188 Transac tions . — Miscellane o us . 



number of spectators, the day's outing having been arranged 

 by the Union Steamship Company, through their courteous 

 agent Mr. Duncan, for the " Waikare " passengers alone. 

 The ship's company thus had the great advantage of standing 

 round the fire at the above-mentioned distance, each person 

 having, so to speak, a " front seat." 



Mr. Burke thus describes the scene : " Now we make our 

 way to the place prepared for the ceremony. A space about 

 a chain in width had been cleared in a cocoanut grove. In 

 the centre of this was an enormous fire made in a circular 

 pit about 20 ft. across and 2 ft. in depth, the earth from the 

 centre being piled up round the edges. When the hole is 

 dug poles are placed radiating from the centre to the edges. 

 Dry palm-fronds are placed under and upon these, then fire- 

 wood of various sizes is stacked above. Finally the large 

 stones are heaped on the top till the whole pile is several feet 

 in height. The fire is lighted about forty-eight hours before the 

 ceremony is timed to take place, and is kept fed with fresh 

 supplies of wood. Eventually the whole mass glows with a 

 white heat, and it is not comfortable to stand within a few 

 feet of it ; also, it is dangerous, as large splinters of stone fly 

 far and wide. As the hour for the exhibition approaches 

 groups of natives collect, some laden with green saplings 

 about 20 ft. in length, others with supplejack-like vines. The 

 fire is now sinking, and occasionally a large stone drops 

 through. There is little smoke, and the stones fairly glow. 

 Now the workers close in. The smaller vines are fastened 

 in loops at the ends of the long poles or saplings. A loop is 

 dropped over the end of a log not yet burnt out, several men 

 man the sapling, and, with loud cries, the log is hauled away. 

 This is repeated over and over again till no logs are left. 

 The ends of the green saplings continually burst into flame, 

 showing the intense heat in the oven. At last there seems 

 to be nothing left in the pit but stones, some of which are 

 shivered to pieces by the great heat ; but the men are not yet 

 satisfied. A large hawser-hke vine now comes into use. 

 This is thrown across the pit to one side, and round the ends 

 of the saplings, which are forced into the glowing stones. 

 Now willing hands pull on the vine, and the sticks are forced 

 through the stones, turning them over and over and levelling 

 them. Again and again this is done till the stones present 

 a fairly even surface ; but critical men, still unsatisfied, probe 

 amongst the stones with the saplings and turn the smoothest 

 side uppermost "(a). 



There was no mistake about the heat. The stones were 

 at first white hot. The logs and smoking chips were with- 

 drawn in the clever manner so ably described above, the 

 stones were levelled, and, what was not generally noticed, 



