The Loves Of Takarangi and Rau-Mahora

There was, several generations ago, a chief of the Taranaki Tribe, named Rangirarunga.

His pa [fortified village] was called Whakarewa, it was a large Pa, renowned or the strength of its fortifications.

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This chief had a very beautiful daughter, whose name was Rau-mahora, she was so celebrated for her beauty that the fame of it had reached all parts of these islands.

It had, therefore, come to the ears of Te Rangi-apitrua, a chief of the Ngati-Awa tribes, to whom belonged the Pa of Pukeariki, on the hill where the Governor's house stood in New Plymouth.

This chief had a son called Takarangi, and he was the hero of his tribe.

He, too, naturally heard of the beauty of Rau-mahora, and it may be that his heart sometimes dwelt long on the thoughts of such great loveliness.

Now, in those days long past, there was a war between the tribes of Te Rangi-apitirua and the father of Rau-mahora, and the army of Ngati-Awa tribes marched to Taranaki, to attack the Pa of Rangirarunga,

The army invested that fortress, and sat before it night and day, yet they could not take it, they continued nevertheless constantly to make assaults upon it and to attack the garrison of the fortress.

The inhabitants became worn out from the want of provisions and water, and many of them were near dying.

At last, the old chief of the Pa, Rangirarunga, overcome by thirst, stood on the top of the defences of the Pa, and cried out to the men of the enemy’s army,

“I pray you to give me one drop of water”.

Some of the enemy, pitying the old man, said “Yes”.

One of them ran with a calabash to give him water, but the majority being more hard-hearted, were angry at this, and broke the calabash in his hands, so that not a drop of water reached the old man.

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This was done several times, whilst his enemies continued disputing amongst themselves.

The old chief still stood on the top of the earthen wall of the fortress, and he saw the leader of the hostile force, with the symbols of his rank fastened on his head.

He wore a long white comb, made from the bone of a whale, and a plume of the long downy feathers of the white heron, the emblems of his chieftainship.

Then was heard by all, the voice of the old man, as he shouted to him from the top of the wall,

“Who art thou?”

And the other cried out, “Lo, he who stands here before you is Takarangi”.

The old chief of the Pa called down to him.

“Young warrior, art thou able to still the wrathful surge which foams on the hidden rocks of the shoal of O-rongo-mai-ta-kupe”.

Meaning, “Hast thou, although a chief, power to calm the wrath of these fierce men”.

Then, proudly replied to him, the young chief,

“The wrathful surge shall be stilled, this arm of mine is one which no dog dares to bite”.

Meaning, “That no plebeian hand dared to touch his arm, made sacred by his deed and rank, or dispute his will”.

But, what Takarangi was really thinking in his heart was, That dying old man is the father of Rau-mahora, of that lovely young maid.

Ah, how I should grieve if one so young and innocent should die tormented with the want of water.

Then he arose, and slowly went to bring water for that aged man, and for his youthful daughter.

He filled a calabash, dipping it up from the cool spring which gushes up from the earth, and is named Oringi.

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No word was spoken, or movement made, by the crowd of fierce and angry men, but all, resting on their arms, looked on in wonder and in silence.

Calm lay the sea, that which before was so troubled, all timid and respectful in the lowly hero’s presence.

The water was taken by Takarangi, and by him, was held up to the aged chief, then was heard by all, the voice of Takarangi, as he cried aloud to him,

“There, said I not to you, No dog would dare to bite this hand of mine?”

“Behold, the water for you and for that young girl”.

Then they drank, both of them, and Takarangi gazed eagerly at the young girl, and she looked eagerly at Takarangi.

A long time they gazed at each other, and as the warriors of the army of Takarangi looked on, Lo, he has climbed up and was sitting at the young maidens side, and they said amongst themselves,

”Oh, comrades, our Lord, Takarangi loves war, but one would think he likes Rua-mahora almost as well”.

A sudden thought struck the heart of the old chief, the father of Rau-mahora, so he said to his daughter,

“Oh my child, would it be pleasing to you to have this young chief for a husband?”

The young girl said, “I like him”.

Then the old man consented that his daughter should be given as a bride, to Takarangi, and he took her as his wife.

Thence the war was brought to an end, and the army of Takarangi dispersed, and they returned each man to his own village, and they came back no more to make war against the tribes of Taranaki.

The first of the below posts has a list of the previous posts of Maori Myths and Legends

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/how-war-was-declared-between-tainui-and-arawa

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-curse-of-manaia-part-1

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-curse-of-manaia-part-2

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-legend-of-hatupatu-and-his-brothers

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/hatupatu-and-his-brothers-part-2

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-legend-of-the-emigration-of-turi-an-ancestor-of-wanganui

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-continuing-legend-of-turi

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/turi-seeks-patea

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-legend-of-manaia-and-why-he-emigrated-to-new-zealand

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-love-story-of-hine-moa-the-maiden-of-rotorua

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/how-te-kahureremoa-found-her-husband

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-continuing-story-of-te-kahureremoa-s-search-for-a-husband

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-magical-wooden-head

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/the-art-of-netting-learned-from-the-fairies

https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/te-kanawa-s-adventure-with-a-troop-of-fairies

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