Legends of the Maori The Taniwha -- The Landing of the First Horses in New Zealand The Taniwha The Landing of the First Horses in New Zealand SMOKED tattooed heads were getting scarce. Trade in general was declining. We were beginning to assess the true values of tomahawks, jew's-harps and red blankets, so an enterprising trader brought over a horse as an experiment. The first we saw of the horse was when we saw it swimming ashore. We who were gathered on the beach immediately ran for our lives, for we knew a great taniwha was making straight for us. We saw the monster rise out of the depths and land on the beach. Then we saw white men row from the ship and knew they would immediately be consumed. We shouted and made signs to them to go back, for we were afraid they would be killed. But the pakeha folk, who, you know, are of a stubborn race, kept on. Then a strange thing happened and we marvelled. One of the men approached the taniwha and tied a rope to his neck and led him to a patch of fine grass, and lo! the monster ate grass. We said, "Great, great is the mana of the pakeha! " Then we saw the pakeha get on the taniwha's back and the taniwha ran away, and we said, "Now, the monster is running to his hole and the pakeha surely will be eaten." But no, the monster came back and