Matakerepō

A name of Whaitiri, the grandmother of Tāwhaki. She was called Matakerepō ("darkened eyes"), on account of being blind. As she sat counting over her ten sweet potatoes, Tāwhaki took one; she then counted the nine, and he took another; and so on, till only one was left. Thenceforth, in making offerings to Tāwhaki the offering was divided into ten parts, and each part was offered separately to the god. This was called ngahuru, "the collection," and was used as a sacred name for "ten" instead of tekau.

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References

Sources

  • Grey, Sir George. (1922). Polynesian Mythology. Londen: George Routledge & Sons, pp. 49-50.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, p. 223.
  • White, John. (1887). Ancient History of the Maori. 6 vols. Wellington: G. Didsbury, Government Printer, p. 1:57.
  • Wohlers, J. F. H. (1875). "Mythology and Tradition of the Maori." New Zealand Institute, Transactions 7:3-53, p. 43.

This article incorporates text from Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary (1891) by Edward Tregear, which is in the public domain.