
The Legend
E kore e mau i koe, he
wae kai pakiaka
|
(A foot
accustomed to running over roots makes the speediest runner) |
TE HOUTAEWA was the fastest runner of his day and
played many pranks on his peoples enemies. One morning his mother wanted kumara for the hangi
(earth oven) and asked Te Houtaewa to go to the gardens at Te Kao, a
short distance away. He agreed to fetch the kumara and told his
mother to prepare the hangi.
Instead of going to the nearby gardens, Te
Houtaewa set off for Ahipara as he wanted to annoy some Te Rarawa
people who lived there. Carrying two large baskets for the kumara,
he ran like a hare, completing the journey over the hard sands of Te
Oneroa a Tohe (Ninety Mile Beach) in the few hours it takes a good
hangi to heat up properly. On reaching Ahipara, he went straight to
the people's kumara pataka (storehouse for sweet potatoes) situated
at the foot of the hill Wangatauatia.
While Te Houtaewa was filling his baskets with
kumara he was spotted stealing the kai (food). He was immediately
recognised. "It is he, Te Houtaewa. Catch him, and we will make
him a slave to work for us." Te Houtaewa stood up with
one kete in each hand. Looking around he saw a line of people
blocking his way to the beach. Quickly he ran in the opposite
direction up hill; the people not knowing his intentions, ran after
him.
As he ran, the blockade which had been formed
against him was broken and the ranks were opened. So he turned and
waited for the oncoming host. As his pursuers drew close, Te
Houtaewa rushed past them back down the hill sending them sprawling
as he headed for the beach. Te Rarawa people were so astonished that
they forgot to reform their barricade and before they could do
anything to stop him, Te Houtaewa, still bearing his baskets of
kumara had reached the beach and the road home.
Te Rarawa were very angry at being fooled by Te
Houtaewa. They sent their best runners after him, calling on him to
stop. But Te Houtaewa continued to speed along the hard sand, even
though he was slowing down under his heavy load. "Yes, he must
be tiring, carrying those heavy baskets of kumara" his pursuers
thought as two of their fastest runners separated from the band and
drew close to the wily thief.
Te Houtaewa put down his baskets of kumara and
prepared again to face the enemy. On every occasion he outwitted his
foe. When he reached home, Te Houtaewa found his mother waiting with
the hangi, ready. She did not know what her extraordinary son had
been doing during the time he had been away.
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