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Show _ 6A _ of them was thinking of their great seafaring ancestor Kupe who made the dangerous iourney across the Sea of Kiwa to their land in seven magnificent canoes. Older experienced warriors would ride in each canoe with the younger men. Roa and. Ruruku would be privileged to be in the first canoe with their father. An old Tohunga, or priest, stepped forward and raised his hands upward toward Rangi, the sky. "Great Tangaroa, god of the deep waters," his karakia, or prayer began, "''.fetch over these, our warriors, as they travel afar upon thy domain. Give strength unto their bodies that the sinews of their arms and muscles of their backs might have mirhty power to null the oars and force their canoes swiftly to their destination. Make their iourney not always calm and peaceful. Stir UP the tempest at times to try their true courage anH stamina. But in the end do xvratch over them and return them safely to all of us who love them. So be it, oh great Tangaroa, father of the waters." The canoes streaked out onto the calm Sea of Kiwa. Roa, Ruruku and Turi, their father, were in the lead canoe, along with some other choice young men who had proven themselves worthy through their |