Inundabor aquâ, inundabor;
Maritus meus inundabitur.[1]
Now I step upon (the mat).
The Matitikura[2] to Rupe above,
***Toroa*
***Takapu*
***to cause to be born,
My child now one with myself.
Stand firm turuturu[3] of Hine-rauwharangi,
****Hine-teiwaiwa,
Stand by your tia,[4] Ihuwareware,
Stand by your kona,[4] Ihuatamai,
Chide me not in my trouble,
Me Hine-teiwaiwa, O Rupe.[5]
Release from above your hair,[6]
Your head, your shoulders,
Your breast, your liver,
Your knees, your feet.
Let them come forth.
The old lady[7] with night-dark visage,
She will make you stretch.
She will make you rise up.
Let go ewe,[8] let go take,[8]
Let go parapara.[8] Come forth.
For tradition as to Tuhuruhuru and other names here mentioned vid. Sir Geo. Grey's "Mythology and Traditions of New Zealand," p. 39 et seq.
- ↑ Hæc ad effusionem aquarum sub tempus partûs spectant.
- ↑ The name of a powerful karakia.
- ↑ Turuturu, a sharp pointed prop, two of which are fixed in the floor to serve as a frame for weaving mats—also used by women in child-birth to hold by.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Names of lower parts of abdomen.
- ↑ Rupe or Maui-raua, brother-in-law of Hine-teiwaiwa.
- ↑ Addressed to the unborn child.
- ↑ The old lady referred to was Hine-nui-te-po, the mother of the female ancestress of mankind.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Names of different parts of the decidua.
