500 Transactions. — 31isccllaneous. 



" I exhibit at the same time, from the museum, an 

 ancient Japanese bronze, without doubt a vessel for burning 

 incense, representing also a bird, the character of which is in 

 many respects not unlike the specimen carved from stone. In 

 both, the feathers on the back are rounded, with a central line 

 from which smaller lines slope downwards on both sides ; 

 while the \\ing-feathers are more pointed, and have a similar 

 ornamentation . 



"To my mind there is no doubt that both have a somewhat 

 similar origin, and come either from the same eastern country, 

 or, if from two different countries, that the latter are nearly 

 related to each other, and where for many centuries, if not 

 thousands of years, industrial art has been practised." 



The INlaoris assert that they brought the Korotangi with 

 them from Hawaiki, and that it came in the canoe called 

 "Tainui," which first landed on the east coast; but it was 

 dragged over the Tamaki portage into Manukau, thence navi- 

 gated to Aotea, on the west coast, between Eaglan and 

 Kawhia. 



It is a curious fact that the Korotangi was found in a rua^ 

 or hole, in which was growing a large kahikatoa-tree (manuka), 

 \'ery old. The tree had been blown down, and the bird was 

 found in the roots by a Maori. It is owing altogether to 

 this fortuitous circumstance that we know anything of this 

 interesting relic of native antiquity. Mr. Albert Walker pro- 

 cured the stone bird, and left it for a short time with Major 

 Drummond Hay, in Cambridge. It was in his house that an 

 old chieftainess saw it, and on hearing where it was discovered 

 she bowed herself, and then sang the song relating to it which 

 Te Ngakau (usually called the King's Secretary) afterwards 

 wrote for me. This song is known in all parts of the country. 

 I received a copy even from Eotorua. In this manner, then, 

 was this made known. The knowledge of its having been 

 found caused much excitement amongst the natives. Ta- 

 whiao, the Maori King, came to see it, and Eewi took it away 

 with liim, and rose several times through the night to tangi, 

 or cry, over it. 



We now give the song relating to the Korotangi in Maori, 

 and a translation by the late C. 0. Davis, the well-known 

 native scholar: — 



" Kaore te arolia 

 Ki taku nei maim, 

 Titoko tonu ake, 

 I te ahiahi 



Ka tomo ki to wliare, 

 Taku ate noa ai. 

 He rangi au ka tatari, 

 Apopo (akuanoi) 

 Awhea ano te hiki mai ai ? 



