The Ancient History of the Maori, His Mythology and Traditions. Awatea, Taranaki, Nga-Ti-Hau Nga-Ti-Rua-Nui [Vol. VIII, English]
Chapter 28 — Turi (Nga-ti-hau)
Chapter 28
Turi
(
Nga-ti-hau)
O this day
Of refuse tears
Oozing from my eyes
As gloomy thoughts
Come from below
Of gloom that
Came from acts
Of days of
Muru-taka gone.
When Turi (deaf) the first man who came to this west side of the Island arrived he went to Kawhia (embraced) and took up some of the earth in his hand and smelt it, but he threw it down again as it had not the proper smell to please him, afterwards he came to Nga motu, at Taranaki and again took some of the soil up and smelled it, but still it did not satisfy him in its smell, and he threw it down again, he then went on to Pa-tea (fair fort) and there took up some of the earth in his hand and smelled it, this time it was more fragrant so he settled there and planted one kit of his Kumara (ipomoea batatas) seed. Which paled sixty in return, there he built his house, and enclosed his maara (cultivation) with large Totara (podocarpus totara) posts, the remains of which are said still to be seen, the name of his maara (cultivation) was Hekeheke-i-papa (descend on to the flat), there were three maaras, this house was called "Matangi-rei" (air of the noble born), and the name of another of his houses was "Nga-tara-a-te-moana" (the boldness of the sea).