White. — Description of a Meteor. 105 



Scattered about on the sand were numerous pieces of obsi- 

 dian broken into thin flakes. Some of these still retained an 

 edge "keen as a razor," some were serrated, and others, again, 

 were rounded by the ceaseless drift of sand. These obsidian 

 knives must have been brought from some distance, the coun- 

 try immediately surrounding being of limestone formation, and, 

 though tlie Karioi mountain at the back is traohytic, I never 

 saw any obsidian in situ. 



There were also picked up some of the ordinary stone axes, 

 and I found a carved bone mere (whale bone, I think), but it 

 was broken across the handle, and rather decayed. I did not 

 Botice any greenstone ornaments or implements, though, of 

 course, there may have been some buried deeper in the sand. 



I made a collection of some of the most interesting things 

 found, including a skull with a specially retreating forehead, 

 and intended handing them over to the museum ; but, unfortu- 

 nately, in moving camp they got lost. 



It is difficult to estimate how long ago these feasts took 

 place, but I think it could not have been less than seventy 

 years, probably much more. I made inquiries of some of 

 the old natives living near, and they did not seem to have any 

 tradition respecting the spot, and it was not tapu (sacred), as 

 it would have been had it concerned any of their inmiediate 

 ancestors. The implements, too, point to a time previous to 

 the advent of the white man. 



In a few^ weeks this modern Golgotha was again buried deep 

 in the sand, which will no doubt preserve these interesting re- 

 mains of a bygone time till a continuance of north-easterly 

 winds again exposes them to the gaze of any observers wlio 

 happen to be near. 



Art. XL — Description of a Meteor, of -ith May, 1S88. 



By Taylor White. 



IRead before the HaicTcc's Bay Fhilosophical Institute, 8th July, 1889.] 



I WILL endeavour to describe the appearance, or my impres- 

 sions, of a meteorw'hich was visible in apparent close proximity 

 to my position at Wimbledon, Hawke's Bay, on the 4th May, 

 1888, between 8 and 9 o'clock p.m. It was the most beautiful 

 and grand sight it has been my lot to witness. 



The shortness of time allowed for inspection makes it difficult 

 to fix certain points as to the position of blue and green bands 

 showing in the tail or streamers, but I feel justitied in placing 

 them on. the outer edge. The nucleus, or head, was of oval 

 form, of a transparent light-yellow^ colour, as of iron at a white- 

 heat. The tail was in the form of the tail of a pheasant, 



