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 |
