46 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



tuber flourished exceeding well in Tuhoeland, and this new 

 food product must have been an immense boon to these bush- 

 men. 



Until the introduction of the potato tbere were practically 

 no clearings in the great forest which covers this rugged dis- 

 trict. As the people had nothing to cultivate, and, moreover, 

 as all their food-supplies were obtained from the forest, it 

 behoved them to interfere with that forest as little as possible. 

 The natives lived in small, scattered settlements, each con- 

 sisting of a few huts situated in a small clearing. Also in 

 those days but little fern-root was obtainable within the bound- 

 aries of the Tuhoe Tribe, and it was not until they occupied 

 the Euatoki. Waimaua, Te Whaiti, and Waikare-moana dis- 

 tricts that they came into the possession of lands producing 

 the aruhe, or edible fern-root. 



According to Maori belief, the Earth Mother it is who pro- 

 vides her descendants with food, which she does out of affec- 

 tion for her offspring, who were scattered afar across the 

 world in the days of the gods. One division of the Tuhoe 

 people — viz., Ngai-Tama. of Te Waimana — carried their re- 

 spect for the Earth Mother so far as never to bury their 

 dead in the ground, but always placed the bodies up in 

 trees. It was not right, according to their ideas, to put 

 the bodies underground, as it is the earth which produces 

 food for man. 



Food ever occupies a very important position in the native 

 mind. Their thoughts, conversation, proverbial sayings, and 

 stories deal frequently with this subject. This probably 

 springs from the fact that food was difficult to procure in the 

 old days, and called for almost continuous effort in one way 

 or another, hence such work occupied their minds almost as 

 much as their time. Each month, as it came round, in all 

 seasons, had its task for the bushmeu, birds or rats to be 

 caught or certain berries to be gathered and preserved. 



It is not my intention in this paper to describe the 

 innumerable methods of taking birds and rats (kiore), with the 

 rites, superstitions, &c, pertaining thereto, which obtained 

 here in former times. The task is too lengthy for the time at 

 my disposal now ; and, moreover, I hope to include such in a 

 paper on " Forest Lore and Woodcraft," to be prepared and 

 forwarded in the future. 



As observed, the procuring of food occupied much of the 

 time, skill, and thoughts of the Maori. The man who was 

 diligent in procuring food was thought much of, while other 

 accomplishments would often appear to have taken second 

 place. I chanced to remark one day that Piki, of Tuhoe, 

 must have been a great composer, so many songs being 

 attributed to him. An old native observed, "Yes; he com- 



