Chapman. — On the Working of Greenstone. 537 



1889, p. 540, says, " We could not ascertain the actual spot whence the 

 ' greenstone ' from which the stone adzes were made is brought ; but, as 

 the natives of Goodenough Island pointed westward, it is probably to be 

 found in Huon Gulf. In New Zealand the greenstone is generally found 

 associated with gold." 



I have read most of the books relating to Polynesia, both in French 

 and English, but so far have failed to find any reference to greenstone ; 

 and this is peculiar in face of Dr. Lesson's statement given in Note 4. I 

 mean, I have failed to find any reference besides those given above. At 

 the same time I feel little doubt that the pounamu has played an im- 

 portant part in inducing the early voyagers to direct their paddles towards 

 New Zealand. I remain, &c., 



S. Percy Smith. 



The following is abbreviated from " Oceanie. Par Jules 

 Gamier. Paris, 1871 " : — 



The geology of Ouen Island is extremely interesting. I recommenced 

 my examination of the west coast. From Koatoure Bay I went up to 

 the rugged summit of Nougougueto, which rose to my left. My atten- 

 tion was suddenly attracted to some rocks of peculiar appearance, which, 

 besides presenting the features of novelty, exhibited that of beauty. They 

 ■were somewhat translucent, of a very pure white, among which ran veins 

 of a delicate green. Their physical character recalled tropical jade. It is 

 of this stone that the New-Caledonians formerly made their finest axes, 

 the sitns of which I had until now sought in vain. There was ample evi- 

 dence that this was one of their ancient quarries in the fact that the soil 

 was scattered over with debris, and with splinters which the hand of man 

 alone could have produced. Nevertheless the dull fractures indicated 

 that a long time had elapsed since these heaps had been made ; and the 

 young men of Ouen Island, who accompanied me, regarded with as much 

 astonishment as I did these traces of an ancient work of their ancestors. 

 The reef of this beautiful stone is extensive. It crops out on the surface for 

 a considerable distance, and its association with veins of citphotide, in 

 which it appears to lose itself, seems to indicate that it is only a form of 

 that rock. This fact is interesting, because hitherto the jades have been 

 classed somewhat at random, not having been found in sitd. 



On showing my specimens to Zachario he said, "That is the stone 

 •which was used for making axes. Formerly people came from as far as 

 the Loyalty Islands to search for pieces. What sanguinary battles my 

 ancestors have fought against strangers who have sought to invade the 

 territory in search of that precious stone ! In those days we had neither 

 axes nor knives of iron or other metal. Nevertheless, we had to hollow 

 out our canoes, cut up fish and the bodies of our enemies. For this pur- 

 pose my ancestors sought out the hardest and toughest stones, polished 

 and sharpened them. If all kinds became sharp, all did not take on a 

 fine polish and a good appearance. Some remained black and dull, others 

 were of a more or less bright green ; but for richness of colour and trans- 

 parency none approached the stone you have found to-day. Instead of 

 being satisfied with making small hatchets of it, they turned to account 

 the facility offered by that stone of breaking off thin slabs of large size at 

 a blow. They chose one of those slabs, rounded its edges regularly, then 

 polished its surface with coarse and fine sand until it became smooth and 

 uniform. The thinner such an axe became the more it was prized, as the 

 light of the sun could pass through it. By means of very hard, sharp 

 pebbles several holes were then bored close together near the edge. By 

 this means the handle was fixed to it. But what time was consumed in 

 completing such a work ! The lifetime of a man was not always suf- 

 ficient to hnish one. Thus such an axe was the most valuable possession 

 of a chief. For one of these peace could be purchased, an alliance 



