  We report temperature dependent magnetization and neutron diffraction
measurements on the corundum related magnetoelectric antiferromagnet
Mn$_{4}$Ta$_{2}$O$_{9}$. Measurements performed on a single crystalline
specimen reveal that the magnetization is anisotropic, and a weak ferromagnetic
component emerges well within the antiferromagnetically ordered state. Powder
neutron diffraction measurements indicate that the magnetic structure comprises
of antiferromagnetically coupled ferromagnetic chains of Mn$^{2+}$ spins
aligned along the trigonal $c$ axis, in contrast to that reported in other
isostructural members of this family. Magnetic measurements performed under a
periodic electric field indicate that the magnetoelectric response is also
anisotropic, with this coupling along the trigonal $c$ axis and that
perpendicular to it having different signs.
