The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-21

seeing the FAMOUS Pilot Fish of the
French Pass Pelorous Jack. This
singular cetacean is probably the most
remarkable known of the creatures Of
the deep. For many years past he
has been constantly observed by the
crews and passengers of the steamers
trading between Wellington and Mel
son by the way of the various channels
known to the Maoris as the Au-miti,
the Licking" Tor "Swirling'D current,
and to the Pakeha (white mani as the
French Pass, separating the mainland
from mountainous Rangitato or Dur
vile Island. Both by night and by
day he is ever on the watch. Directly
"a steamer heaves in sight of the
mouth of Pelorous Sound bound for
the Pass, Jack" appears and accom-
panies her for several miles, playing
round her bows, as if he recognized
her as some great playmate.
Jack is believed to be the only
fish in the world protected by special
government proclamation. He has been
classed by naturalists as Rissos dol
phin (Crampus Griseus), and an order
in council in 1904 protected all ami
mails of that species in the waters of
Cook strait
The Maoris have some remarkable
legends about Pelorous Jack. In Ma
orr eyes he is Ctaniwha) or ocean
god just such a deity as those which
played around Father Neptune in old
world mythology. His Maori name is
Kaikai-a-waro or Food at the deep"
and it is said that he was seen here
first several generations ago The fish
of the Grampus Griseus species are
very long lived, but the Maori tradi-
ton carries one far back indeed.
A very interesting legend associated
with "Pelorous Jack" which has never
been previously in print may be mar.
rated here as told by the natives of
the Ngati-Kuia and Ngati-toa tribes
off Pelorous Sound and the Wellington
Province. 1t is a good example of
the strange blending of fact and fic-
ton characteristic of so many Maori
folk tales It shows Jack" COR per
haps Jacks" previous incarnation)
as a benefcient kind of taniwha, just
as he is today.
Long, long ago, when Maori tribes
alone peopled the Fish-of-Maui and
the greensboro land this taniwha fish
Kaikai-a-waro, whom white men call
Pelorous Jack, lived in a sea cave at
Kaimahi Rock, close to the mouth of
TIE Hoiere, or Pelorous Sound; his
Rangatira (chief or owner) was one
Matua Hautere. Kaikai-a-waro used to
take delight in escorting the Maori
canoes passing along the coast from
TIE Hoiere mouth toward Whakatu
(now known as Nelson). He would
swim along ahead O. them, leading
them in the direction of their haven,
just as he leads the big paheka steam
canoe today He was a benevolent
| goldfish, although women and children
on seeing him would sometimes cry
out in alright, regarding him as a
Taniwha- Horomi-Tangata man
swallowing monster"
Well, in those ancient days there
lived upon the island of Rangitoto,
just to the north of Pelorous and the
French Pass, a young woman of high
birth named HinepOupou. She mar
ried a chief called Manini-Pounamu
and went to live with him at his home
or Arapawa Island, Queen Charlotte
Sound. Before long Manini, the
Tickle, set eyes on another desirable
woman and straight way plotted to re
lieve himself of his wife. So one day
he arranged a canoe expedition tc
Kapiti Island, thirty miles across the
sea of Raukawa Cook strait, resoly
ing to maroon his faithful Hine there
He and a crew of his napu set off
paddles and sail, taking Hinepoupor
with them. Arriving at the island they
camped for space at Marekohu Bay
which is at the southern end of Ka
pitt. The perfidious husband induced
the unsuspecting wife to walk up the
hills out Of sight of the canoe land
ing place, by telling her Of the frag
rant pokuru plant which grew there
much priced by the Maori housewives
of those times because of its swee
perfume when strewn on the matte'
floors of the sleeping uhgnes. Hine
poupou set off, taking her two dog
with her, and busted herself gatherin
the scented flowers, After the spac
Of some hours she retired to the cam
- ing place, but to her dismay foun
I that her husband and his follower
! had disappeared. Far away Their
was a black speck upon the waters
!. the canoe of Manini-Pounamu,
Poor Hinepoupou was deserted. TIL
D weeping chiaftainess walked ont
r The extreme southern point Of the II
r. III ,,,4 th,v, ,,pop a prDfapfiuo roc