He waiata nā Tiemi

He waiata nā Tiemi.

A love song either sent or composed by Tiemi [James Perrott?]. It appears to relate to a future marriage between the writer and a young woman named Matikuku. It says at top of the document that it is “A waiata in reply to the girl at Wainui”.

Some of the text translated into English by Library staff includes: “Her name is Matikuku, She is my beloved” and a later section describes their future together: “...This is what she says, there will be a nice house for us, pigs and cows. Your work, e hine, will be to care for the cows, my work will be to plough...”

Transcription:

He Waiata Whakahoki atu ki te Kotiro i Wainui

||

Ko Matikuku teingoa-

Ko ia taaku tahu-

e mate nui te Kaumatua-

Kia moe Kotiro nei

Kahore kau he kupu ke-

Ko ia tenei ana ki-

ma taua ra he whare pai-

nga poaka me nga kau

tou mahi ehine

e tiaki kau

Ko taaku mahi te parau-

Ahakoa Matikuku roa

e nui tana pai-

mo apopo ki a marena

taua ka moe-

||

Heoi ano

Na Tiemi