Page:Adventures of Kimble Bent.djvu/109

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE HAUHAU COUNCIL-TOWN
81

Some of the chants were amazing mixtures of English and Maori; some were all pidgin-English, softened by the melodious Maori tongue. Here is a specimen of the daily chants, intoned by all the people as they marched round and round the holy pole. The priest shouted, "Porini, hoia!" ("Fall in, soldiers!"); then "Teihana!" ("Attention!"), and they stood waiting. Then they chanted, as they got the order to march:

Translation.
Kira Kill
Wana One
Tu Two
Tiri Three
Wha— Four—
Teihani! Attention!

Round the sacred flag-staff they went—men, women, and children—chanting:

Rewa River
Piki rewa Big river
Rongo rewa Long river
Tone Stone
Piki tone— Big stone—
Teihana! Attention!
Rori Road
Piki rori Big road
Rongo rori Long road
Puihi Bush
Piki puihi— Big bush—
Teihana! Attention!
Rongo puihi Long bush
Rongo tone Long stone