| OCR Text |
Show - 2^ participated, but many spectators turned out for the event. There were many sizes, shapes and colors of kites: manu. pakau and kahu kites, taking their names from their shapes of birds, crosses, diamonds, fishes and squares. The kites were made of stretched bark over frames and adorned with feathers. Dashing along the white sandy beach, Roa and his uncle launched their beautiful manu kite first and sailed it highest on the wind in Rangi 's blue sky. Together, laughing happily, they won the contest. The cheers of the people still echoed in Roa's ears- it was one of his happiest memories. He remembered also the tree climbing contest: the hand games of koru.ru, ti ringa, and matimati, which depended upon soeed and dexterity in use of the hands. He remembered the good times hunting the deer and wild pig and fishing with his uncle, who taught him these many skills. Now this same dear uncle lay cold in death, felled by an enemy. "Why must people war one with another?" he asked himself angrily. He wondered where his uncle was now, for he believed his uncle's spirit had excaped to a better land. The dead body was only the earth part of his uncle. |
