CoiiENSO. — Beminlscences of the Ancient Maoris. 465 



Three things more in connection with these fine mats I 

 will just relate : one, the cross-threads in wea^^ng were 

 always of a different sort of flax — the weft and the woof of 

 these mats were not both taken from the same kind of flax ; 

 the second, that extremely soft lustrous appearance was given 

 to the flax-fibres hy repeated tawing done at different times — 

 it was a pretty sight to see the various skeins of flax-fibres 

 in their several stages of preparation neatly hung up in the 

 weaving-shed; the third, that in the weaving of one of these 

 garments, if a thread showed itself of a different shade of 

 colour, that part of the garment was carefully unravelled to 

 take it out, and to substitute another better suited in its 

 stead. It was also from this superior knowledge and close 

 attention to their work that the principal chidfs frequently 

 took women who were clever at making those things to be 

 their wives, in order to secure to themselves their valued 

 manufactures. 



They also wove very good and useful floor- and bed-mats 

 of unscraped flax-leaves, split into narrow lengths and care- 

 fully bleached in the sun — these were very strong and lasting ; 

 also baskets and kits of all sizes. Some of them were w^oven 

 in regular patterns with black (dyed) and uncoloured flax ; 

 others were skilfully and pleasingly semi-damasked (if I may 

 so term it) by changing sides to tlae flax-leaves used to form 

 the pattern, the upper side of the leaf being smooth and 

 shining, the under side not shining and of a glaucous colour. 

 The little kit, or basket, for a first-born child was often a 

 little gem of weaving art, and made by the mother. 



Besides the flax plant they had other fibrous plants whose 

 leaves and fibres were also used in making articles of dress : 

 (1.) The toii {Cordylinc indivisa), of which they made black 

 everlasting wraps or cloaks. The making of these was con- 

 fined to the natives of the mountainous interior, where alone 

 those plants grow. (2.) The long orange-coloured leaves of 

 the 2^1 ngao {Destnosclianus spiralis), a prostrate, spreading sea- 

 side plant, also afforded tliem good materials for weaving 

 useful folded belts, which were strong, and looked and wore 

 well, and were highly valued. (3.) The climbing hiehic {Frcyci- 

 netia banksii) was also used ; likewise the long, slender, and soft 

 leaves of the kahakaJia (Astelia banksii), but not frequently. 

 (4.) Of the leaves of the common swamp plant raz^7J0 = bulrush 

 {Typlia angustifolia), they formed large sails for their canoes. 

 These leaves the Maoris curiously laced together. (5.) I should 

 not omit to mention their flying-kites {pakaukaic and ma7iu- 

 aute), formerly in great esteem among them, and made of the 

 manufactured bark of the auie shrub = paper-mulberry (Brous- 

 sonetia papyrifera), which was formerly cultivated by the 

 ancient Maoris for its bark. Inferior ones, however, were made 

 30 



