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MAKITAKA'S LAMENT ON THE LOSS OF THE TEMPORAL SOVEREIGNTY.

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1 By a refinement of cruelty only possible to heathenism, the bearers of the sacrifice address the weeping children in the words, “Your father is being borne to the altar." Muare, the only son of the victim, did not follow the corpse, as he would have been put to death. He survived to Christian times, and became a member of the Church. Years before the first teachers landed,

he induced Reinga to compose this song in commemoration of his father's tragical fate. Muare found a melancholy pleasure in chanting this song to its proper accompaniment of the harmonicon: indeed, he quite excelled at this outrageous performance. A few years ago he died the death of a Christian. His sister Paraakere died recently.

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1 The two months preceding the arrival of sprats are called “te karaii koā,” or "time of exhausted crabs," they having made their way from the rocks to the sea to spawn. In like manner the interior of man is supposed to be empty and weak, until the arrival of sprats gives new life. During these hot and enfeebling months children are fractious and troublesome, but should on no account be beaten !

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