Chapman. — On the Working of Greenstone. 487 



with the extinction of the moa ; but this touches the contro- 

 verted question as to the date of that extinction. I cannot 

 find, however, that they are traditionally connected with 

 greenstone. 



Ngatimamob. 



This tribe conquered the above, and dominated this Island 

 for about a century. They then became extinct as a tribe, 

 but some hapus or sub-tribes incorporated with the conquer- 

 ing Ngaitahu still trace their blood to Ngatimanaoe ancestry. 

 It is a subject of reproach to have pakeha or European blood; 

 and a half-caste lady once told me that, being thus reproached 

 by relations, she replie 1 that that was necessary to neutralise 

 the bad strain of Ngatimamoe blood in our veins. The extent 

 to which Ngatimamoe are traditionally connected with green- 

 stone is discussed hereafter. 



Ngaitahu Invasion of the South Island. 



Mr. A. iVEickay, Native Commissioner, who is well versed 

 in South Island affairs, describing Nga-i-tahu, who were an 

 emigrant offshoot from Ngati-kahu-ngunu, the tribe which 

 occupies the east coast of the North Island south of Hawke's 

 Bay, says che desire to possess themselves of the gi-eenstone 

 which was only to be found in the South Island is supposed 

 to have been the chief inducement which urged large bodies of 

 this tribe at different times to invade the country of the Nga- 

 timamoe, who had become celebrated as possessing this trea- 

 sure. The story of the introduction of the stone to the 

 knowledge of Ngaitahu, however, contradicts this version, which 

 is not accepted by Mr. Stack, anl is doubted by Mr. Mackay 

 himself. Ngatimamoe in all probability did not possess much 

 greenstone, perhaps did not know it, for it was after Ngaitahu 

 had acquired their knowledge, and fouglit for and conquered 

 the West Coast, that they carried on their bloodthirsty war of 

 extermination against Ngatimamoe, fighting over the district 

 surrounding this city (Dunedin), and ultimately destroying 

 them in Southland. 



Geogkaphy op the West Coast. 



It is necessary that I should endeavour to give a clear idea 

 of the West Coast region and its approaches, in order that the 

 events hereafter mentioned may be properly appreciated. 

 That portion of the West Coast region which lies south of 

 Martin's Bay may be disposed of at once. It can be entered 

 by none but very high alpine passes, only recently discovered, 

 and probably not used by Maoris. Its shores are so steep that 

 there is no travelling along them. In its northern extremity, 

 however, is Piopiotahi, so often mentioned as the place where 



