Page:Maori Religion and Mythology.djvu/98

84 northwards he came to Ripiro. The food of that place was toheroa. Kupe placed it there for food for his daughter, Tai-tu-auru-o-te-marowhara. The great rolling waves on that coast have been named after her. So says the proverb, "Tai-hau-auru i whakaturia e Kupe hi te Maro-whara." Going on they arrived at a certain place where Ihenga ate all their toheroa privately in the absence of his companions.

"Who has eat our food?" inquired his companions.

"How should I know?" said Ihenga.

"Why, there was no one but you. You alone remained here."

So they named the place Kai-hu-a-Ihenga. As they were travelling they came to a hill. No water could be found, and they were parched with thirst; so Ihenga repeated a karakia, and then stamping on the ground a spring of water flowed. Down flew pigeons in flocks to drink the water. So the place was named Waikereru (wood-pigeon water). Afterwards they came to a swamp and a small river. A tree had fallen across the stream by means of which they crossed. But the dog Potakatahiti was killed by the tree rolling on it. Then Ihenga repeated a karakia, saying to the tree—"O tree lying there, raise your head, raise your head." And the tree raised its head. Afterwards when he reached the higher ground Ihenga saw a tree standing by itself in the centre of the swamp. It was a totara tree. Then by the power of his karakia he made a path for his dog that it might