A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE GREY, FROM THE CHIEF REWIRI TUKIATA WAREKORERO, OF HOKIANGA.
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A LETTER TO SIR GEORGE GREY, FROM THE CHIEF REWIRI TUKIATA WAREKORERO, OF HOKIANGA.
Friend, Governor Grey,--
Salutations to you. My affection for you is great. This love of mine towards you is a new thing. I did not feel this love for you when you were in Auckland, for these children were likely to die in their own house; 1 but when I came to Auckland, I felt the love you bore me. 2 This word of mine is to you; although you are at a great distance, let your love come hither to us, for your land is far off.
This is all my love to you; and this is my lament for you:--
And when the morning dawned we stood together
Midst the angry gusts of wind, and hauled
The basket-anchor
3 from its bed, in yonder horison
And now stretch forth thy hand, and strike the stern
Of our canoe, and see that all the braces
Are secure. The friend, he did no evil,
'Twas Kiri's daughter,
4 and lo! we give him
Up, that thou mayest look upon him.
Whither wilt thou go? The beloved is distant;
And I must look upon the keel of our
Canoe
5 and mourn. Ah, who can tell whether
The beloved will ere return? No, he
Will enter the famed dwelling of a Hinetewaihoe.
6
And she will robe and honour him, and allay
The war on southern shores, so that ye all
May traverse every road in quiet.
Nor will thy skin be injured by the thorny
Leaves of the Manuka,
7 when thou shall be attired
In costly dress. If thou wert called
Away because of Papa's evil, when thy
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Younger brothers fell with many others,--
'Tis well. Thou art my graceful Mahoe
8
That grows by Horoiwi, and thou art he
Who in the bow of the canoe hailest
The stranger. Thy elder brethren, it may be.
Will fill up the void, and calm the sea
Tumultuous,
9 so that we may rest awhile
Upon our paddles. Thou wert wont to
Visit Mahurangi, and feast upon the
Fishes of its waters. So, when thou
Stretchest northward, where the winds are meeting,
Unloose thy sail and steer for Rukutia,
10
Yes, come hither to thy people.
Sufficient is my lament for you, O Friend, let your love be turned towards us, your people.
(Signed) REWIRI TE TUKIATA,
of Pakanae, Hokianga.
To Governor Grey.
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HE PUKAPUKA KI A KAWANA KEREI, NA REWIRI TUKIATA WHAREKORERO O HOKIANGA.
E hoa e Kawana Kerei,--
Tena ra ko koe. He nui toku aroha ki a koe. He aroha hou tenei noku ki a koe. Kihai tenei aroha i kitea e ahau, i te wahi e noho ana koe ki Akarana, no te mea, he tamariki mate noa enei tamariki ki tona whare. No te taenga mai ki Akarana, katahi tou aroha ka puta mai ki ahau. Ko tenei kupu aku ki a koe, ahakoa hei tawhiti koe, ko te aroha kia hoki mai ki a matou no te mea he kainga tawhiti tou kainga. Heoi ano toku aroha ki a koe.
He tangi atu tenei naku ki a koe:--
Takiri ko te atu ka tu taua.
I te weriweri haunui, i te kono hapai,
I te punga rewa i te ripa.
Huri mai to ringa, pakia i te kei
I te taumanu hoenga. He kino
No to hoa, kei i a Hine na Kiri,
Kaore ka hoatu kia kite iho koe.
E whano hoki ki hea? te tau ka wehea,
I waiho te takere hei mihi mahaku.
Ko wai i tohu ai he tahu e hoki mai!
Te tahu ka oti atu, ki te whare para,
O Hineitewaihoe, na tama, na Kere
Mana e taiapo, mana e whakahoe,
Nga riri ki te tonga; kia puta koutou
I te ara haukore; kia werohia tou kiri
Koe manuka tu rangi, kia pokia
Iho te kiri o makehua.
Tena te hara tautika kei i a Papa
Kei ou taina, i te ngaro, ka rahi.
Taku nuimahoe ki raro o Horoiwi
Taku kahui tirepa ki te ihu o te waka.
Ma ou tuakana, mana e purupuru,
Ka rokia te moana; ka whakatakoe,
Ko te hoe; kia tukua atu ana
Nga ika kiri kino, i waho o Mahurangi,
E tae ki raro ra, huri mai to komaru
Nga hau kawe rua e.
E ruru nga ihu ki roto, o Rukutia
Huri mai ki te iwi na, e.
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Heoi ano taku tangi ki a koe Huri mai ra e hoa tou aroha ki te iwi.
Na REWIRI TE TUKIATA,
kei Papanae Hokianga.
Ki a Kawana Kerei.
