20 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



or tea-tree fronds stuck in the ground, were set up in lines 

 across the plantation.* This system may be seen at the pre- 

 sent day in the settlements along the Taranaki coast. 



With the exception of the hotete, a caterpillar about 

 2^ in. to 3 in. long, the larva of a large moth, the kumara 

 does not seem to have had many enemies amongst the in- 

 sect world. Though rarely seen of late years, probably owing 

 to the introduction of the pheasant, the starling, &c, in 

 old times it was often very abundant, appearing suddenly 

 in countless numbers and making complete havoc of the 

 crop by stripping the leaves. Mr. Colenso states that the 

 creature " was quite abhorred by the Maoris, who believed 

 that it was rained down from heaven " ; and he adds that 

 the job of gathering the insects was greatly disliked. The 

 work, however, had to be done ; and they were carefully 

 collected and burnt, t 



The old native rat was a comparatively harmless little 

 animal, but once its European congener was introduced its- 

 ravages soon taxed the utmost ingenuity of the Maori. The 

 plantations had to be watched night and day, and all sorts 

 of devices were employed to circumvent the marauders. 

 Mr. Colenso describes two old men who had a network of 

 flax-lines extending over the garden, at the ends of which 

 bunches of mussel - shells were suspended, and, the whole 

 being connected with a rope leading into the hut where 

 they lived, a noise could be made from time to time suffi- 

 cient to frighten away the thieves from gnawing the roots. t 



Harvesting and Stoking. 

 Long before the general crop was ready for lifting the 

 plants were regularly laid under contribution. As this work 

 demanded skill and experience rather than physical strength, 

 it was usually left in the hands of the huias (old women). 

 With a small wooden spade they would gently loosen the 

 earth and feel underground for the largest root. This was 

 called whakatau hi tc ara (" meeting [the crop] on the 

 road "). The general crop was taken up about March or 

 April, a dry sunshiny day being always chosen so as to 

 avoid the danger of mouldiness. Should frost or prolonged 

 heavy rains come on, however, the roots had to be dug at 

 once to save them from rotting or second growth. The 

 general harvest, or hauhakenga, as it was called, was the 

 most important event of the year, all other operations being 

 suspended until it was completed. It was naturally made 



* Compare "Excursion to New Zealand in 1841" (Tasmanian 

 Journal of Science, vol. ii., p. 217). 

 t Trans N.Z. Inst., xiii., art. i. 



