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[The following was written by some unknown old man (old—because of the character of the writing), who was probably of the Ngati-Pāka tribe of Wairoa, Nuhaka and Te Mahia, on the East Coast of New Zealand, which may be judged by the dialect, and from the fact that the paper from which these notes are extracted, gives several genealogical descents to Ihaka Whanga, a very well-known chief of those parts in the latter half of the nineteenth century. This is one of the late Samuel Locke's papers, now with the Society. One would much like to have questioned the old man on the meanings he would have given to the name of the stars. My translation of his karakias is, I fear, only an approximation to the meaning of the original.]

On the death of Hine-ahu-one (woman-made-of-earth; the first woman), the wife of Tane-nui-a-rangi (Great Tane-of-heaven), he cohabited with his own daughter, Hine-titama. During their dwelling on one occasion Hine-titama said to Tāne, “Who is my father?” Tāne pointed to his thighs. Hine-titama was overcome (with shame) at this answer, and fled. Tāne proceeded in pursuit of her, in vain, he could not overtake her. So he remained (disconsolate) at his home.

Hence it is that he brought forth the stars. There were four baskets (or receptacles) into which the stars were gathered, and their names are as follows: “Haruru,” “Taiaroa,” “Maemae,” and “Whiriwhiri.” When he placed the stars in these baskets the following karakia (or incantation) was recited:—

The following are the karakias of each basket:—

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That is the karakia for “Hururu.” The following is for “Maemae” and “Taiaroa”:—

The following is for “Whiriwhiri” basket:—

The reason why Tāne-nui-a-rangi carried the stars above, was in order to adorn the belly of his parent, Rangi-nui (The Sky-father), which stands above. These stars were gods of the Maori people; and this is the prayer we used to address to them:—

Whangaia mai Puanga-nui-a-Tonga
I te ata, kia kai mai te Rangi-tapu
He rangi aitu—e—
Ko Puanga, ko te matahi takurua
Ko te marua pipiri mai
Ko te toru, Aroaro-Whanui
Ko te wha, torotika whakarere
Ko te rima, Wawa
Ko te ono, Peke-tawhira
Ko te whitu, Peke-hawani
Ko te waru, Whiti-nga-kerekere
Ko te iwa, ko Taumua
Ko Tauroto, ko Tautukua
Ko Tau-o-manga
Ko Pakahi, ko Pakaha,
Ko te rua ko Hui-te-rangiora 1

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Ko Rongo-i-waho
Ko Manini-tua, ko Manini-aro,
Tauranga-te-ruhi, ko Te Pahekeheke
Ko Te Mania-rua, ko Te Pahekeheke
Ko Tupuranga-te-Pō
Taku kainga ko Hawaiki.

The above is the karakia whangai, or feeding incantation of the stars.