of whom welcomed her, and enquired her mission. "My child has been killed by my own brothers; Tu-ranga-taua is dead! Hence came I to you to avenge his death, the fame of your deeds and that of your brothers having spread afar. The opportunity has come, three canoes full of them are at sea this moment engaged in fishing." Then Te Ariki-taania arming his men, put to sea, and reached the Apai group where he met the brothers fishing. With pleasant words he inveigled them all into his own canoe, saying: "Let us all fish together, my brethren, and then proceed to your home; or, if you prefer it we will go to mine." "Where is thy home?" "Savāi'i!" "That is right; we will go to Savāi'i." Then with smooth words and cunning heart, the Ariki placed his guests in convenient order in his own canoe, where, having arranged his weapons, he threw a rope round their necks, and arising, "was soon cutting off their heads." Te Ariki-taania now returned, and reaching shore, gave the three heads to Apakura, saying, "Here are Tangiia-ua-roro, Te Mata-uri-o-papa, and Iriau-te-marama. But first let us swallow their eyeballs, as a token of what will be the fate of Orokeva-uru; so may he be crushed in my mouth."[1] But Te Ariki-taania now thought he had done enough, so sent Apakura away to his brothers, to Vakatau-i'i and Rae-noo-upoko, in the first of which names we recognise the Maori Whakatau, of whose deeds their histories and songs are full. The story goes on to describe her welcome at Savāi'i, and the lengthy preparations made by the brothers to avenge the death of their young relative—for the story says Apakura was their tuaine, a cousin probably. Then brave and warlike words were spoken as the expedition mustered and was reviewed on the beach, where
- ↑ Here we recognise a well-known Maori custom, often alluded to also in the Native history of Rarotonga.
