Page:Maori Religion and Mythology.djvu/76

62 This ended, Kahu proceeded thus:

Then Kahu spat on the kohukohu, breathed on it, and offered it to Tama, that is to say, to the image of Tamate-kapua. Kahu and Ihenga then ate the food cooked for them in the sacred oven. Ihenga ate with a fork, while at the same time he fed Kahu with his left hand.

The same ceremonies were observed at the evening meal.

Eight days after the ceremony of Pure, the heart of Ihenga conceived a desire. He was taken with the fair face of Hinetekakara; so he asked Kahu, "When shall we two be free from tapu?" Kahu replied "We two will not soon be free." "Oh! be quick," said Ihenga, "that I may return to my elder brothers, to my mother, and to my sisters." Kahu said, "You will not be dismissed soon—not until the tapu is completely removed from you." "How many nights, then, after this?"