McLeod. — On Maori Skeletons and Belies. 271- 



Aet. XXXI. — Further Notes on Maori Skeletons and Belies 

 brought to Light at Earaka Bay, Wellington. 



By H. N. McLeod. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12th September, 



1899.] 



Since the opening-up of Karaka Bay for residential pur- 

 poses, which took place about two years ago, the excavation 

 and removal of soil incidental to building and improvements 

 has brought to light not a few interesting relics of the 

 aboriginals who, at an earlier date, made this bay their 

 habitat ; and, judging from the number of bones unearthed 

 in the different places, it must have been regarded by them 

 as an attractive place. It may be that the facilities for fish- 

 ing were great, and that the supplies of karaka-berries were 

 abundant in their season. 



Last year the Society had placed before it three or four 

 small relics — a small stone chisel, a whale-tooth, a tattoo- 

 scraper, as well as certain human bones, which, from their 

 proximity to the buried remains of a fireplace and bones of 

 birds and fish, seemed to suggest a cannibal feast. With the 

 exception of the chisel and tooth, these were found at the 

 entrance to a cave which is situated three hundred yards to 

 the north of Taepakupaku Point. 



Some two months ago, while some sandy soil was being 

 moved in order to make a level surface, the bones of some 

 eight skeletons were uncovered at a spot four hundred yards 

 south of the point mentioned. They were found buried 

 together, and not in the usual custom. The distance of the 

 spot from the beach is a chain and a half, and the depth 

 below the surface was about 1 ft. 



Shortly after this, at the end of June last, while holes 

 were being made for the planting of trees on part of the Har- 

 bour Board's reserves adjacent to the old pilot-station, a skull 

 upright in the ground was uncovered. The crown was but 

 6 in. from the surface. The upper jaw was minus two front 

 teeth, the rest being fairly sound. The rest of the body had 

 been laid in the ground in a horizontal position, resting on its 

 side. It had been treated in the usual Maori way, in that 

 the legs were brought up close to the body. 



Not far away was found a stone club of moderate size. 

 Some days later the fine stone mere shown to-night was 

 discovered near the same spot. A piece of greenstone, weigh- 

 ing 5Jlb., which was undergoing the process of grinding, 

 apparently for the purpose of forming a mere, is also shown. 

 This was found at Karaka Bay, near the old pilot-station. 



