mai nei,
Haere i tua, haere i waho.
Haere i te moana nui,
Haere i te moana roa.
Haere i te moana i takiritia,
Ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama.
Ka uru te mate, ka uru ki waho,
Ka uru te ora, ka uru ki roto.
Korou ora."

Karakia Whaka-Tangitangi I Nga Tipuna Taniwha Kia Mauri Ki Uta.

A person overtaken by storm at sea and unable to control the elements would call upon his ancestor-demon to carry him ashore. He would prepare himself carefully by expelling all other thoughts, and standing upright in the canoe, with the bailer lifted on high, he would recite the following:

"Ko wai ra te hau e riri mai nei?
E; Ko te uru karaerae,
Haere i tua, haere i waho.
page 239 Ko wai ra te hau e riri mai nei?
Ko te aputahi-a-Kiwa,
Haere i tua, haere i waho.
Ko Tutara-kauika te atua,
Haere i tua, haere i waho.
Arai-te-uru e e, kawea ake au ki uta ra
Ruamano e e, kawea ake au ki uta ra.
Ki te whai ao ki te ao marama,
Korou ora,"

Karakia Tatai Whetu.

When it appeared that a frost was about to come and destroy crops, the priest would call upon the stars to prevent the frost. He would take a firebrand, and proceeding to the urinal, walk around it, vigorously waving the torch to cause it to break into flames. Then, casting the brand away, he would raise his hands with his index fingers pointing and moving as if counting, and recite the following:

"Katahi ti, ka rua ti,
Ka hara mai te pati tore.
Ka rauna, ka noho ki kiwikiwi,
He po, he wai takitaki no pi, no po.
Ka hua mai, kai ana te whetu,
Kai ana te marama.
Ko te tio e rere ra runga,
Ra te pekapoka rakau kotore.
Wiwi, wawa, heke te manu e e,
Ki o tau tihe e, mauri ora a.

Karakia Hiki Tapuwae.

This charm was used to hasten and lengthen the strides of those who were travelling, fleeing, or pursuing others in war. In the case of a single person, he would stride off reciting the charm. A party would form in single file, three feet apart. If fleeing, the priest would take his position at the rear to conceal the track and hasten the party. He would implore the assistance of the moving skies and the freedom of the earth, as follows:

"Te kapua e rere i runga ra e, te papa e takoto nei."

(The skies that move quickly, and the earth that lies below.)

All would then spit upon their palms and slap their knee-caps while the priest cried:

Tapuwae hiki."

At the above words the party would mark time, beginning with the left foot, while the priest continued:

"Tapuwae nuku, tapuwae hapainga,
page 240 Te manu ki te kapua ko ia,
Ko ia te kapua e rere i runga ra,
Ko ia te papa e takoto nei.
   Toroa i runga, toroa i raro."

The whole party would then move forward with the right foot a distance of three feet. Each man would tramp on the footprint of the man in front and the priest would drag his weapon behind as if to conceal the track. Each person would spring off the ground to reach an ordinary man's speed. The priest would continue the charm with the words:

"Whakarewa ia, whaaotia te tapuwae."

This would increase the stride to six feet. The incantation would continue:

"Heaha te tapuwae?
Ko te tapuwae o te manu tipi,
Ko te tapuwae o te manu topa.
Ko iia, ko iia,
Ko ia hei hapai ake,
Kia puta ki te ao marama.
Haumi e e, taiki e e"

By this time the party would be taking strides of about five chains. Those who failed would be counted faithless to the rules of the charms. The swiftest would break away to the front and increase their pace and speed according to their individual strength.

Karakia Miri Wera.

This charm was used to heal a burn but was effective only when the burn was by accident or misfortune, and not if it was self-inflicted. The idea was to take away the sting of the fire so that the flesh could recover. The priest would run the palm of his hand over the affected part while reciting:

"Miria, miria,
Miria te wera nei, nowhea te wera nei?
Na te kora o te ahi i rere mai.
Haere i tua, haere i waho,
Haere ki te kaikomako e tu nei.
Homai koe kia komaua,
Ki nga kapua e tu nei.
Kia rangaranga matua tini,
Kia rangaranga matua toro.
Te ngunguru o te rangi whaitiri,
Ka houa nga kapua net kia piri.
Whakahokia mat te mauri o te ora,
   Korou ora, mauri tu e e."

Karakia Hono Whati.

The following charm was used to mend a broken limb. The broken part would be examined and if found out of position would be set and splinted in the best manner possible. The priest would then procure some tutu leaves and after singeing them with fire, place them over the affected part, reciting:

"Honoa i waho, honoa i roto,
Honoa i te wheua e takoto nei.
He tu matata nui, he tu matata roa,
He tau matata piri ki te whai ora.
He wai turuturu, he wai komaoa,
Ko te wai ra i toroa ai koe.
Kia honongia koe ki te putiki whara,
Whakapiri waho, whakapiri roto.
   Tupeke, whatoro, hui te ora e e."

Karakia Wero Tunga.

The interpretation of the above title is: "The incantation for worm spearing." This was taken from the belief that toothache was caused by worms or borers having settled in the teeth. Thus the charm was recited to kill the worms. The priest would first obtain the stem of a weed about the thickness of a needle and pointed at the end. This was inserted alongside the affected tooth and held there. A small piece of hot kumara was also placed on the tooth and the priest asked:

"He aha tou?" "Te tunga tou?"

Both questions were answered in the affirmative through the nose without shaking the head or opening the mouth. After such satisfactory answers the priest continued:

"Werohia atu ki tua o tawhaowhao,
Ki te tunga kai kinikini, kai muhumuhu.
Kai atu ki tua, kai atu ki waho,
He tipua, he tawhito to mahi e patu nei.
Haere i te moana i takiritia,
Ka uru te mate, ka urn te ora.
Ka uru te ora, ka uru ki roto,
Ka uru ki te ao marama,
   Korou ora."