518 Transactions. — Miscellajieous. 



1. PMukaraka.—A term much used about Cook Strait to describe the 

 ohve-coloured streaked variety of haiuakaioa. [i?a2t = leaf; karaka = 

 Coryiiocarpus Icsvigata.] 



2._ Kuru-tongarewa [Knru = an ear-ornament ; tongareiua = a pre- 

 cious jewel] .—It is sometimes, apparently, connected with greenstone 

 thus : — 



3. Kaicakaioa-tongarewa. 



4. Kuru-vounavni. 



5. Tutackoka (a stain in greenstone explained in a story already 

 narrated). — I am unable to obtain a satisfactory meaning for koka. 

 Mr. Tregear suggests koko [ = the bird tui = Prosthemadcra] , which 

 seems probable. 



6. Kaivakaiua-auvioana.—Kawa = the plant Piijcr excelsum ; moana 

 = the ocean ; mi, = cloud or fog. Perhaps the whole suggests sea- 

 foam. 



7. Kaivakcnua-rewa. — Reiva = to melt. Explained to me by a chief as 

 like whales' blubber. 



Answees of the Eev. J. F. H. Wohlers, Missionaey at Euapuke, 



FovEAux Strait. 



Dear Sir,— Euapuke, Southland, 15th November, 1881. 



Yours of 20th October, asking for information about the art of 

 working in iwunamu or greenstone among the Llaoris, has come to hand. 

 I will try and write you about my observations as far as they go. I will 

 also enclose a paper on the same subject in German, which I think you 

 might like to send to Professor Piscber at Freiburg. 



I think that the ancestors of the Maoris long ago were in the pos- 

 session of some culture, which they had lost durmg their migrations to 

 the South Sea islands, where they sank down to what is called the 

 period of stone implements [This, of course, must be regarded as impos- 

 sible— F. E. C] ; and that the noble bearing among the chiefs' families 

 and the sense of art are remains of that culture. But the greenstone 

 ornaments, weapons, and figures are the results of long persevering labour 

 with stone tools. Many of the old Maoris could make simple ornaments, 

 but only a few could produce the high and peculiar works of art. The 

 figures or images were never worshipped. The Maoris as long as they 

 have resided in New Zealand never worshipped idols, as their mythology 

 and traditions show. Neither were their hei-tikis representatives °of 

 ancestors. They were simply works of art, and as such were highly 

 prized. They went as heirlooms from generation to generation in the 

 families in whose possession they were, and on this account only were 

 they considered as sacred family treasures. It has happened that when 

 families were dying out the last possessors of such works of art buried 

 them secretly in the earth, so that they should not come into other 

 hands. 



There is an old tale of a mad Maori woman who long ago wandered 

 from the West Coast, where greenstone is found, into the high mountains, 

 carrying a greenstone axe with her. By good luck she found a passage 

 over and through the mountains, and wandered on to the East Coast, 

 where, south of Banks Peninsula, near one of the large rivers, she came 

 upon Maoris who were chipping with axes made of inferior stones. She 

 said to them, " Your axes are not good: try mine." Then the woman 

 vvas questioned about the greenstone place (tuahi pounamu) ; and, having 

 listened to her description about the road thereto, it was resolved to visit 

 that place. Two large parties were formed for that purpose. One party 

 perished in the snow and ice on the high mountains ; the other reached 

 the West Coast, and returned with greenstone. 



