Chapman. — On the Working of Greenstone. 511 



Answers op John White, Author of the " Ancient History op the 



Maori." 



10. The pounamu was found in blocks in the rivers and creeks at 

 the south end of the South Island. Some was also found in the creeks 

 which run into the lakes of that part of New Zealand. Some was also 

 found in the creeks and sounds in that part of the South Island. 



13. Tradition says that a chief called Nga-hue was driven out of 

 Hawaiki by Hine-tu-o-hoanga ; that Nga-hue, after landing on various 

 islands, at last arrived in New Zealand, and, having found the younamit 

 on the South Island of New Zealand, on his return to Hawaiki he took 

 some pounaum with him, and with axes made from that greenstone 

 some of the canoes were made which came over to these Islands with 

 Kupe, Turi, Hotu-roa, Nga-toro-i-rangi, and others. 



14. All that can be said on the question is answered in No. 13. 



1, 2, and 15. The ]pounamu was broken as best they could break 

 it into pieces when in boulders or large blocks, but it was not chipped — 

 it was bruised to take any angle or point off. It was then rubbed into 

 shape with a stone called mataihona, takiritane, lioanga, onetai, paht- 

 tanc, and urconetea, with chips of kiripaka as a drill. These stones were 

 called by different names in the localities (by the natives of the dis- 

 tricts) in which they were obtained. In some instances a piece of 

 pounamu would be found of a flat or slab shape. The mataihona was 

 then used to cut a line on each side of the slab, and when the cut 

 was sufficiently deep the slab was broken into pieces, thus cut into a 

 rough form of a mere. The ureonctca, takiritane, patutane, and kiri- 

 paka were used as drills to cut holes in the pounamu to form a liei- 

 tiki, and when the holes were made to form the arms and legs of the 

 Tiki then the mataihona was used to form the Tiki. The drill used 

 to make the hole in the mere was made with kiripaka and ureone- 

 tea. These were broken into spike-like shapes, and placed in the end of 

 split wood [drill-spindle] , and tied tightly, the upper end of this wood 

 being placed in a block of timber placed in position to receive it 

 [mouthpiece, or drill-cap] . Two stones [weights] were tied to the 

 upper end of the drill [to steady it], the kiripaka or ureonctca being 

 placed on the mere where the hole was to be made, and a string was 

 wrapped round the drill above the stones [weights], and next to the 

 block of wood [mouthpiece, or drill-cap]. These strings were pulled first 

 one and then the other [the unwinding of one causing the other to wind 

 round the spindle] , thus giving a rotatory motion to the drill. A little of 

 the pounded dust of the mataikina and water were put to the point of 

 the drill at various times of the work. [Observe that Mr. White describes 

 a piece of wood by way of a mouthpiece or drill-cap. He does not say 

 whether it was held in the mouth or pressed down with the flat of the 

 chin or the breast of the workman. Compare ]\Ir. Wohlers's interesting 

 description, and Note 3, post.'] 



3 and 7. These objects were not idols or gods, nor were they the 

 portraits of ancestors, but, as the name implies, hei (for) -Tiki, or, for, or 

 to be used as, Tiki, or to be like Tiki. The value or sacredness of these was 

 derived from the fact of their having been worn or handled by the dead of 

 past ages. 



4 and 6. Some of the hei-tiki now seen are many hundred years old, 

 others are of more modern date. The mode of making the hei-tiki in 

 ancient times is that now practised. 



5. They brought the knowledge with them. 



8. Yes ; toki (axes) and eardrops, as kurukuru kapeu, viako (of 

 greenstone), kani {y:\x\g), porotiti, and many others. 



9. Many sorts of greenstone — namely, kahiLrangi, inanga, tangiwai, 



