Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI THE NIGHT BEFOEE THE ATTACK--PIPO'S LOVE-TALE. When the people had returned to the pah, it being time for the evening meal, all were soon busy roasting and pounding fern-root, even those who came up with the warriors having to assist, and, save the chief men and women, who sat apart, every one had to prepare his or her own food. Eound one of the large fires sat a group of most of the young women who had taken a prominent part in the making grimaces at the warriors, discussing, as they prepared their food, their attitudes in the whakatoamoa dance, and which had called forth the most praise from the others. The noise made by their paoias1 could be heard at a great distance. The ringing laugh of their voices, intermingled with the noise of the paoia, swelling on the clear night air, might be heard by fits and starts at the warriors' camp, the merry noise making a great contrast to the sullen silence in which the warriors sat. Near one of the 1 The partially-soft fern is placed on a round stone and beaten with a " paoia," a piece of wood. P fires sat a young man in the prime of life, with a wellknit frame and rather pleasing features; he sat looking at the group of laughing girls and young women. Immediately after one of their loudest bursts of laughter, he said, "You ought to keep your laughing for those who came to make love to you." "What do you know about love?" asked a girl of some sixteen summers. "The only love you can talk about is the revenge you hope to obtain for being a slave." "You are but a child," answered Pipo, for that was his name. "When I did fall in love, long ago, it was with one who was a chief's daughter--one who could wear a green-stone hei1 on her breast, and a mako2 in her ear, and the best kaitaka mat3...
