Ihenga paddled along the shores of the lake giving names to many places as he went—Weriweri, Kopu, Te Awahou, Puhirua—which last he so named because the bunch of feathers fastened to his paiaka fell off. At another place the inanga leaped out of the [pg 73] water, and some fell into his canoe, so he named it Tane-whiti. Another place he named from a boastful thought in his mind, Tu-pakaria-a-Ihenga (Ihenga’s boasting). He passed by the river Ohau. He had named this river before, when he first came to the lake, from the name of his dog. As the dog was swimming across it was drawn in by a whirlpool, and so was drowned. Next he came to the land-slip on the mountain which he had made Tu believe to be a net. He named it Te Tawa, because he left there a pole used for pushing the canoe, which was made of the wood tawa. The pole stuck so fast in the ground that he could not pull it out, so he left it there. After passing the point Tuara-hiwi-roa he came in sight of his companions. The shout resounds, “Oh! it is Ihenga. Come here, come here, sir—paddle hither.” His wife ran down to the water side as the canoe touched the beach.
“See what food you have lying there,” said Ihenga. Hine-te-kakara caught up a bundle of rats, and when she saw their teeth she exclaimed “ē, ē, he niho kiore” (eh! eh! a rat’s tooth). So the place was named Te Niho-o-te-kiore. Again she made an exclamation of admiration at the heap of birds, “In truth, in truth, a wonderful heap. Come, sirs, come and look at it.” So that place was also named “Kahui-kawau,” or Flock of Shags. Then the birds were cooked, and the next day they all departed to return to Maketu. They went to fetch Kahu. The food, the shags, the bundle of rats, the gourd of inanga, and the gourd of porohi[51]—a tempting bait to make Kahu come.
[pg 74] They reached the Hiapo, and rested there the night. Kuiwai and Haungaroa gave that name, because they left their brother Hiapo there, and he died there. Hiapo saw the koko hopping about the trees, and remained behind while his sisters went on to Maketu to carry messages from Hawaiki to Ngatoroirangi.
The next day they went on, and when they reached Totara-keria they were seen from the Pa by Tawaki. Then came shouts from the Pa, “Come, heaven-sent guest, brought hither by my child from beyond the sky. Come, come.” They arrive—the tangi commences—then speeches are made. Meanwhile food is being prepared. When they had done eating the food, Tawaki said to Ihenga, “Tell us about your travels. Whence come you, lost one?”
“I have seen a sea,” said Ihenga, “I found a man there.”
“Who is the man?” asked Tawaki.
“Marupunga-nui, and his son.”
They all knew that the son was Tu-o-rotorua. So Kahu inquired “Where is your uncle and his father?”
“They remain there,” said Ihenga, “I have made them go to the island.”
“Well done, son-in-law,” said Kahu.